Resolution Quality

The resolution capabilities of your camera is a very important aspect to consider. It is fairly well known that higher quality resolutions yield higher quality videos. Most HD video cameras these days come equipped with the ability to take 1080i or better 1080p video quality. So, how then do I go about choosing a resolution that best fits my sign? A good rule to follow when comparing video camera resolution to get the best results is to take the pixel matrix of your sign and multiply it by 4. Example: a 216 x 480 pixel LED Displays would use a camera that could record 864 x 1920. Anything higher would not be noticeable.

The above formula is how to obtain the best results on a LED Screen. If you cannot afford or find a camera that meets those requirements, then a camera that can record in any resolution higher than the pixel matrix of your sign will suffice.

Frame Rate & Shutter Speed

The frame rate and shutter speed of video cameras are often confused as being the same thing. This is not true. The frame rate of a video camera is how often it will take shots in a video. The shutter speed is how fast each shot is exposed to the light. When looking for a good video camera to display it is always better to have higher numbers in both these fields. A frame rate of 60 frames per second (fps) and a shutter speed of 1/120 would be the minimum recommended for live video.

Input Options

There are several ways video cameras can be connected to LED displays. Trying to go over every possibility would futile. Instead, I am going to list the input connections available on a typical video processing unit used with DCI LED displays. This way, you can match the connections with every video camera you are comparing against. You will want to make sure that any video camera you are considering using can output to one of the following connections:

• 3 x Composite (CVBS)
• 1 x Svideo
• 1 x Component (SD/HD)
• 1 x VGA
• 1 x DVI (HDMI 1.3 Compatible)

Stabilization Methods

Another good feature you may want to consider is how stable a camera records. Newer cameras now have built in image stabilization technologies that help offset the shakiness when used handheld. When comparing two cameras against each other I advise researching the reviews of others on their experiences in this field.

If you want to provide your camera with supreme image stabilization, then I suggest investing in a mounting system. This could range from using a tripod to using a bolted camera mount with a swivel arm. In either case, having a stable camera will guarantee that you video has a professional look when recording.

Controls

This is a major area that you will need to look into when selecting a video camera. The one thing I can’t stress enough of is that you WANT the ability to adjust as many settings as possible when using a video camera. The reason you will want to have as many settings available to us as possible is that will allow you the capability to adapt to any environment setting. Whether it is an indoor Basketball game with Low-key lighting, or a big Baseball game on a sunny day. Having the ability to adjust your controls manually will always produce the best video results.

Some of the controls that are essential to be manually adjusted are: Shutter Speed, Aperture Size (IRIS), Resolution (FPS), Focus, and White Balance.

High-end video cameras will allow you to adjust more of the settings listed above. Low-end video cameras have a lot of built in “Dummy” presets and limit the users ability to adjust settings on their own.