How to Use a Camcorder

Summary: Consumer electronics have come a long way in the last 40 years. Almost without interruption, each generation of technology has had its 10-year-run of popularity and then made way for an abrupt wave of new ideas. Consumers and their pocketbooks are swept up in the change every time.

One of the most functional and user-intensive electronic gadgets is the video camcorder. “Camcorder” is a portmanteau word, a mixture of camera and recorder, which is exactly what a camcorder is. At some point in the recent past, those two functions were separate and required two separate operators. Imagine filming your child’s birthday with a recording technician following you around carrying a VCR.

Camcorder technology has stayed true to the flux of change. It moved from big, clunky tapes and cameras in the beginning, to lighter, sleeker, smaller versions. At some point, the technology was anticipated to have reached its peak, and research and preparation were made for the next generation of camcorder. We now have the digital video camcorder.

In this free instructional video series, our expert will show you how to use your mini DV camcorder from top to bottom. This intensive video clinic includes lessons for beginning camcorder users, with tips and techniques on how to connect your camera to a computer, what the basic movie shots to use are, how to use backlight compensation, editing, shooting at night, and steadying your shot.