There has never been a better time to flex your reporting muscles, and use your camcorder to show the world the fruits of your investigations. If you harbour journalistic ambitions the world of news is your oyster, so grab your camcorder and our mini guide and get out there, you never know where it might lead you.

From small seeds – where to start your Camcorder Reporting Journey

As a child, ex Big Breakfast presenter Richard Bacon made news reports in his back garden with a
Camcorder. These early efforts translated swiftly into a job at Blue Peter and a successful career as a presenter. If you can avoid certain bad habits, this and more could happen for you.

The best place to start is with what you know, go to local events, request interviews with local celebrities and never dismiss a ‘story’. With some imagination footage from a school sports day, interspersed with sound bites from athletes and spectators could showcase your talents, and find an enthusiastic audience of competitors, families, friends and staff.

The news is out there – do your Research

Spend some time watching reports from the field on local and national news stations, some analysis of content and how shots are interspersed with dialogue and background can greatly inform and inspire your own efforts. Even a fairly straightforward political segment is worth considering as start, what makes up the shot? How important is location?

The budding reporter’s tool kit – camcorder and editing technology

Now is a great time to invest in a camcorder. The market is flooded with versatile and easy to use machines that can easily go wherever you do. Intuitive software is making it easier and easier to edit your films so that, with a little effort, professional looking results are within your grasp.
HD camcorders can produce high quality pictures, and perhaps even more usefully for the budding reporter, can reproduce sound at CD quality without the need for external microphones. Obviously some financial outlay is involved, but if you are serious the costs are now relatively low. Do your research and you could soon be the proud owner of the camcorder that will help you launch your career.

Shout it from the rooftops – where to ‘broadcast’ your work

Today’s social media revolution is perhaps the most powerful tool in your favour after your camcorder itself. It is now fantastically simple to reach an audience for your work. Use YouTube, Face book, Twitter, Flickr and be sure to link them all up to your own website or blog. All of this can be achieved with minimum effort, but bear in mind you will need to put in the effort to self promote; send links to anyone and everyone. It is also essential to keep all your pages up to date, tweet, blog and upload frequently to keep your audiences interest and who knows where you could be next year?

If you are in the market for a new Camcorder, or even your first, now is an exciting time to buy. However, the explosion of products now available can make things tough; which one should you buy? One of the first choices you’ll come up against is whether to buy HD or SD. Let our short guide help you make the decision, and move a little closer to owning the right camcorder for you.

What are we talking about – SD and HD explained

In its very simplest terms the difference is between standard and high definition pictures; literally the pictures recorded and played back are presented more clearly in high definition.

The Differences – what do SD and HD mean for your footage?

There are several areas in which SD and HD camcorders provide a different result. Deciding what is important to you will help you to decide which type you need.

Picture Quality – crystal clear yet?

The bottom line is that a
HD camcorder will produce a better picture than SD. SD camcorder screens usually have up to 5 mega pixels, whereas a high definition alternative will have up to 20. This makes a significant difference to the quality of the pictures recorded. The picture captured is bigger, meaning that less stretching is required when you view it on screen.

Frame rates – capturing the action

The amount of frames recorded per second affect the smoothness of your picture. If you are trying to capture fast action sequences, such as sports scenes, the more frames the better. More frames will also grant you better slow motion images. If you are buying a camcorder to record family events, or holiday footage you may need to worry less about high frame rates.

Light – night owl or early bird?

HD camcorders definitely record far better in low light. If you are hoping to record in the evening, or even at night, they may be a better choice for you. If you are recording in low lit rooms, you’ll experience fewer white lights on the screen if you go for HD than when using SD.

Sound – can you feel the music

Like picture quality, the sound quality on HD camcorders is better than on SD versions. Your SD camera will replay sounds at less than CD quality, while an HD camera will be better. Traditionally, SD recordings used for broadcast are boosted by external microphones and post production sound editing. With HD you can record sound direct for tape in almost all amateur circumstances.

Decision time

In the end the most persuasive factor in your decision will probably be price. An HD camcorder is likely to set you back more than an SD camcorder. It is up to you whether the differences outlined above will influence your decision away from the solely thrifty. Do research thoroughly though. With patience you can find some excellent deals, even on top of the range HD camcorders.

Gone are the days where the length of your
Camcorder f ootage is governed by the length of tape in your machine. These days the amount, and quality, of recordings is dependent upon the amount of memory available to you. There are a wide range of digital camcorders now available, and a wide range of memory types and sizes to go with them. If you are looking to invest in a new camcorder one of your main considerations should be memory, and this short guide is a good place to start working out exactly what you need.

Types of Camcorder

The basic choice of camcorder, in terms of memory, is now between those with an internal hard drive or flash drive, and those that use external flash memory devices; SD cards or memory sticks. The amount of memory you need will depend upon the quality of the footage you are recording. A High Definition (HD) camcorder will record better quality pictures and sound, but will require more memory per minute of footage. A Standard Definition (SD) camcorder will use less memory, but with a loss of footage quality. Your choice of memory size is dependent upon your filming needs; fast action sports footage will be much better on a HD camcorder, holiday and event videos will probably come out fine in SD.

Internal Memory

Hard drive – An internal hard drive offers you the most memory, which translates directly into more recording time. Unfortunately there is a trade off with battery life; hard drives contain small working parts which create a drain on the battery, so your camcorder power will not last so long. Internal hard drives offer memories of up to 120 GB, but these camcorders can be quite expensive. The cheaper ‘smaller’ devices, with 30 to 40 GB will give you proportionally less time. Generally your camcorder will give you 18 hours of SD recordings for every 8GB, or 10 hours for HD.

Flash drive – Camcorders with flash drive internal memory are usually smaller and lighter than their hard drive alternatives, but they usually also have less memory. They do however offer a higher speed of access to your footage, and larger memory than most camcorders which rely on external flash drives; SD cards.

External memory: SD cards or memory sticks

You can now buy SD cards in a wide variety of sizes. The smaller cards, up to 16GB are not too expensive, but newer cards with up to a 64GB will set you back a fair amount. The advantage of course, is that you can purchase as many cards as you like. If you plan to record a lot of HD footage you will need to invest in several cards, or one of the larger ones. For the ultimate in flexible memory there are camcorders available with both hard drive and removable storage compatibility, if your budget can stretch enough to accommodate them.

Panasonic have recently launched a new range of LCD flat screen TVs called Pure Line. Available in satin silver, silky white or shiny purple the Pure Line TV range has developed beyond the standard matt black TV casing. Their casing finish means that the exact appearance of the colour changes depending on the room’s lighting. With a design such as this, your interior should always match your TV.

One of the features that makes a Pure Line TV more than just decorative is its excellent picture quality. The 37 and 32 inch TVs come with Freeview and Freesat HD TV tuners, which mean users can view high quality HD TV programmes. These programmes are not only broadcast in excellent quality but they’re available without having to pay a subscription. All of the TVs in the range have a 178 degree viewing angle so the picture is still clear no matter where in the room you’re viewing it from. The contrast level is 2,000,000:1 which means that the picture on screen has deep black levels which are contrasted with bright and vibrant colours.  Motion focus technology, as well as a resolution enhancer helps to provide a natural and sharp picture that delivers excellent high definition programmes and films.

As well as an innovative design, the Pure Line TV range also incorporates several exciting technological features. The 37 and 32 inch TVs come with Viera Cast internet that allows users to access Panasonic’s online content which includes Youtube, Skype, online news and weather reports. Taking advantage of the large screen and excellent picture quality users can use the Viera Cast internet to access Picasa web albums enabling them to see their photos clearly and on a big screen. The two smaller 22 and 19 inch screens come with a built in iPod dock which means users can listen to their favourite music as well as watch their most beloved films and programmes.

Introduction

Home camcorders have been recording family moments since the 1960s. Whether it was a birthday party, a wedding, or Christmas, there always seemed to be a relative capturing it all on video. With the advent of websites such as Youtube, home movies have developed beyond the realms of family events and have become more imaginative and professional. Rather than just recording Aunt Di blowing out the candles, people are making entire animations out of Lego, spoofing their favourite music video, and creating their own mini movies. With this new creative drive behind home movie making, home film makers are looking for increasingly advanced technology in order to make more exciting and professional films; something which has just been provided by Panasonic in the form of the 3D camcorder.

3D camcorders have been a feature of the Hollywood studio for a while now, with more and more upcoming films scheduled to be shot in 3D. Whilst many of us may be familiar with the experience of going to the Imax, donning some 3D glasses, and becoming engrossed in a 3D film, did we ever expect to be making a 3D film ourselves? The new Panasonic 3D Camcorder HDC-SDT750 allows users to do just that, transporting Hollywood movie technology into the realm of home movie making.

Although the new Panasonic 3D camcorder uses the same technology as a 3D studio camera, it is much more compact, making it ideal for home use. The SDT750 Panasonic 3D camcorder comes with a 3D conversion lens which films the right-eye and left-eye images simultaneously in order to create a 3D picture. In addition to 3D filming, the SDT750 offers a number of extra functions which help to create high quality home movies. The camera has improved noise reduction to ensure poorly lit images are still captured brilliantly, as well as an iA (intelligent auto) function which means even the less experienced film maker can create beautiful films.

Panasonic have long been at the forefront of the development and production of 3D TVs, with this technology perfectly complimenting the new Panasonic 3D Camcorder. Once you have filmed your 3D movie, in order to enjoy watching it in all its 3D glory, it needs to be played on a 3D television such as a Panasonic Viera 3DTV. Combining this 3D film making technology with a Blu-ray Disc player/recorder means you can record your movies onto high quality HD discs, ensuring you can watch them back again and again in crisp 3D.

With the new Panasonic 3D camcorder, the future of home movie making seems more exciting than ever. Homemade animations can now leap out of the screen in the same way as Up or Toy Story 3. A home movie of a sports or racing event will seem more action-packed and exciting, whilst a family event can be captured with all the detail and vision associated with 3D filming. With the future of TV belonging to the 3D television, the future of home movie making can definately be improved with the Panasonic 3d digital camcorders.

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This is freelance produced content.

Introduction

TV technology has gone far beyond simple screen sizes and ergonomic remotes, and the new world of TV features can be a rather confusing place to explore. If you don’t yet know your aspect ratios from your digital tuners, help is at hand in the form of our guide to the main features of today’s TVs.

The Basics – what am I looking at?

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) : The familiar big, bulky boxes of yesteryear require a lot of room (no neat wall mounting here) and a strong back if you ever decide to move.

Projection: The affordable large screen TVs of the late nineties and early naughties use a projector to create an image from a video signal, that is projected onto a screen. Front and rear screen projection TVs exist, the former using a projector that is separate from the TV, and (perhaps unsurprisingly) the latter, rear projection, is produced inside the box behind the screen, more like a CRT set up.

Flat Panel:  In the world of TV, thin is definitely the new fat. Plasma and LCD screens are thin, light and far more attractive than their CRT ancestors. They are also able to display High Definition (HD) pictures. LED screens, the latest in flat screen technology, enable even thinner profiles and are more energy efficient than LED and Plasma tv screens.

Picture

High Defintion

The HD signal resolution is twice that of standard definition giving a much crisper, clearer picture. However, access to HD channels is needed in order to make use of a HD enabled TV. Look out for 1080p which is the highest level of resolution currently on the market.

The very latest in TV technology is 3D TV. Using a combination of set and active shutter glasses to produce exceptional depth of image and cinema style ‘jump out and grab you’ moments – this is TV to impress the neighbours with.

Contrast ratio

The contrast ratio of your TV shows you how white your “white” pixels will be and how black your “black” pixels are. The higher the contrast ratio the better as it will display what you’re watching in the most vivid colours, offering you a viewing experience that’s just like you’re there.

Settings and Modes

These allow you to optimise your picture and sound for films, sports and games and include familiar settings for sharpness and brightness. In the case of wide screen TVs aspect ratio adjustments allow you to stretch or zoom images not formatted for widescreen (including most TV programmes).

Analogue or digital

Not a choice you will be able to make for long. In the UK the analogue TV signal will be turned off by the end of 2012 at which point you will need a set top digital box, or an Integrated Digital TV (IDTV) in order to watch.

Freeview/Freesat HD

Several TV manufacturers have built in Freeview or Freesat HD boxes. This offers you the chance to see HD channels straight of the box as well as expanding the amount of channels you would normally see.

Programmable Video Recording

PVR is an integrated digital hard disk recorder allowing you to record TV direct through your TV using your TV remote and an onscreen display.

Refresh Rate

Look out for the Hz of the TV, this shows of often the screen image is refreshed and is important if you’re a gamer, sports fan or film buff as it prevents motion blur and image ghosting.

Plasma vs LCD

In a world where television is much more than a mere entertainer, where bulky CRT TVs which we once thought to be the best things on earth are on the verge of  extinction, there seems to be a eternal battle that’s waging inside every consumer – should he buy a Plasma or an LCD? While they may look the same on the surface, the two are as different as coffee and tea. Though both are beverages, they have completely different flavours, right? The same applies for Plasma TVs and LCDs – both are flat-screen tellies but are based on dissimilar technologies.

But which is the better of the two? Well, the answer isn’t all that simple. For one, it all depends on your requirements and budget. Starting off with the picture quality, Plasma TVs are much better than LCD TVs. Their contrast and brightness are better, and most importantly, black levels and fast-paced action is where Plasma HD TVs win hands down. For, LCD TVs are known to suffer from the rendition of weak black levels ever since they were introduced. Also, Plasmas have very wide viewing angles, which makes it possible to view the pictures from any angle. When it comes to colours, plasma TVs are again more efficient than LCDs.

Moving on to extol LCD TVs, the first aspect worthy of mention is their availability in even sizes of 15 inches and lower. When it comes to svelte looks, it’s LCD TVs that outdo Plasmas. LED TVs, (LCD TVs with an LED backlight) can be even slimmer than existing LCDs. Their contrast ratios are also more immense than that of Plasmas, with some LED TVs quoting contrast ratios of 1,000,000:1 and even higher. Another aspect in which they score is lifespan. Plasmas can actually wear out after 25,000 to 30,000 hours of usage while LCD TVs are more or less immortal. Several HD LCD Televisions of today though, are able to tackle their erstwhile problems with black levels and motion with the aid of latest technologies.

So, at the end of the day, it is you who has to decide. If you’d prefer a light weight TV that is easy to be moved around, then an LCD TV could be ideal. Or if a really large wall-mountable screen is what you want and the desire is coupled with a heavy purse, then go for a Plasma. So who’s the winner? Plasma or LCD? Cappuccino or iced tea? You decide.