Major Components

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All video cameras contain 3 major components - thelens, imager, and recorder. The lens gathers andfocuses the light on the imager, which is normallya charge coupled device (CCD) or CMOS sensor IC.Finally, the recorder will encode the video signalinto a form that can be stored. Commonly, the opticsand imager are known as the camera section.The optic lens is the first component in the camerasection's light path. The optics normally have oneor more the following adjustments: 1. aperture - controls the amount of light 2. zoom - controls the field of view 3. shutter speed - captures continuous motionIn most consumer units, these adjustments are automatically controlled by the video camera's electronics, normally to maintain constant exposureonto the imager. The imager is the "eye" of the camera, housing aphoto sensitive device or devices. The imager worksto convert light into an electronic video signal through an elaborate electronic process. The camera lens projects an image to the imager surface,exposing the photo sensitive array to the light.The light exposure is then converted into an electricalcharge. Towards the end of the timed exposure, theimager will convert the accumulated charge into acontinuous analog voltage at the imager's outputterminals. The third piece, the recorder, is responsible forwriting the video signal to a recording medium,such as magnetic videotape. The recording functioninvolves many steps of signal processing, andhistorically, the recording process introduced some distortion and noise to the stored video, such that the playback of stored signal may notretain the same detail as the original live feed.All but the most primitive of video cameras willalso need to have a recorder controlling section which will allow you to control the camera. Youcan also swich the recorder into playback modefor reviewing your recorded footage.The image you recorded doesn't need to be limitedto what appeared in the view finder. For a documentation of events such as those used by thepolice, the fields of view will overlay such things as the time and date of the recording alongthe top and bottom of the image.As you can probably tell now, a high definitionvideo camera is very complex indeed. There are several other parts involved as well, although theabove are the most important. A HD video camerais very complex in build, making it somethingthat is more than worth the time it takes to create.