Gain is often misunderstood by many people, usually becuuase the amount of gain is measured in dB, which most associate with audio levels - violume. A 747 taking off may have a dB level of +90 for example..

However, in simple terms, gain in video increases (or decreases) the amount of brightness in a video image. But there is a trade off. The more gain you add (which does not affect shutter speed or the f - levels which can be used to do the same thing), the more 'grainy' the image becomes. In technical parlance, itr adds 'noise' to the footage.

If you dcrease gain, then blacks can become more black, and this can also be useful under many circumstances.

By David Hague

David is the owner and publisher of AusCam Online. He has a background in media dating back to 1979 when he first got involved with photojournalism in motorsport, and went from there into technology via a 5 year stint with Tandy Computers. Following that, he ran a software distribution company on the Gold Coast and was one of the first to recognise the potential of Microsoft Windows.

Moving back to WA, David wrote scripts for Computer Television for video training for the just released Windows and Office 95 among others, and was then lured to Sydney to create web sites for the newly commercial Internet in 1995, building hundreds of sites under contract to OzEmail including Coates Hire, Hertz Queensland, John Williamson, the NSW Board of Studies and many, many more.

He went back into full time journalism as the Managing Editor for Channel 7's 'Gadget Guy', Peter Blasina's publications VideoCamera and Pixelmag, before starting Australasian Camcorder magazine when these publications were shelved. He lives at Sydney's Avalon Beaches nearly on the ocean front with dog Budweiser and in his spare time is a nut for motor sport, road safety, fishing, science fiction - especially Dr Who - and technology.

David can be contacted via david@auscamonline.com