Want to learn how to use your camcorder's manual controls? Check out our Expert Guide.
You might not know it, but your camcorder is capable of things you never dreamed of. Once you take advantage of its manual controls, you'll be able to manipulate your videos in ways a typical Auto mode can't. While Digital Cameras and Camcorders share some of the same manual controls, there are a few controls that are specific to each type of camera. Also, the same manual control will act differently on a camcorder than it will on a digital camera. We're going to walk you through the basics of Manual adjustment on your new camcorder.
Where do we begin?
Unlike digital cameras, most camcorders have two shooting modes: Auto and Manual. This greatly simplifies the shooting process—you either let the camera do all the work, or you take the reins. We're going to be delving into controls located in Manual mode. First off, take inventory of your manual controls. Most advanced camcorders like the Panasonic HDC-HS700 and Canon Vixia HF S21 have Manual Shutter Speed, Aperture, Gain, White Balance, Focus, and Exposure. A lens control ring is our favorite external tool for making most adjustments, but most camcorders will either have a small control dial or rely on the LCD screen for adjustments. If you're looking for advanced control, we'd recommend opting for a camcorder that has either a lens ring or dial control.
Shutter Speed
In the camcorder world, Shutter Speed works a bit differently than it does in the land of digital cameras, though the same primary principals remain. As with any camera, when the shutter speed decreases, the image gets brighter since the lens blades are open longer to suck more light in. Well, when it comes to camcorders, reducing the shutter speed leads to a brighter video, though the framerate is choppier. This is because the camcorder is taking more time to expose each individual frame, resulting in less frames per second, and affecting motion significantly. Reducing the shutter speed works for shooting a fantastical dream sequence or abstract artistic scene, but it can't be considered a viable alternative to adjusting the exposure, since the framerate is affected so drastically.
Aperture
The Aperture on a camcorder functions just like any digital camera. With a narrow aperture, you can achieve a greater depth of field, but the camcorder requires more light to expose the picture properly. Small aperture values are good for landscapes and hallways while wider apertures are great for portrait scenes or Manual Focus effects. On most camcorders, you can set Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority. In Aperture Priority, you can choose the aperture and the camcorder will adjust the Shutter Speed accordingly. When you shoot in Shutter Priority, the camcorder will automatically select the Aperture to match it.
Gain
You know how ISO controls the sensitivity of digital camera? Well, Gain is the camcorder equivalent, and there's pretty much no difference between how both controls work. When you boost the ISO, the camera provides more luminance, which is ideal for dark shooting environments. On the downside, increasing the ISO also increases the amount of grain, or noise your picture contains. On a camcorder, Gain is measured in decibels, and the best advice is to keep the Gain as low as possible in order to salvage a clean image. Outdoors and in optimal lighting, Gain should be kept to a minimum, but if you leave the camcorder in AGC (Auto Gain Control), it might go a little crazy and pump up the Gain as soon as it detects and drop in lux (measure of available light). We recommend keeping the Gain low, unless it's an emergency.
White Balance
This manual control is relatively unchanged when compared to digital cameras. What we're dealing with here is the color temperature of the picture. If you've ever noticed that your image is exceedingly warm in low light environments, that's because the Auto White Balance is trying to compensate for lack of illumination. A proper Manual White Balance will remove the bluish or reddish tint in your videos, allowing you to apply color filters later on in postproduction. A white sheet of paper should be placed in front of the camcorder's lens during a Manual White Balance so that the camcorder has a reference point.
Focus
How many times has your Auto Focus concentrated on the background when you really wanted to focus on the foreground? This is particularly annoying when shooting products at trade shows—don't ask us how we know. Aperture and Focus go hand in hand when it comes to depth of field. For close up shots and a shallow depth of field, opt for a wide aperture and make sure you manually focus according to the shallowest focal range. Use a small aperture and manually focus according to the longest focal range when shooting distance shots with a lot of depth. This is where a lens ring comes in handy.
Odds and Ends
Your camcorder will offer a simple Exposure control. This is simply a luminance boost by using a combination of Gain or Aperture. While an Exposure boost is good for dim environments, you'll probably experience noise in most situations. Also, beware of Backlight Compensation. All the camcorder is doing here is illuminating the shadowed portion of the frame, so the background will be blown out. Go through your Main Menu and check out Auto Slow Shutter. ASS (what an acronym!) will automatically reduce your camcorder's shutter speed to compensate for dark shooting environments. While the camcorder will offer more illumination, you'll be treated to that choppy framerate since the amount of recorded frames per second are whittled down.
Start Rolling
Now it's time to grab your camcorder and head out into the world. Practice using each of the manual controls listed in this guide to really get a feel for your camcorder's adjustability. Also, feel free to share some clips. Now get rolling!
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