Components of a portable digital video camera

Abstract A digital video camcorder is disclosed. The camcorder includes a camera housing, a lens, a first data storage medium, an image sensor, a video encoder, a microprocessor that provides instructions to the video encoder and a microphone. the camcorder also includes a manually operable switch for controlling operation of the image sensor, the video encoder, and the microphone, and a switch activator for the manually operable switch, wherein the switch activator is moveable over a slidably engageable surface of the camera housing to slidably engage the camera housing. Further, the camcorder includes a front in proximity to the lens, a back in opposition to the front, a top extending between the front and the back, a bottom extending between the front and the back, a side extending between the top and the bottom, a top length between the front and the back, and a side height between the top and the bottom, wherein the top length is greater than the side height, and wherein the camera housing has a top surface area at the top, and the slidably engageable surface forms a major portion of the top surface area. 9212176_1