Infobase: Where Do I Start?


The decision about what camcorder to buy depends entirely upon what you intend to use it for, so before you splash the cash on something you might later regret, take a moment to reflect.


Two girls using a DVD camcorder
You've decided that you need a new camcorder to take on a family vacation or to record a special occasion. You know roughly how much you can spend and chances are you've decided it should be digital - but other than that you're confused. Where do you start? So to make the whole experience slightly less painful for you we've decided to try and summarise the kind of response elicited by such a question right here

Why do you need a camcorder?

Knowing what it is that you're likely to use a camcorder for is quite an important consideration, as you'll discover. If the need is simply to record the kids on a beach, opening presents at family or holiday celebrations, and so on, with the result that the camcorder is subsequently hooked up to the TV in order for family and friends to view what you've recorded, then you don't need anything sophisticated. However, if you're looking for equipment that will satisfy semi-professional, or even professional, aspirations then you'll need to consider a more complex model

Different types of camcorder

In an attempt to avoid all un-necessary jargon, let's keep it simple. Although one camcorder looks much like another, you'll find that there are several ways of making a recording - and each of these will have an impact on what you can do with the recordings later on. In essence, the types of camcorder recording system are:
In addition to the above, it's useful to note that different models (and systems) allow you to do different things with your camcorder. Here's a summary of what you might look out for when considering a particular model:
It might be that you have some more advanced requirements, so consider these additional features and facilities as well:

Advantages of using one recording format over another

Each of the types of camcorder referred to above has a direct impact on not only how you go about your recording, but it also governs what you can do with the recorded material once you have it on tape or disc.

MiniDV tape

If you decide to buy a DV (also referred to as MiniDV and DVC) camcorder, you'll be making a high-quality digital video tape recording with a maximum duration of 80 minutes at SP (Standard-Play) speed or approx. 100 minutes at LP (not always a good idea to use the latter, though).Tape contents must be transferred in real-time from camcorder to computer or to DVD recorder, and it's not as quick or easy to make DVD copies if nice attractive menu navigation systems. As consumers become accustomed to viewing TV pictures in High Definition, we'll see a rapid increase in the use of HDV camcorders that record very high resolution digital video clips to a similar tape to that used in the MiniDV format.

Recordable DVD

DVD camcorders are becoming increasingly popular for the simple reason that it's easy to pop the recorded disc into our domestic DVD player and view our recordings. DVD camcorder use smaller (8cm) discs than the ones used normally, but all players can accept them. DVD uses a form of compression called MPEG-2 to compact the recording into the restricted volume of space on the DVD disk, and this means that later editing isn't as easy as it is with DV tape. The menu system inherent in the DVD format makes it easy to select, view, re-organise and delete clips, however, and for those unconcerned with complex editing it's a good choice.

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

Camcorders that use neither tape nor removeable discs (like DV or DVD) have the lion's share of the market (2006), but HDD camcorders that save their video clips and also digital stills to high-capacity hard disks in the camera are gaining ground fast. Current models are limited to JVC, with its Everio G HDD range, and Sony, with its DCR-SR range respectively, are the two main contenders. HDD camcorders use the same type of compressed recording system as DVD. Although accurate video editing isn't as easy as it is with DV (due to the complex manner in which the MPEG-2 sequence of images is constructed), a computer will see the camera's HDD as being a USB 2.0 Mass Storage Device on a USB connection, so it's as easy to copy files across as it is to copy images. JVC has a DVD disc-making station called the Everio Share Station which makes it easy to produce DVDs from selected files on the camcorder's internal HDD.

Solid State Camcorders

These models - from companies like Panasonic, Sanyo, Sony - use Flash Memory cards to save MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video clips to a high-capacity card much like those that are used in your digital stills camera, only they can hold much more information and can write/read data much more quickly. Formats like Panasonic's SDR, or Sanyo's Xacti models, are gaining in popularity as the capacity of the SD cards (etc) increases to the equivalent of large DVD disks, although the ease with which the recorded clips can be edited accurately is similar to DVD and HDD recordings (they use the same type of compression systems, after all).

Points For and Against the relevant camcorder recording systems

If you're looking for a camcorder that fulfils all the basic recording and playback requirements for use within a general family or social context and whose clips aren't intended to be edited beyond simple top-and-tailing of clips, adding simple titles, etc., then DVD and HDD will be appropriate. With USB, you can move the clip files into a computer (often using software supplied for use with either Windows XP, Apple Mac or both) from wheretidy-up editing can take place and any number of full-size DVDs can be made.

Image of JVC Everio G HDD camcorder in use
As far as DVD camcorders are concerned, of course, you may wish to use one-only DVD-R discs and simply store them; however, re-writeable DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs are a better option since they can be re-used after your clips have been copied over to the computer. Given the cost of SD-Video cards as used in the Solid State camcorders like Panasonic's SDR-S150 - even the newer high-capacity SDHC cards - it's imperative that you copy the data over to the computer in order to retain the clips created on them. Those camcorders that use HDD to save clips in the cam have the potential to record up to 37 hours of standard definition video on a 30 Gigabyte hard disk drive at the lowest quality setting, but even the HQ can give you 7 hours' recording. Camcorder HDD capacities reached the 100GB mark during 2007 and are set to rise further, giving even more storage potential within a single unit. As the disc onto which the clips are saved is fixed inside the camcorder, you'll need to copy off selected clips prior to making DVDs of the content (or you may wish to leave them on a computer). All main camcorder manufacturers include software with their products that enables you to archive of to DVD whether the camcorder is standard definition or high definition.

A note about High Definition

As sales of HD TV displays increases rapidly, it's reasonable to assume that camcorder users should be seeking to record their home movies in high definition as well. As such, two main HD formats have evolved:

Conclusion - Our Best Advice

For quick and easy video recording and playback with minimal editing, your choice is wide open. You may consider that a DVD camcorder provides the best value for money, given the availability of the discs required. However, standard definition DVD camcorders are losing favour with consumers and makers alike and are in the process of being phased out. If you're keen to make the most of your new HD television display, which uses HDMI connections, think about an AVCHD camcorder that records to either HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or flash memory card like SDHC or Memory Stick. If you're happy to stick with tape but still require HD, then look at one of the current range of HDV camcorders from either Canon or Sony. As you start your search, you'll note that high definition is taking the spotlight to the detriment of SD (standard definition) formats. However, there are some very good deals on the latter, so think carefully - but make sure you're clear about what your needs are before drawing up a short-list!

Words and pictures: Colin Barrett, SimplyDV. No unauthorised reproduction or distribution. Copyright 2002, 2005, 2008.

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