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Television Production & Broadcast Journalism
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Another type of sensor is the CMOS (complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor) sensor. The CMOS sensor is larger than the CCD and
therefore can capture more light. These sensors are found in smartphone,
web and most DSLR cameras. Sensors vary in size with the biggest being
referred to as “full frame sensor” which is equivalent to the size of 35 mm
fi lm.
Viewfinder
A viewfi nder is a small video monitor that allows the camera operator
to view the images in the shot, Figure 3-9. Oftentimes, a camcorder has
two viewfi nders—one small fold-out screen on the side of the camera head
and the other is usually much smaller (perhaps only an inch, if measured
diagonally) and is a fi xed part of the camera body.
The fold-out viewfi nder is very convenient if the camera is on a tripod,
and the larger screen is easier to view. On the other hand, the image dis-
played on a fold-out viewfi nder may be diffi cult to see when the camera is
in a well-lit environment. It may also be diffi cult to focus the image using
the fold-out viewfi nder, because it may not display a high-quality image.
The smaller viewfi nder has a magnifi er in front of it, which makes the
image easier to see. Because the viewfi nder and magnifi er are completely
enclosed, the operator’s eye must rest against a soft rubber eye piece to
properly view the image. When using the small viewfi nder, there is not
a problem clearly seeing the image in bright light. However, operators
who wear eyeglasses may fi nd that their glasses get in the way of prop-
erly using the viewfi nder. To allow for operation without eyeglasses and
compensate for differences in vision, the magnifi er on the smaller view-
fi nder is adjustable. This adjustment is called the diopter adjustment, and
is usually a little knob that turns or a lever that moves, Figure 3-11. Move
CMOS sensor: A component
of the camera head into which
light enters and is converted
into an electronic, or video,
signal.
viewfinder: A small video
monitor attached to the
camera that allows the
camera operator to view the
images in the shot.
diopter adjustment: A knob
or lever that adjusts the
magnifier on the viewfinder to
compensate for differences in
vision.
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 3-11. The diopter
adjustment allows camera
operators to clearly see
images in the viewfinder
without their prescription
eyeglasses.
Diopter
adjustment
level