Can a normal camcorder detect infrared light?

Wut

I have some camcorders that do not have "night shot" or a built-in infrared lamp. If I get an external IR lamp will these camcorders be able to detect it? They're all Panasonics--SDR-S26, SDR-S26K, SDR-H85, HDC-HS250P, and PV-GS250.

Answer
yes and no. All normal camcorders and digital cameras can detect IR light. For that reason they all have IR blocking filters to prevent having false colors in normal conditions. In a few models, the filter can be defeated to create "nightshot" effects, but not the Panasonics. Some hackers are willing to do surgery on their camera to forcibly and permanently remove the filter that is located on the CCD sensor. not really a good idea. some cameras have a poorly functioning filter and pickup some IR light. to test yours, point a television remote control at the camera lens and see if there is a light when the buttons are pushed.

camcorder shutter speed for low light conditions?

leatricema

There is a shutter speed given for video cameras in low light conditions. (1/30, 1/60, etc.) Is this the speed of the lens at all times or just when the lighting is low?

Answer
The camcorder's shutter speed is in fractions of a second and the amount of time the shutter remains open to allow light to hit the imaging chip (CCD or CMOS).

1/30 is typically the auto setting when in low light. Smaller number in the denominator means the shuttr stas open longer. Moving objects will record with ghost tailing and possibly blurred. 1/60-1/125 is in daylight. In auto shutter mode, as the lighting get brighter (or the aperture is opened), the shutter speed can increase. Most camcorders also allow you to manually set the shutter speed. At about 1/500-1/1000, the aperture can't open any more and the image will darken unless lots of light is added to the scene. Be careful, though, at this speed or faster, there is an irritating "strobe" effect that settles in and can be very uncomfortable for the viewer.

(Remember, still photos capture is different from video - with stills, typically, the goal is to freeze the moment so faster shutter speeds are more common. Which video, motion is fluid, so each frame does not need to have everything in sharp focus).

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Camcorder light?

Rich Z

Anybody know what kind of light is best for a Panasonic camcorder? Needs to be self-powered, and I'd like one you can filter and soften . I'm thinking the LED ones create a harsh light. So perhaps a semi-professional model?

Answer
In general, it's best to avoid camera mounted lights beacause they tend to introduce a lot of shadow in your video.

For those times when you have no other alternative than using an on-camera light rig, LED is actually one of the best solutions because of low power consumption and better overall lighting. You can diffuse them easily with a piece of cloth and you get a bright light source that lasts all day.

The VariZoom S-2010F LED light is among the best in class for this sort of thing. It does both daylight and tungsten color temperatures, has it's own battery, and provides a ton of light. The downside is it's a little pricey.

You can read a review of the VariZoom here:
http://www.dv.com/reviews/reviews_item.php?articleId=196602658

Best budget camcorder for low-light situations?

Anthony

Hello! I am taking a trip to NY and DC in April and I want a good camera that can record in low light (the city at night mostly) To be honest I really dont want to spent more that $300. I have been looking at camcorders like the sony webbie Aipteks line etc.

Any ideas?

Answer
You are not going to find a camcorder that records well at night for under $300. Period. Aipteks are in particular pretty horrible in low-light. Here's a test... look at the size of the lens, the glass itself, not the plastic part surrounding it. The size of the lens indicates something very signficant about the camera's light-gathering capability. Most of the Aiptek-type cameras have a tiny lens area, and often much of that lens area is shell, not lens.

I'd bet the Sony Webbie outperforms any of the Aipteks, but it's not great compared to many "real" camcorders. See here:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-MHS-PM1-Webbie-HD-First-Impressions-Camcorder-Review-36052.htm

You can find "real" camcorders in this range... something like the Canon FS-100. While this one is no great shakes at low-light, it's way beyond the range of these web-cam spinoffs like the Aipteks and the Webbie.. plus you get a real lens, large optical zoom, etc.

Even semi-pro camcorders are not all that great in the dark. Take my Sony... it's got a sensor about 15x larger than some of those webcam type camcorders, but it's still not ideal for low-light video... and it cost me $2600 some years back.

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camcorders?

crazykrise

I might be going to a concert and I need a camcorder/camera that would work because my phone has poor quality pictures and my camera doesn't record sound with videos so can someone please tell me kinds of camcorders that aren't too big for concerts, but still have good quality and maybe a website or store to find them? It would really help me out a lot!!!

Answer
Well, generally concerts are low-light events, which normally requires a somewhat high-end camcorder to get good quality in the low-light conditions. If you go with a Sony, they do have the NightShot feature built in which drastically improves low-light shots. Granted on some models it gives the tape a "green hue" so this may not be a desirable option. (Though Sony's are still a good choice in my opinion).

If it is an outdoor or day concert you can pretty much use any old camcorder. Preferably something with image stabilization (optical is better than digital stabilization) and a decent zoom (at least 10x optical) unless you're going to be right up next to the stage.

There are also various media types to consider. Mini DV tape, mini-DVD and hard drive are the three main types. As far as cost goes, mini-DV is the cheapest and actually offers the highest quality video, as it is compressed less than the other aforementioned media types.

As far as where to go... try http://www.bestbuy.com/ I am an employee in Best Buy's digital imaging dept. and I have people come in all the time with these questions. You'll end up getting a lot more information in a shorter period of time if you go and talk to someone as opposed to reading a bunch of different sources. Even what I wrote here is extremely basic and would only take a few minutes to explain verbally.

Good luck.

Can every camcorder pick up IR light?

nothngupmy

I'm looking into getting an on-camera IR light source and just read in the description that the camera you use it with must be in night vision mode. Now, I've been under the impression that all digital cameras and camcorders can see infrared light, so I'm confused as to why it would say that your camera must have a night vision mode for it to work. I've got a Canon GL2 (with no night mode setting like many Sony cameras have). Will these IR lights work with it?
Here's what I'm looking at getting: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/560304-REG/Sima_SL_10IR_SL_10IR_Night_Vision_On.html
My Canon GL2 can see the IR light from a remote control. Does that mean it'll work with an IR emitter in zero light?

Answer
No. Not all camcorders can deal with infrared light in zero visible light.

My Sony HDR-HC1 has a built-in infrared emitter. The HC1 can "see" in zero light. My Sony HDR-FX1 does not have a built-in IR emitter - and cannot see when trying to record at the same time as the HC1 with the HC1's IR emitter on.

Many - most - camcorders have an IR filter which is why they can't see in zero light even if there is an IR source on...

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What is the best camcorder/camera for low light situations?

Mr. X-CLU$

I plan on doing some YouTube videos in the future, but the problem is that my room is kinda dark, and my cellphone is terrible when it comes to dark areas. Are there any cameras for $200 or under for low light situations?
If not in my price range, anything not too expensive is fine.

Answer
Your question #1: What is the best camcorder/camera for low light situations?
Response: Any camcorder with a large lens diameter (to let light in to the camcorder/camera) and large imaging chip (to process what little light comes in through the lens when it is dark.

Your question #2: "Are there any cameras for $200 or under for low light situations?"
Response: No.

"not too expensive" means different things to different people.

Consumer grade camcorders start at the low end with small (less than 30mm) diameter lenses and small (less than 1/6") single imaging chip. As the price goes up, the lens diameters and imaging chips get larger. At around $400, the lens diameter is around 37mm and the imaging chips can get as large as 1/4". At around $800 the lens diameter is around 43mm and the imaging chips approach 1/3". At around $1,200 the lens diameter is around 58mm and the imaging chips are around 1/3". As you continue up the price spectrum to high-end consumer (sometimes called "prosumer") camcorders, $3,000 finds 72mm lens diameter with 3CCD or 3CMOS 1/3" imaging chip arrays - these do quite well under low-light conditions.

So... what can you do if you can't afford a camcorder/camera that can behave well under low light conditions? It depends what you are capturing to video, but one relatively easy way (assuming you will be editing the video with a half decent editor) is to add LOTS of light so your room is no longer dark - then, using your editor, make it look dark... This is call shooting "day for night".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MaC44MU4iw

When you go this route, use whatever camera/camcorder you want - and make the investment in lighting and a decent video editor - not a camera/camcorder. For $200, assuming your computer has a fast CPU, 4 gig RAM or more and lots of hard drive space - Sony Vegas is affordable and a couple or three worklights from the hardware store like
http://www.amazon.com/Voltec-08-00210-500-Watt-Portable-Worklight/dp/B004ZMUHBG
would be plenty.

Learn about 3-point lighting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_point_lighting

camcorders?

Cpt.Jack

I would like to buy a camcorder/video recorder for Christmas.It needs to be able to record at night/dark light can anyone recomend any as I don't have a clue! there is a Sony DCR52 in comet that's reasonably priced. Doesn't necessarily need to take still pics as I already posses a cracking camera.
Can anybody recomend one?

Answer
well, the camcorder i just got for my birthday which was like a week ago, is a jvc gr-d770 mini dv camcorder and it is very very good, you can put your vids on the computer and take still pictures which you said you dont want but you might was well get that so you have a camera and a camcorder, but it has a bright bright led light on it and its just amazing, here is the link from walmart
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5621883

but if your looking for a camcorder with night vision then its going to cost a lot of money and really its not worth it, just get one with a light
but hope this helps

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Differences in camcorders, lighting used in TV vs films vs personal home videos?

best camcorder light image

Rich Cad

What are the different types of camcorders called? Are there different types? The lighting, zooms look totally different in TV, films, and personal home videos. What other differences are there? How do you create home videos that look like films or even tv shows. Also, how can you capture photos that look professional? I don't know anything about photography and filming.

Answer
I don't think there is enough room or time to tell you. If you want to find out about this type of media then you need to go to your local library and read read, and read more, that will give you an idea, then a few years in collage, then training in your chosen field, once you have done all that, then you start to learn how to do it. if you ask anyone in media they will tell you that you never stop learning. think how much films/TV and video have changes over the last few years.

there are sites that will give you a very basic idea on how to achieve some of the effects you are asking about,

try www.videohelp.com

you will be surprised who gives advice there.

Good luck

RR

How come when you move your camcorder away from light, it creates a "smear" effect on the footage?

Jean Miche

Like for instance, I was watching some old Jean Michel Jarre and some old Queen concerts, and every time the camera moved away from the lights (say stage lights, or a reflection), it would give a temporary "smear" effect on the lens before it goes away. Why does it do this? Because of the quality of what they had at the time?

Answer
Hello
on this page you get
the solution for your problem!

http://www.videomaker.com/article/1808/

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