How to Use a Camcorder
The introduction of the camcorder was a huge step forward in home video. Rather than the silent flickering images of Super 8 film, people could enjoy recording in color with sound and then show it immediately on their TV rather than waiting for the film to develop.
What Types of Camcorders are There?
There are two major types of analog camcorders, VHS camcorders and 8 mm camcorders. Both use videocassettes and offer very similar levels of picture quality although they are not compatible with each other:
- Video8: Video8 uses an 8 mm cassette and offers approximately 240 lines of resolution, about as much as a home VCR. The one catch is that you often have to use the camera for playback because it's not compatible with most VCRs. To further muddy the waters, there is also a digital 8 mm format that uses the same cassettes.
- VHS: A VHS camcorder uses the same recording protocol as the vast majority of home VCRs. This tape compatibility saves time because it just works. The only catch is that a full-size VHS tape makes for a pretty large camera.
What About Compact?
Given the relative unwieldiness of an RCA full-size VHS camcorder it can be difficult to get the videos you want. Luckily, there is an option, namely a VHS-C camcorder. This smaller physical format uses exactly the same recording method as the full-size videocassettes but in a more portable package. VHS-C offers the greatest flexibility while still offering the features you need such as optical zoom and an image stabilizer. There are a couple of things you do have to consider when going for the compact format:
- Adapters: Because the VHS-C tape is physically smaller, it needs an adapter to work in your home machine. All you have to do is open the door in the adapter and slot the tape into that. That done, all you need to do is put it in the machine and you're good.
- Length: In order to take advantage of the more compact form factor, something had to give and that was recording time. Where a full-length VHS cassette enabled two-hour videotape recordings at full quality, the smaller cassettes could only manage 60 minutes.
Choosing a Camera
While choosing the right RCA VHS camcorder isn't difficult it can take a little bit of time. One way to shorten it is to make a list of features that matter to you, so you can check them off against each different camera. Some offer support for S-VHS with its higher resolution while others have longer battery life. Some others have autofocus. Most offer an on-screen date which is handy for storing memories.