Top Consumer Camcorders
What is the difference between a 1/6 and a 1/3 or 2/3 image lens?
I’m new to this field, so be patient.
The only obvious difference to me is the fact that the image chip is bigger, which might have better low lighting performance and slightly clearer images and “accurate”.
But is the image chip really that detrimental to picture quality and overall the camcorder’s performance? I’m asking because at the moment I’m eyeing up a Panasonic MD10000 camcorder for prosumer work – But slightly put out by the fact it is only a 1/6 image chip – The same equivilant top consumer camcorders.
But I understand it is a 3CCD camcorder – Where professionals use 3CCD for their work for their better colour reproduction and better low light.
Any advice welcomed 
Everyone starts somewhere. Welcome.
The imaging chip is only part of the “system”.
Light (images) comes in through the lens, hits the imaging chip, gets digitized, runs through some electronics and is written to the storage media.
Larger lens (measured by the “lens filter diameter” spec) let in more light.
Larger imaging chip allows more light to be processed or digitized.
Single chip systems have that single chip processing the three primary colors (Red – Green – Blue). Three chip systems have each chip processing a single primary color (Red – Green – Blue).
CCD = Charge-Coupled Device. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge-coupled_device
CMOS = Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cmos
Both can be used in cameras and camcorders in either single chip or 3-chip designs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_camera
You are correct, the 1/6 inch 3CCD imaging chip is more closely aligned with the imaging chip size found in consumer cams. So is the smallish 43mm lens filter diameter lens.
The imaging chip system used is not the only factor in determining low light performance and video clarity or color accuracy.
For around US$1,000 you won’t find too many other shoulder mount cams. But for a little more, check the Sony HVR-HD1000. It is in the same “boat” because of the small lens diameter and (single) imaging chip and shoulder mount – but at least you get the flexibility of shooting in standard definition and (default) high definition.
Before we go too far, however, we assume you are planning to edit the video. MiniDV tape based camcorders assume the computer you plan to edit on has a working firewire port. If that is not the case and you are not willing (or able) to add a firewire port to the computer, then you will not be able to get video from the camcorder to the computer. USB will not work. If your editing environment required a USB connection between the camcorder and computer, then you are stuck with shopping flash memory camcorders (hard disc drive camcorders are not recommended because of their many known limitations – including, but not limited to, inability to record under high noise/high vibration environments and high altitude).
So… are we still on miniDV tape or do we need to move to flash memory?
JVC Picsio Pocket Camcorders GCFM1B Black Ice
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