| The video camera first made its debut in the | | | | infinite regression - repetition of a scene. |
| television industry but has now penetrated | | | | Video cameras were first meant for |
| the common field. BBC (British Broadcasting | | | | broadcasting television pictures. The first |
| Company) used the first ones in the 1930`s. | | | | ones were large, mounted on trolleys and |
| The video camera is used mainly for two | | | | connected by wires to recorders kept in |
| purposes. The primary one is for projection | | | | another room. Technology meant downsizing |
| of live shows, like the ones we see on the | | | | everything to mini handy proportions. |
| television as also for immediate spying as | | | | Simultaneously costs began to go down making |
| used by and for the military and industrial | | | | it more affordable to the common people. |
| operations. The second purpose is for storage | | | | Sales shot up boosting further research in |
| and archiving. Videotapes were at one time in | | | | the field. Shoulder operated luggage type |
| use but now discs have replaced these. The | | | | video cameras used to sell for US$1500. Today |
| latest video cameras (filmadora) are a far | | | | better features are available from a mini |
| cry from its first generation models - | | | | model of video camera (filmadora) that can |
| similarities are difficult to trace. | | | | rest on the palm of the hand for US$150! It |
| Professional models of video cameras are | | | | is a revolution in evolution. It consists of |
| mobile units and allow fine manual control as | | | | three parts - the lens, the imager and the |
| required in fieldwork. Camcorders (filmadora) | | | | recorder. The lens focuses light on the |
| are also video cameras - it is a combination | | | | object. The imager converts this into video |
| of a camera and a recording device (VCR). | | | | signal and then finally it is stored or |
| These are in great demand for home movies, | | | | recorded in the recorder. The camera |
| television production, electronic news | | | | (filmadora) section consists of the optics |
| conferences etc. Another type of video camera | | | | and the imager. The lens has an aperture to |
| is the closed circuit variety that is used | | | | control light, zoom to define the field of |
| for security and monitoring. They are tiny so | | | | vision and shutter-speed to capture motion in |
| that can be hidden and are often used to | | | | continuity. The electronics automatically |
| monitor the environment in settings where man | | | | controls and adjusts these units. |
| cannot physically go. These web cams are | | | | Professionals have the option of choosing |
| video cameras used where there is danger from | | | | from models, which have manual functions as |
| radiation, excessive heat and exposure to | | | | well so that the operator has a say in the |
| poisonous chemicals and inhospitable terrain. | | | | matter. The imager is the eye of the set and |
| Another model is the digital camera that | | | | changes light into video signal |
| converts the signal to a digital output and | | | | electronically. The recorder writes the video |
| these are even smaller than the security | | | | signal on to a magnetic videotape or disc. |
| cameras. Often these are incorporated into | | | | The time and date are also recorded. From |
| the body of the computer or mobile pones and | | | | ancient times man has been desperate and keen |
| laptops. Special types of video cameras are | | | | to capture in time what is fleeting and |
| used abroad satellites for probing space or | | | | transitory. He has scratched on stone and |
| inserted in robots creating artificial | | | | papyrus building library after library of |
| intelligence. These come in handy also for | | | | life that is as fleeting as the moving river. |
| medical use. Video cameras (filmadora) are | | | | This urge still remains. With the video |
| slowly taking over the film world as video | | | | camera (filmadora) we capture eternally our |
| technology improves by the day. Video cameras | | | | personal lives and record history of protests |
| are now able to create special effects like | | | | and speeches. |