HD Camcorder Recording Formats 2010

By: Art Speck

So you cannot resist the urge to buy a high definition camcorder now that every major manufacturer has introduced new full HD camcorders for 2010.

But what do all the initials and numbers mean, the options seem almost endless?

I will try here to explain the important choices open to you which will guide you to choosing the right camcorder for your purpose.

The first decision should be the choice of recording format, the main options being between Flash memory, HDD camcorders or Mini DVD camcorders.

Flash memory is sometimes built into the camcorder, some camcorders have a  slot for SD/HC cards or sometimes two slots, or they can have a combination of the two, called a hybrid camcorder.

Whatever combination you choose, the three main advantages are that SD/HC memory cards are very cheap, they eliminate the need for moving parts inside of the camcorder, and the battery lasts a lot longer between recharging cycles.

SD/HC memory cards for recording HD video can record up to 64GB at present, but it’s perhaps best to buy a 16GB or 32GB card. Note the number printed inside the small circle on the card. Choose either a 4, 6 or 10 for fast reading and transfer times.

Some Canon video cameras such as the Canon VIXIA HF M30 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder use this format.

HDD stands for hard disk drive, and HDD camcorders which use these have the capacity to record between 60GB and 120GB making for long recording times.
Battery demand is heavy because of the hard drive mechanism. See Sony HDR-XR150 120GB High Definition HDD Handycam Camcorder.

MiniDV discs record directly to DVD but you need a Blu Ray player to watch it.

About the Author

Art Speck is an experienced videographer having worked for 30 years in the business.

Being retired now gives me time to enjoy my passion for video cameras and in particular high definition camcorders.

The year 2010 is digital HD Camcorder year, with every major manufacturer bringing out new, low cost HD camcorders with an enormous amount of new technology which lots of folk do not understand, so I have decided to write lots of articles like this one to explain the choices between features, brands and formats.

For a quick access to over 100 new HD Camcorders view this website.

(ArticlesBase SC #2137554)

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Tagged as: DVD video camera, HDD camcorders, Mini DVD camcorders