Preliminary results of the first ever global camcorder survey among video professionals, called Professional Camcorder World 2006 is due to be published in early February 2007 and shows some very interesting shifts into the types of features and functions that end-users are seeking in new camcorders.
The market research project began in the fall of 2006 and has been sponsored by every major camcorder manufacturer. In addition to the basics of what brand and how many units of camcorders people plan to purchase. However, DIS Consulting Corporation has also focused on what features and functions will motivate buyers in 2007.
So far, of the 800 responses being sought, globally, DIS has the responses of about 520 entered and those are used here to report the trends. Among the vertical user segments that responded are: broadcasters & cable-casters, production companies, mobile/OB firms, event video, independent film & TV producers and institutional users (from government, religious, educational, medical and corporate sites).
Clearly, the dominant trend in camcorders today is the migration that started almost a decade ago and has continued to build towards DV-based recording formats. Most recently, as HD has been the hot button technology, HDV has been supplanting Mini-DV as the type of camcorder most professionals now seek. That is not to say that other formats have gone away, but they pale by comparison. Small, inexpensive, lightweight, HD capable and 16 X 9 aspect ratio delivering HDV just cannot be beat.
The survey also took the opportunity to assess the various camcorder specifications and features, and assess their value to video professionals. In other words, global respondents were asked in a wide-ranging manner how they thought their next camcorder might be configured. Among the conclusions were that durability, specifically the need for a camcorder to be rugged and able to withstand use/abuse, impact, and be able to work in extreme temperatures or humidity was seen as imperative. They want it to be 16 X9. They need to record in HD. Sometimes, that is 720p and other times 480p, but always, they are seeking that it be an HD format. They would like it to weigh less. They want a longer recording or storage time. And, provide a better viewfinder too.
Respondents were pretty evenly divided between wanting manual focus and auto focus controls and many wanted both. Many sought inter-changeable lenses, but there was some ambivalence about them being bayonet or C-mount. There was concern that the lenses be of a high enough quality. Most wanted four channels for audio and professional connectors.
Among the image control aspects, users sought white balance, black burst, colour bars, gamma, DB gain control and memory card slots. In display, colour reigns in both viewfinders and LCD screens were popular. Scene file displays are helpful to them. They also concern themselves with editing workflow issues. Often, it is the editing system – Avid, Apple, Autodesk or Adobe – what we have dubbed the ‘A’ team — which they seek to have compatibility with, even before they make their camcorder purchases. And that concern continues through codec software and other editing related issues. Camcorder professionals have been given a wide range of features and specifications to wade through when making a purchase, but our survey indicates that they are pretty clear about what they want to buy.
Douglas I. Sheer is CEO and chief analyst of DIS Consulting Corporation of New York and can be reached at [email protected]. The firm also plans reports on servers, editing, graphics, storage and switchers in 2007.
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