24
HINTS FOR MAKING BETTER VIDEO TAPES
If you are not familiar with camera techniques,
there are many books about the subject avail-
able at your local library. However, because the
camcorder is so simple to use and tape can be
used again and again, it is inexpensive to exper-
iment and learn as you go.
The following information will get you started.
LIGHTING
Lighting should be uniform. The camcorder can
record in low-light conditions, but more light is
usually better. The optimum brightness for top-
quality pictures is between 500 and 100,000 lux.
Caution: Do not place a light source near the
camcorder. The heat can damage the camcord-
er.
The chart at right shows you the approximate
brightness in different situations or from differ-
ent light sources.
Typical Brightness
of Common Situations
Brightness
(LUX)
Situation
100,000
Clear day at noon
65,000
Clear day at 10:00 AM
35,000
Clear day at 3:00 PM
32,000
Cloudy day at noon
25,000
Cloudy day at 10:00 AM
2,000
Cloudy day, one hour
after sunrise
1,000
Clear day, one hour
before sunset
1,000
Fluorescent light near
window
700-800
Factory floor
500-700
Sales counter in depart-
ment store
500
Bowling alley
400-500
Library
400-500
Office with fluorescent
lighting
400
Fluorescent desk lamp
250
Flashlight at 3 feet
100 Factory
stairway
15-35
During intermission at
movie theater
15-20
Cigarette lighter at 1 foot
10-15
Candles on birthday
cake at 8 inches
16-830.fm Page 24 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM
