Term of the Moment
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Definition: video camera
An electronic device that captures and records motion pictures one frame at a time. Each frame is captured as a series of horizontal lines, the number of which determines the fundamental visual quality of the images. For example, North American analog TV (NTSC) has 525 lines of "standard definition" (SD) resolution, 480 of which are the image. Analog TV was superseded by digital TV, which provides 480 lines of SD resolution along with 720 and 1080 lines of "high-definition" (HD) resolution. See video format, camcorder, SD formats, HD formats, NTSC, DTV and video/TV history.
High Tech for 1939
This RCA video camera from 1939 used the all-electronic Iconoscope picture tube, but did not even have a viewfinder. That came later. Videotape recording would not come until 1956. (Image courtesy of Early Television Foundation.)