1080i
A high-definition video format with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels or 1440 x 1080 pixels. The difference between the two resolutions lies in the shape of the pixels: 1920 x 1080 records in square (1:1) pixels, while 1440 x 1080 resolution records in rectangular (1.33:1) pixels. Both will give you a 1,920 pixel width, but the 1920 x 1080 resolution will use more pixels to give you the same image. The earliest high-definition camcorders recorded in 1440 x 1080, although 1920 x 1080 video recording has become more popular since it matches the resolution on 1080p HDTVs.

Analog inputs
Allows you to transfer analog materials, like older home movies or VHS tapes, into your camcorder, for re-recording in a digital format.

Audio formats
Camcorders record sound in different ways. The two most common formats are:

• Stereo sound. Most camcorders offer two-channel sound recording. Many Mini DV and Digital8 cams feature both a 12-bit and 16-bit format. The 16-bit format gives you superb, CD-quality stereo sound, while the 12-bit format gives you one basic stereo soundtrack while filming and lets you add another stereo track later. This option is great for adding voiceovers or music. Many DVD and hard disk camcorders record digital audio in the form of stereo Dolby Digital®.
• Surround sound. Some DVD and hard disk cams offer a surround mode for recording audio. Like the surround sound of DVD movies, this mode records five discrete channels — perfect for playback with a home theater system.

Auto Exposure modes
Designed to simplify operation, Auto Exposure modes handle more than just exposure. Choosing one of these pre-set modes automatically adjusts the aperture, shutter speed, and depth of field. These modes cover a wide variety of shooting situations from fast-action sports to nighttime shots.

AVCHD
AVCHD is a high definition recording format that allows hard disk, removable media, and DVD camcorders to record with 1080 lines of resolution. It compresses the footage into MPEG-4 files, and is mainly used in DVD and hard disk camcorders.

Backlight compensation
Ensures that your subject will be properly exposed, even under difficult lighting conditions. When the subject is in front of a bright background, like the sun or bright lights, the gain or aperture setting is increased to allow more light, which brightens the picture and reveals more detail. This is typically done automatically, but some camcorders let you adjust the backlight setting manually.

CCD (charge coupled device)
The part of your camcorder that reads light and captures video and still images as thousands of tiny pixels. Higher pixel count means greater resolution — that is, a better picture.

Keep in mind that the actual pixel count is often greater than the effective pixel count — the number of pixels used to capture the image.

CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)
Similar to a CCD, a CMOS sensor is the part of your camcorder that reads light and captures video and still images as thousands of tiny pixels. Two advantages to CMOS sensors are their lower power consumption, meaning longer battery life, and their ability to produce crisp, detailed images.

Date/time stamp
Allows you to display the date or time on an image or section of video.

Digital photo mode
Some digital camcorders also let you snap digital still photos, just like a digital camera. However, photos taken with digital camcorders are generally less detailed than the photos digital cameras can produce.

Camcorders with digital photo mode usually store images on removable memory. The more megabytes (MB) of memory, the greater the number of images that can be stored.

Digital8®
Camcorder format which allows you to record digital-quality video onto standard Hi8 or 8mm tape. Most Digital8 camcorders also play back analog Hi8 and 8mm recordings, although they do not record in Hi8 or 8mm.

DVD VR mode
DVD video recording (VR) mode is a feature that allows video recording and editing directly onto a rewritable DVD without transferring the content to your computer. Most DVD camcorders will prompt you to choose whether or not you want to record in standard Video mode or VR mode when you format your DVD. There are two different formats in DVD VR mode that each have different editing features.

• DVD-VR
  
  • lets you immediately re-use deleted space by filling in the gaps with new footage
  • uses playlists instead of standard navigation menus
  • records to DVD-RW and DVD-RAM discs
  • compatible with DVD players that can play mini DVD-RW or DVD-RAM discs
• DVD+VR
  
  • closes in the gaps when you delete footage so that your video remains complete without any "holes"
  • uses standard navigation menus
  • records to DVD+RW discs
  • compatible with DVD players that can play mini DVD+RW discs

For more detail on how your camcorder uses this function, see the owner's manual that came with your camcorder or check out the owner's manual on our site for a specific camcorder before you buy.

"FireWire" (see IEEE 1394)

Flash memory
Flash memory gets its name because sections of memory cells within the microchip are erased in one simultaneous action, or "flash." Flash memory doesn't have any moving parts, so it's more durable than hard drive memory, and can record and access media faster. Given the small size of the microchips, flash memory camcorders can be built smaller and lighter than other cams. Today, flash memory is commonly used with portable digital music players, handhelds/PDAs, digital camcorders, and for storing digital still pictures in digital cameras and camcorders.

Flying erase head
Whenever you stop and start the tape during recording, the flying erase head eliminates "rainbow noise" glitches for smooth transitions. Flying erase heads are commonly found on 8mm and Hi8 models — they're not needed on digital models.

Hard drive
A hard drive (or "hard disk drive") is the large sealed drive built right into a hard disk camcorder, just like a computer. It stores the footage you record. A larger hard drive means that you can record more hours of video.

HDMI
Most high-definition camcorders come with either a mini HDMI or a full-sized HDMI output. Both types carry both digital audio and digital video, so you can watch your high-def footage on a compatible HDTV with just one cable. While Mini DV camcorders continue to use full-sized HDMI outputs, most DVD, flash, and hard drive camcorders have switched over to the smaller mini HDMI output. For video, HDMI is backwards-compatible with DVI if you use an adapter.

Hi8
Analog camcorder format which allows you to record video with 400 lines of resolution onto Hi8 tape, or 240 lines of resolution onto standard 8mm tape.

IEEE 1394
Also known as "FireWire" or i.LINK, this all-in-one, high-speed digital interface is becoming an industry standard for the transmission of digital audio/video data. IEEE 1394 permits data transfer between compatible digital components (camcorders, computers, editing decks, etc.) with virtually zero loss in video or audio quality.

Most consumer video equipment uses 4-pin IEEE 1394 ports and connectors, but some peripherals employ a 6-pin configuration.

i.LINK™ (see IEEE 1394)

Image stabilization
A feature that eliminates the shakiness of hand-held shots. There are two types of image stabilization. Optical image stabilization involves actual movement of the lens elements; digital image stabilization uses built-in processing to reduce shakiness and blur after the image has been captured. Similar to digital zoom, digital image stabilization reduces image quality by producing a pixelated, grainy-looking image.

The image on the right was shot with Sony's acclaimed SteadyShot picture stabilization technology; the image on the left, without.

LANC (Control L)
A 2-way communications system used to coordinate tape transport commands for automated editing. The Control L jack is found on many Digital8 and Mini DV camcorders, as well as on compatible VCRs and editing controllers.

Lux
Stands for "lumens per square meter." This specification measures a camcorder's low-light sensitivity, indicating the minimum amount of illumination required to record an acceptable image. A lower lux rating indicates greater low-light capability. (See also "Night Vision" recording.)

Manual focus
Lets you adjust the focus. Some camcorders come with focus settings, which let you choose from discrete, predetermined values. Others come with a focus ring, which gives you much greater control and a smooth, hands-on feel that's similar to using a 35mm camera.

MICROMV™
Ultra-compact videocassette format which records picture and sound information as digital data (1s and 0s). MICROMV uses MPEG2 compression to fit sharp digital video on a cassette about 70% smaller than a Mini DV tape.

Mini DV
Compact videocassette format which records picture and sound information as digital data. Mini DV provides exceptional resolution, accuracy and color richness.

Mini DVD
3" DVDs that are commonly used in DVD camcorders. They come in a variety of types, including "write-once" formats, like DVD-R and DVD+R, and rewritable formats like DVD-RW and DVD+RW. For longer recording times, choose either double-sided mini DVDs or dual-layered DVDs.

MPEG/M-JPEG movie mode
Feature that allows many newer camcorders to capture video clips in a format that's easy to send via e-mail or post online. However, the resulting clips are small in size and do not offer top-notch resolution (320 x 240 is a common resolution). The digital file formats usually involved include:

• MPEG1. In addition to capturing small, easily transferable video clips, this format is used to create Video CDs. Also commonly used for posting clips on the Internet.
• MPEG4. This newer, very flexible MPEG codec is the video format employed by a growing number of portable video recorders. (It's also often used for both streaming and downloadable Web content.)
• Motion JPEG (M-JPEG). Based on the JPEG codec for still images, Motion JPEG captures each frame of video separately and reduces its size using JPEG compression.

MPEG2
Although this codec is related to the MPEG formats mentioned above, it's used by DVD camcorders, commercially produced DVD movies, home-recorded DVD discs, and digital satellite TV broadcasts to deliver much higher-quality video. MPEG2 rivals the Mini DV format when it comes to picture quality.

"Night Vision" recording
Enables you to shoot video in near- or complete darkness. Different manufacturers have their own proprietary names and technologies associated with this feature.

Pixel
Short for "picture element." A camcorder's CCD consists of several hundred thousand pixels, each one building up a tiny charge of electricity in response to the light it "sees." The more pixels a CCD has, the higher its resolution, and the better the resulting picture.

Keep in mind that the CCD's actual pixel count is often greater than the effective pixel count — the number of pixels used to capture the image.

RC Time Code
Included on all digital camcorders, an automatic and very accurate method of recording the frame reference on the tape in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. (The RC stands for "Re-writable Consumer.") RC Time Code makes precision editing easy.

Recording modes
Camcorders have different recording modes which capture different numbers of frames per second. More frames per second may result in higher-quality footage, but will take up more space on your tape, disc, or hard disk drive.

Removable Memory
Some camcorders allow you to record photos, as well as video. You can typically record these photos to the disc or hard disk drive that video is stored to, or to optional removable memory cards, such as Memory Sticks® or SD™ cards. See our Blank Media discussion for more info.

Resolution
The number of pixels used to capture an image. The higher the resolution, the sharper the video or photos; for example, resolution of 640 x 480 gives you more detail than 320 x 240. The first number specifies the horizontal pixel count, while the second is the vertical pixel count.

Time base correction
Feature that electronically corrects timing inconsistencies during videotape playback, stabilizing the image for the highest quality.

Titling
On-screen text in the form of captions or comments. Many camcorders let you create your own titles, and some also include several preset titles to cover typical camcorder occasions like weddings, birthdays and vacations.

USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a "plug and play" interface found on many digital camcorders, especially DVD and hard disk models, and those with digital photo modes. USB allows for quick, easy transfer of digital photos between a camcorder and a computer. It will also permit transfer of video from a DVD camcorder or hard disk camcorder to a computer. For more information, check out our discussion of USB in the Connections Glossary.

Viewfinder
A camcorder's small built-in video monitor, black-and-white or color, that you hold up to your eye to watch the scene you're recording (or playing back). Although a viewfinder doesn't provide as big an image as a flip-out viewscreen, it may be preferable when shooting outdoors in direct sunlight, which can wash out the image on a viewscreen.

Viewscreen
Flip-out color LCD viewscreens are now commonly featured in addition to traditional viewfinders. With screens typically in the 2-4" range, images are larger and easier to see, during both recording and playback. Another advantage of a viewscreen is that you can shoot videos without holding the camcorder up to your eye.

Webcam function
Many digital camcorders now let you stream live or taped video, in MPEG or M-JPEG format, to your computer via its USB port. This ability to stream video enables you to use your cam for videoconferencing online, or as a webcam. However, you may need separate software; be sure to check the camcorder's PC requirements.

White balance
Electronic adjustment of light levels so that recorded images retain their true colors. Most newer camcorders do this automatically.

Widescreen recording
Generally refers to an aspect ratio of 16:9, which is the optimum ratio for viewing footage on a widescreen TV.

Zoom
The ability to magnify your subject for close-ups, or pull back for wide shots. Most camcorders include a variable optical zoom lens, as well as electronic digital zoom. Digital zoom can provide greater magnification, but the more you zoom in, the more the image degrades.