Digital Video Camera Settings
Digital video cameras are sophisticated pieces of equipment with many features and user options. Navigating and setting all of these options can be confusing and frustrating. To learn more about your digital camcorder's features and how to access them, READ YOUR USERS MANUAL.
Even the most poorly written users' manual offers a great deal of knowledge about your DV camera and will get you well on your way to learning how to use it and what all those buttons, dials and switches mean.
General Settings Tips
Widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) vs. standard (4:3 aspect ratio)
If your digital video camera can shoot in native 16:9 (widescreen) aspect ratio, use that setting. Black bars will appear at the top and bottom when viewed on a normal TV (4:3 aspect ratio), but you will be forever grateful you shot in widescreen several years from now when all TVs are widescreen. Why? Because anything shot in standard 4:3 aspect ratio will appear with black bars to the right and left of the picture or it will have to be stretched, which makes everyone appear short and fat. We know many of you out there don't want to trust us on this, BUT TRUST US ON THIS! Or you'll be sorry.
Learn more about widescreen vs full screen (standard).
A word of caution about widescreen or 16:9
Many digital camcorders claim to shoot in widescreen but in fact shoot in a "letterbox" mode that simply chops the top and bottom of the picture off to create the more rectangular aspect ratio. If this is the case with your digital video camera, choose the standard 4:3 aspect ratio.
If you shoot in letterbox, the picture will need to be blown up (enlarged) to fill a widescreen TV, which compromises the resolution and video quality. You don't want this. If the manual for your DV camera doesn't state that it can shoot in true or native 16:9 or widescreen, shoot standard. |
Auto Focus vs. Manual Focus
Many consumer digital video cameras do not offer manual focus as an option. If yours doesn't , your decision has been made for you. If yours does, the answer might not be as simple as you think.
Many professionals will tell you to always use manual focus. It is the best way to make sure your subject is as sharp as possible. For most day-to-day video shooting, however, it just isn't practical.
If your digital camcorder is equipped with a manual focus option, the best thing to do is to picked your setting (manual or auto) based on the shot. If you're stationary on a tripod video taping a piano recital, use the manual focus as you probably won't need to refocus a lot. If you're running around capturing video at a large family reunion, auto focus is the way to go because you don't want to constantly refocus with every new location, subject and event.
A good rule of thumb: When spontaneity is likely, auto focus is the best setting.
SP vs. LP (standard play vs. long play)
Long play or LP will let you record for longer on a tape than standard play (SP). Usually you can record for about 50% longer (90 minutes vs. 60 minutes). So why shouldn't you just always record in LP and save a few bucks on tapes? Well, maybe you should and maybe you shouldn't.
The jury is still out on whether you lose video picture quality when shooting in LP. Most manufactures and many experts will tell you to always shoot in SP because it's more stable and will ultimately deliver higher quality. For many casual users, however, the difference may not be noticeable.
It boils down to a personal preference or situational decision. We recommend SP to be on the safe side of both quality and long-term compliance with other players and cameras. But if you're low on video tape or are recording something where quality isn't as important, LP could be your best option. The important thing is knowing the difference between the two.
|
