Camcorders aren't cheap but they're incredibly important. So when it comes time to rent or
buy one for your production, knowing what to look for can save you money and help you
get it right the first time.
2.Segment Overview - With thousands of camcorders to choose from, finding the most suitable
one for your project can be both mind-boggling and extremely frustrating. To help you quickly
sift through all of the hype, we'll show you what to look for such as quality optics, battery
technology, inputs and outputs, recording media, and controls. Using this information,
you should be able to quickly find a camera that will help you to make your documentary
a reality.
The first place to start with any camcorder purchase is to figure out how your documentary
will be distributed. If you'll be making the documentary for internet use, a camera that
films in standard or high definition should do the trick. On the other hand, playing your
film in front of theater audiences will require a camera that costs 10,000 dollars or more
and can shoot in resolutions of 2048x 1152 pixels or above. This is because theater owners
don't want to disappoint moviegoers by showing footage at resolutions lower than film. This
requirement limits the options for cameras to models that are fairly expensive. That's
why if you plan on releasing your documentary in theaters, it would be best to include more
money for cameras in your budget. Otherwise, you'll want to consider releasing your project
on Blu-Ray or the internet instead where you can keep your camera budget below 10,000 dollars.
Of all the parts of a camera, the sensor is the most integral. It is where the magic of
turning light into electricity, then into ones and zeroes happens. That's why it's really
good to know what makes a sensor great. i.There are three factors to look for in a
sensor: size, resolution, and speed. Cameras with larger sensors are expensive for a reason.
Larger sensors give you a shallower depth of field, which can help you to keep the focus
on your subject, and give off less noise in low light. This is incredibly useful for documentaries
that require a lot of night shooting or indoor shooting where light may be scarce. The best
sensors are those that are close to 36x24 mm across, which is the size of traditional
35mm film. This is also because most lenses are built for 35mm sensors which gives you
a much wider image. Interestingly enough, many DSLR cameras that can shoot video have
much larger sensors than camcorders that with similar costs. This is typically because these
cameras lack many of the features that professional camcorders can offer such as XLR inputs. However,
there are ways around the limitations of DSLRs and due to their film-like images, many cinematographers
are opting to use DSLRs instead of traditional camcorders in their productions.
ii.Resolution is another important factor in good sensors. Since most televisions display
images in the 16x9 aspect ratio, you'll want to make sure your sensor can capture widescreen
footage. It's also best to get a camera that can film at a 1920x1080 resolution. This is
because it's always easier to shrink a high resolution image than it is to make a low
resolution image look good. Another advantage of filming at 1920x1080 is that it is very
close to the 2K resolution that most theaters require. With a little scaling, this footage
should be accepted in these theaters. In this way, you won't have to break the bank to shoot
a documentary that will be playable on the big screen.
iii.Lastly, the speed of a sensor is another important factor for your camera. This is
because the faster the sensor images are processed, the higher the frames it can shoot per second.
The advantage here is that with a higher frame rate, you'll be able to record high quality
slow motion footage for your documentary. Finally, since all Hollywood films and high-end
documentaries shoot their video at 24 frames per second, you'll want to make sure the sensor
you choose can shoot at that frame rate. This way you can give your documentary the "film
look" that audiences have come to associate with high-end productions.
Many documentary crews frequently find themselves either on the road or away from power sources
so having a long lasting battery can be a lifesaver. Most batteries are rated in milliamps
per hour. This means the higher the mAh, the longer the battery will last. If you will
be going on a shoot at a location without power, it is a good idea to purchase several
high mAh batteries. Most people find that it's better to spend a few hundred dollars
on batteries than to not get the shot you need to sell your documentary.
The next factor to consider is the inputs and outputs that your camera has. Some of
the most important inputs to have are XLR inputs. Most professional microphones use
XLR inputs so by not having one on your camera, you'll be limiting the microphones you can
use. When it comes to outputs, it is essential to have an HDMI, composite, or HD-SDI port
so that you can use an external monitor while shooting. External monitors help several people
to see a preview at the same time and allow an operator to easily determine focus. If
you plan to have producers or directors on your shoot, having these outputs are a necessity.
It is also good to have either FireWire or USB outputs on your camera for computers that
do not have card readers.
There's nothing worse when you're in a hurry than having to wait. That's why it can be
very helpful to record your footage on either SD or CF cards. Both of these formats are
fairly inexpensive, can be put on your editing computer faster than real time, and can capture
more footage than mini-DV tape. You can also capture directly to hard drives, but with
a lack of moving parts, SD and CF cards are still the medium of choice.
Lastly, it's important to make sure that the camcorder you rent or buy has a bevy of external
controls. It can be very frustrating to have to browse through a menu to do the simplest
of corrections so the more you can do externally, the better. Of all external controls, the
most important are a ring for focus, zoom, and the iris, and a dial for shutter speed.
Including these features on camcorders makes them more expensive, but the time they save
on a shoot makes them worth every penny.
Though all of these factors are helpful to have on a camera, there are still instances
where smaller can be better. Big cameras tend to intimidate people and attract attention
so for interviews and large crowds, a smaller camera is best. Also, if you're planning on
doing a lot of travel, having a more compact camera can help you to conserve energy. Even
so, with the right cases and good planning, having a larger camcorder with many of the
features we covered will always work best.
New cameras come out almost every day. So hopefully, with the information we've shown,
you'll be able to find a camera that can take your documentary to the next level.