All You Need To Know About The Invention And History Of Camcorders
INTRODUCTION
Recent model camcorders can shoot high-quality videos with advanced imagery units and great-sounding. Their compact and lightweight design with a wide range of automatic and manual camera setting options make the shooting task easy.
That too, with the modern camcorders, you can immediately download and import the recorded clips to a computer for editing, thanks to the versatile connectivity options.
But do you think things were straightforward and advanced in the beginning? Like all other technological improvements, camcorders also have a history in terms of their revolution. Let's get to know about it in detail.
ORIGIN OF CAMCORDER
The earliest successful videographers were impressively talented. I say so because the old-style video cameras lacked automatic camera settings, display units, and no laptop editing. Still, they were able to capture good shots.
Yes, the early model video cameras contained separate recorders; they used two-inch-thick videotape to store videos footage and electronic tubes to convert light.
But the downside was videographers had to use a truck full of equipment to shoot even the shortest reel. Also, after taking the shot, they had to play the footage back to see the preview.
Of course, another issue was the editing systems, as I said earlier. That is why people wanted to see a revolution in camcorder technology. And the world of video camera transformed this way -
First Video Recording Device
The first video recording device was about the size of a refrigerator; the machinery and equipment started shrinking in the 70s. They still ended up with the size of a small suitcase. The cameras required constant attention throughout the shoot to ensure color consistency; because the light converter tubes often would get overheated due to more light and significantly shift colors, saturation during shooting.
First Home Video System
According to research, Ampex introduced the first relatively lightweight and lower-priced video recorder for the masses in 1963. The Ampex VR-1500 was priced around $30,000 and weighed nearly 100 pounds. However, the Quad Videotape Group launched the first commercial video recorder, the Ampex VRx 1000, in 1956 with a $50,000 price.
Ampex VRx 1000, in 1956
The video cameras took live images, then converted them into electrical impulses and stored them on magnetic tape.
FIRST PORTABLE VIDEO SYSTEM
Sony introduced the first Portapak or portable video camera, DV-2400 Video Rover, in 1967. It contained a vast B&W camera and separate helical VCR unit; that operated with a reel-to-reel.
It was much lighter and easier to use than the previous model, though still bulky, heavyweight and difficult to use by today’s standards.
INVENTION OF CAMCORDERS
The early video cameras were mainly created for television; they used to capture videos and convert the optical signal into an electronic form but couldn't store them into the device. The cameras required external storage devices to store the recorded video footage. The lack of built-in storage was the major issue of the previously stated early-generation video cameras.
In 1980, a great revolution took place with the invention of camcorders, an all-in-one, and the portable video camera. It combined the features of a video camera and a video recorder. The camcorders captured the motion pictures electronically plus recorded them into the same device.
DV-2400 Video Rover, in 1967
EVOLUTION OF CAMCORDER
Jerome Lemelson had invented more than 500 video recording devices, but the invention of the camcorder unarguably set the benchmark on camera history. Of course, the early models are far different from the camcorders we see today. The first made camcorders were not handheld devices; there were no USB ports or internet connection. The camcorders primarily got used for television broadcasting only; they stored the videos on cassette tapes.
In 1982, Sony and JVC officially announced their first camcorder models; that combined camera and recorder into a single device. But they came to the mainstream market in 1983 with the slogan “Inside This Camera Is a VCR” used by Sony’s Betamovie Beta camcorder.
Sony to Betamax and Panasonic/JVC to VHS, the camcorders recorded on to full-size domestic cassettes; that means they still had ‘shoulder mounted’ affairs due to large size.
In 1984, Kodak introduced the first compact 8 mm format. Just a year later, JVC introduced their first chip-based camcorder VHS-C, and Sony introduced the “Video 8”, which used a more compact VHS cassette. The smaller cassette made the camcorders’ smallest yet’ till then, though they were still pretty bulky by today’s standard.
After that, the VHS makers brought out SVHS (Super VHS), and Sony introduced their Hi8 format, which used an improved version of VHS for better picture resolution and sound quality.
Evolution of camcorder
In 1992, Sony replaced the traditional viewfinder with the color LCD screen to avoid the necessity of squinting through the tiny hole during shooting.
In 1995, Sony stepped into the digital era, and their MiniDV dramatically changed the scenario. The digital camera comfortably got fitted into one’s trouser pocket and produced sharp and clear videos.
With the arrival of the 21st Century, tapeless camcorders slowly started to be introduced in the market. The camcorder stored the recorded video footage on a memory card (SD card, memory stick, etc.). The cameras eliminated the usage of bulky tape, on the other hand, started requiring a bulk-sized battery to power it.
However, the tech world evolves forever! Today, we have palm-sized camcorders; that offer HD, full HD, 4K ultra HD resolutions with impressive picture quality even in low-light.
FAQ
1. Are camcorders dying or outdated?
This is true that smartphones let us shoot videos whenever we want, offer versatile connectivity options, and produce high-quality videos. But the professional event shooters, filmmakers, documentary makers, and journalists still can’t avoid camcorders.
Nothing could offer the 4K resolution, sharpness, stability, zooming ratio, and high-end optical performance like a professional 4K camcorder; so most passionate videographers find them useful for their personal and professional uses.
CONCLUSION
The high-resolution video with immersive color accuracy and great sound, easy-to-use palm-sized camcorder, and the pocket-sized digital camera became the new norm of the 21st Century. You could expect all in one tiny handheld device; still, the companies come with an upgrade every year. The recent challenge is combining all the most demanding professional features in one device and pricing them sensibly within an affordable price range for general customers.
