What to the statistics of digital video cameras mean?

Question

(pixels, Mega pixels, digital and optical zoom, bit color, Shutter speed, frame rate, aperture, ETC.) thanks.

Sorry, what *do* the statistics mean?

Answer 1

They aren't really statistics, but letting that pass:-

Pixel - every digital picture is made up of individual pixels, little squares of colour. If you open a picture in an imaging program and enlarge and enlarge and enlarge it, eventually you will see each individual pixel.

Mega Pixels - mega merely means '1000', so megapixel, 1000 pixels

Optical zoom - the elements that make up the lens move in relation to each other to give a different focal length within one lens - from wide angle to telephoto

Digital Zoom - the camera includes software which enlarges the centre of the picture to give a telephoto effect. Not to be used as it degrades the picture.

Bit color - used to describe the number of bits required to make up a colour. This is a very complicated subject so if you want to know more look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth

Shutter speed - every camera has a shutter which opens and closes to allow light to reach the medium which is to record the picture. The rate at which this opening and closing takes place is known as 'speed'. It is usually fixed on simple camcorders.

Frame Rate - every movie is made up of frames of still pictures which when shown at a certain speed give the illusion that the action is moving (this due to the 'persistence of vision' of the human eye). To slow a frame rate and movement will appear jerky, to fast and it will look comical. A very slow frame rate is used to e.g. make films of flowers opening.

Aperture - lens have an 'iris', like that of the human eye. It can open and close. It seems odd, but the smaller the number, the bigger the opening, the larger the number the smaller. Aperture is used in conjunction with shutter speed, but is less important on consumer camcorders (where there tends to be no ability to alter them) than on still cameras.

You will have to be specific on your 'etc'