How do I make a camera?

How would you hook up an actual video camera to make claymations?

• I want to know how you can hook up an actual video camera to make claymations. Is there a certain kind of camera I need, or a certain hook up, or a certain claymation program? I do know for a fact it's possible, because I've seen a video where someone was showing how they make claymations, and they were using an actual camera. I wnat to use a camer becuase I would like to start making claymations with a better quality then any webcam.

• Answer:

  The majority of camcorders can be used with any stop motion software as long as they can get a live video feed when hooked up to a computer either by USB or firewire. If your camcorder can do that, then you can use it with most stop motion programs. For any specific questions, you should check out stopmotionanimation.com It's a message board filled with stop motion animators helping eachother out. They even have a handbook section that has basic answers and info on a variety of stop motion topics (armatures, sets, cameras, etc) http://www.stopmotionanimation.com/handbook/ Here's what they had to say about camcorders: http://www.stopmotionanimation.com/handbook/3.htm By the way, there's nothing wrong with using a webcam for stop motion, especially since high end models are capable of capturing in higher resolutions. It's certainly cheaper than buying a video camera, and you're guranteed to be able to get a live video feed when hooked up to a PC since that's what they're built for. To actually frame-grab and compile the movie, I'd suggest using Monkeyjam if you're on a PC. It's free. http://www.giantscreamingrobotmonkeys.com/monkeyjam/ AnimatorDV: Simple+ became freeware. http://www.animatordv.com/download7 If you're on a Mac, you could try Framethief or FramebyFrame. http://www.framethief.com/ http://web.mac.com/philipp.brendel/Software/FrameByFrame.html You can also check out this website for other stop motion animation programs; some free, some retail. I haven't used any of them (other than Stop Motion Pro) so I couldn't tell you if the rest of their features were any good or not, but at least it gives you other options. http://www.stopmotionworks.com/stopmosoftwr.htm Here are some online resources about the basic principles of animation. These principles can and should be applied to any genre or medium you choose to work in, whether that be drawn, CGI, or stop motion animation. http://www.idleworm.com/how/index.shtml http://www.awn.com/tooninstitute/lessonplan/lesson.htm http://www.animationarena.com/principles-of-animation.html http://ww w.animationmeat.com/notes/notes.html If you need more help or info, let me know.