What Camcorder Format Should I Buy?

There are several different camcorder formats available. The camcorder format that is right for you depends on what you want to do with your camcorder:

MiniDV – Records on a small digital tape 60 minutes at a time. Camcorders can be connected to your computer afterwards for editing, or connected to your VCR or DVR and recorded onto a tape or DVD.

MiniDVD – DVD camcorders typically have shorter record times, around 30 minutes for single layer discs. DVDs can be immediately played back in a DVD player after recording. MiniDVDs do not work in slot loading DVD players and are typically very difficult to edit.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD) – Hard disk drive camcorders usually allow you to record a substantial about of time (5+ hours) before transferring video off of your camcorder and onto a computer. Video is usually easily transferred to a computer by dragging and dropping items from your camcorder to your desktop or editing program.

Digital Image Don'ts

Having affordable digital cameras, digital imaging software, and equipment can give anyone the power to create. These things combined with the internet can help you make a mass statement for all to see. You can even borrow images from other places online and edit them for your own use. Be careful, however, with what you choose to borrow and edit.

You can state your opinion about actors and politicians and their actions all day long if you want. The internet also offers a wealth of images of these people that you can easily adapt for your own use. Though, remember that editing their images, and creating fake photos is highly illegal to post on a website. You could be prosecuted for it. So, before you think about doing this, think about what the law can do to you.

Daily Digital Imaging

Just because you're not a photo editor for a magazine or an art director for an ad agency doesn't mean you can't use digital imaging everyday. You could probably get more use out of digital imaging than you realize:

• Help your child with a book report by throwing in a couple of digital images to spruce it up

• At work, use imaging skills to add visuals to presentations

• Want to sell something? Take some digital images of it to advertise on the net

You don't have to be a pro to reap use digital imaging on a daily basis!

Surgery Results Before Surgery

There's probably something we'd all like to change about ourselves. Maybe you want to alter your nose, correct an overbite, or tighten your tummy. The scary part is not knowing what the change will look like after a procedure until you actually have the procedure done.

Now, with digital imaging systems you can see how the procedure would look without the cost and pain of doing it first. If you are interested in getting something done cosmetically it's possible to see the results in advance. You can have a digital image taken of yourself and then altered using digital imaging technology to see the probable results.

*If you don't want to go somewhere to have this done, it's even possible to alter an image yourself. Do a net little surfing because many medical companies have websites that can digitally alter a digital picture of yourself right at that moment so you can see their work and how it would look on you.

Need Help with Your Image

Some aspects of image editing can be pretty easy (changing size or converting something to black and white can be done with a click of a mouse). However, sometimes there are more complex issues when it comes to photos.

If you want to use an image for a publication or to display at an event, you're better off using a digital imaging service to make the job look professional. Digital imaging services are companies that know how to retouch an image right so it looks its best as well as know the proper file formats for publications.

*Just remember to make sure the digital photo you give to the imaging service is high resolution (lots of mega-pixels). Low resolution images will be hard to retouch (plus, they will break up or look funny if you try to blow the photo up to any big size).

Pack Prepared

Unique, seldom seen wilderness places are usually not right around the corner. Therefore, when you capture images of these hard-to-get-to places you'll want to do it right. Before you head out, get prepared:

• Bring an external hard drive so you can save all of your digital imaging to keep your memory card free for shooting
• Use a durable case that will not only keep your camera and lenses intact on walks, but that's also easy to carry
• Remember to pack an umbrella to protect your precious cargo in case of a sudden downpour

The Art of Imaging

Turn a hobby into a career! If your interest in digital imaging arts has gone past casual and you want to make it your career you have all kinds of options:

• Be an art director in an ad agency working on print campaigns
• Work for a publisher, designing book or magazine covers
• Work for a printer

These are companies that do digital image correction for all kinds of image-based businesses like advertising and publishing. The good thing is that there are many schools out there that provide an education for this ever-expanding field.

Use a Microphone

An external microphone can make a dramatic impact on the quality of the sound in your video. The built-in camcorder microphone will typically pick up the sound up you pushing buttons on your camcorder, any movements you make, and sometimes even the sound of the tape moving inside the camcorder as you record. If you are recording an interview or someone speaking try attaching a small lavaliere microphone to their shirt, or sitting another microphone near the action to make sure you get the clearest sound possible.