I am lost and hopefully someone may be able to give me some knowledge please

I was under the impression that if a video camera has an output HDMI port that you can hook the HDMI to a TV and use the TV as a monitor while you are recording so you can see on the TV in real-time what is being recorded at that moment.

Upon reading more it seems I am incorrect in this thinking. That just because the camera has the HDMI it does not mean that it will be capable of using a TV as a monitor while recording but only during playback mode.

So I am having a really hard time finding out what it is that a camera must have (what feature) that will enable you to use it so that it hooks to a TV and then the TV acts as a monitor during recording. What is that functions name?

If your video camera does not have this fuction is there a device that you can purchase that you can use with the video cameara's HDMI port so that you can use the TV as a monitor while recording.

The key here is being able to use the TV as a monitor during recording and not only during playback of recorded content. I have a video camera I just bought. I thought because it has a HDMI port that it can be used in this fashion but before I opened it I wanted to be sure and asked the company that sells it. With their broken English they say this camera fan not do it even though it has the HDMI port.

A little education about the type of feature that I need to look for in a video camera for this type of recording would be so highly appreciated by me.

Thanks

 

This is a camera or camcorder.... you have or are getting ?
A make and model would sure be helpful.

 

EDIT NOTE: Please ignore this post. My computer shutdown in the middle of it. Please refer to post #5 instead - thank you

content deleted by me.

 

Most cameras don't have an HDMI connection on them.
I'm thinking security camera. That's why I was asking what you are using.

 

PJMax sorry if my post was a bit misleading. I will try and clarify my question.

Here is the camera I purchased and have received (but have not opened the package as I am not quite sure yet if I am returning it). My question is not just related to this camera.

Before I bought this camera I was under the impression mainly from what I have been reading on the Internet that if a camera has a HDMI port (as this one does) that it means that the camera is capable of being connected to a TV via this HDMI port with the proper cord and when connecting it this port allows you to see what is being recorded on the video camera as it is being recorded. I guess you can call it a large external monitor. So instead of having to look at the small camera's LCD screen to see what is being recorded you can see it on the TV instead.

From what I have been told by the company that sells this camera it is not capable of doing this even though it has an HDMI port and comes with the HDMI cable. But in the replies I have been receiving from the person answering my questions it is quite obvious that they are either in China or Hong Kong and there is a language barrier and maybe they are just not understanding what I am asking.

I purchased the camera thinking that the HDMI port would meet my needs.

In doing a bit more research I have come to find out - well at least I have that even though a video camera has an HDMI port it does not mean it is capable of hooking to a TV and using the TV as a monitor while recording but in fact it will allow you to watch what was record during playback only. The ones that do not have this ability during recording but only play back when the record button is pressed the TV screen will go black and you will not see what is being recorded.

So my question is mainly related to any video camera I may want to purchase (if I do return this) is what feature do I have to look for in a video camera that will tell me if it is capable of allowing you to watch on the TV what is being recorded as it is being recorded, again as though the TV is an external monitor so you don't have to look at the tiny LCD screen.

I am mainly going to be using this camera when I have friends over and it will be set up for friends to sit in front of and talk about the party etc. I wanted to be able to hook the camera up to my large flat screen smart tv so they can see themselves while recording.

What exactly do I look for in a video cameras features that will tell me if that specific camera is capable of this.

I hope I was able to clear this up.
Thanks

 

With that price point... I'd think that there is not enough processing ability to record in hi def and display it to an external monitor at the same time.

You'd have to record it and then view it thru the HDMI output. I'd imagine this will be true with many cameras like that.

I'll check around to see what I can find. In the mean time maybe someone else will stop by with an idea.