Hints For Making Better Video Tapes; Lighting; Typical Brightness Of Common Situations - Radio Shack 16-830 Owner's Manual

16-830.fm Page 24 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

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.
24
Typical Brightness
of Common Situations
Brightness
(LUX)
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
Situation