Video captured by the camcorders is saved on the Media. Different types of media available are Hi8, MiniDV, DVD and in-built Hard Disk Drives.

The video captured by the lens of the Camcorder is saved on the media and then can be used for playback.Hi8 and MiniDV tapes are analog types of media whereas DVD and Hard Disk Drives are digital types of media. DVDs used for recording are available in two types, Single Sided and Double Sided.

The Hi8 and MiniDV tapes can record video maximum upto 90minutes but a DVD disc and the HDD can record upto 28hrs of video recording.

Sensor resolution is the number of pixels used to capture an image or a video. A good image or video resolution is achieved by combination of image or video sensor resolution and lens resolution.

The higher the image or video sensor resolution, the better the image or video quality.

Optical Sensor Size is often referred to with a type designation using imperial fractions such as 1/1.8 or 2/3.

Optical Sensor size is larger than the actual sensor diameters. The size designation does not define the diagonal of the sensor area but rather the outer diameter of the long glass envelope of the tube.

The pixels are much smaller, which is a key reason for the video quality difference, especially in terms of noise and dynamic range.

The two types of sensors are CCD and CMOS. CCD - Charged Coupled Device sensor is a light sensitive chip used for image gathering. CMOS - Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor is another type of image sensor found in digital cameras also.

CCD is the most common form of photosensitive cells used to convert incoming light into electrical signals in digital cameras. In their normal condition these are greyscale devices. To create colour, a colour pattern is laid down on the sensor pixels, using RGBG color mask. (Red, Green, Blue, and Green)

A digital image sensor converts light into electrical signals, which are then converted into an video inside the camcorder using the camcorders video processor.

Aperture is the opening in a lens through which light passes to the image sensor to create an image.

Aperture size is usually calibrated in f-stops (f-numbers). The higher the f number the smaller is the aperture. The common f-stops are f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8 etc. The aperture also defines the depth of field. Smaller the f-number, larger will be the depth field and vice versa. Thus, you can focus on certain objects for getting special effects.

The quality of the video depends upon the aperture range and shutter speed of the camcorder.

Optical zoom is a feature that alters a camcorders focal length, filling more of the frame within the subject.

An optical zoom lens actually moves in and out of the camcorder. Unlike a digital zoom, an optical zoom will not reduce the resolution of your video.

Optical zoom helps you to concentrate on the subject of the video to be shot. It also brings a faraway object nearer and hence is more useful in shooting videos of flora and fauna.

A digital zoom is software inside the camcorder that enlarges subject in the video to be shot.

Due to the doubling of pixels the video begins to become fuzzier and fuzzier as you enlarge. Digital zoom enlarges the subject of the video to be shot, while reducing the resolution of the video.

The focal length of a lens determines its angle of view. It is measured in mm from the optical center of the lens.

It is located on the sensor if the subject video to be shot is in focus. The camcorder lens projects part of the scene onto the sensor.

The view of the video to be shot is wide angled when the focal length is minimum.

The focal length of a lens determines its angle of view. It is measured in mm from the optical center of the lens.

It is located on the sensor if the subject video to be shot is in focus. The camcorder lens projects part of the scene onto the sensor.

The view of the video to be shot is narrow angled when the focal length is maximum.

Filter size is determined by the inner diameter of the front of a lens. Most filters are inscribed with their filter size in millimeters.

Focus is a point at which rays of light meet after being refracted or reflected.

In auto focus mode the camcorder automatically focuses on the subject video to be shot in the focus area in the center of the LCD/viewfinder. Manual focus disables the camcorders built-in automatic focus system so you can focus the lens by hand.

The action of varying the focal length of a zoom lens to enlarge or reduce the video is known as zoom.

In a zoom lens, one can move different lens elements back and forth. The zoom adjustment is always motorized in the camcorders.

Shutter Speed is the time for which the camcorder exposes the sensor to the light being let in by the aperture setting.

The slower the shutter speed, the longer is the exposure time and the image is clear.

Shutter Speed is the time for which the camera exposes the sensor to the light being let in by the aperture setting.

The faster the shutter speed, the shorter the exposure time.

Exposure occurs when light is permitted to strike the sensor.

Exposure is determined by how wide you open the lens diaphragm (aperture) and by how long you keep the sensor exposed.

There are three types of exposures Automatic, Manual and Fixed.

White Balance is a function on digital camera and camcorders to compensate for different colors of light being emitted by different light sources.

There are three types of White Balance. Automatic, Manual and Presets.

It is a function on camcorder to compensate for different colors of light being emitted by different light sources. Some White Balance Presets are Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent/Tungsten, Flash.

We dont notice the difference in temperature because our eyes adjust automatically for it. So unless the temperature of the light is very extreme a white sheet of paper will generally look white to us. However a digital camera does not have the smarts to make these adjustments automatically and sometimes will need us to tell it how to treat different light.

Camcorders with high optical zoom come with an image stabilizing feature.

It automatically eliminates any camcorder shake like the slight shaky motion that can result as you hold the camcorder thus helping you ensure a crisp, sharp video.

To get crisp, sharp, unshaky and blurry video.

Shooting Programs set the settings of the camcorder as per the conditions around the video. Various types of Shooting Programs are Landscape, Spotlight, Beach & ski, Sports mode, Portrait mode, Fireworks, Sunset & Moon mode.

Many camcorders have the widescreen video feature. Camcorders with these features support 16:9 video and some also support 4:3 video mode.

Camcorders with Digital Still Camera Function save the captured image in the JPEG format.

Some types of image formats are as follows jpeg, gif, tiff, bitmap and the more complicated raw files. You can identify which format is used by looking at the end of the file name after the period. For example, picture.jpg is a jpeg file. JPEG format is widely used.

There are three different types of recording speeds XP or HQ (High Quality), SP (Standard Play) and LP (Long Play).

HQ or XP mode allows to record shorter duration of video whereas LP mode allows to record longer duration of video.

HQ recorded video always gives clear and crisper quality of video.

Most camcorders come with Expansion slot which support cards like SD or MMC cards. Camcorders with digital still camera function have expansion slots to save images to the SD or MMC cards.

Resolution measures the sharpness of the display or screen.

The number of pixels that can be displayed on the screen is referred to as the resolution of the video. The higher the resolution, the better and clear is the image.

FireWire is one of the fastest peripheral standards ever developed, which makes it great for use with multimedia peripherals such as digital cameras, camcorders and other high-speed devices like the latest hard disk drives and printers.

Video captured can be encoded from the camcorder using a Fire Wire cable.

The data transfer rate of Firewire is much faster than USB. Firewire is also known as IEEE 1394.

Composite video is the format of an analog television (picture only) signal.

It is a format before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier.

This is the most common form of video signal connection. All aspects of a video signal are combined and delivered through the composite connection.

This is the most common form of video signal connection. All aspects of a video signal are combined and delivered through the composite connection.

Higher quality video input than composite video connection available in projector, which can be connected to the devices like DVD player and camcorders.

It transmits the video signals by dividing the video information into two separate signals; one for color and the other for brightness.

When sent to a camcorder, this produces sharper images than composite video, where the video information is transmitted as a single signal over one wire.

Short for Super-Video is a technology for transmitting video signals to the device over a cable.

It transmits the video signals by dividing the video information into two separate signals; one for color and the other for brightness.

When sent from a camcorder, this produces sharper images than composite video, where the video information is transmitted as a single signal over one wire.

Component video is a video signal that has been split into two or more components. In popular use, it refers to a type of analog video information that is transmitted or stored as three separate signals.

Component video cables do not carry audio. Color of the Component video cables is Red, Green and Blue.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is an audio/video interface capable of transmitting uncompressed streams.

HDMI provides an interface between any compatible digital audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, digital camcorder etc.

It is a modern replacement for older analog standards such as RF (coaxial cable), composite video, S-Video.