Digital Video Format

The two recent trends in camcorders is in the recording format, DVD and HD.  High definition [HD] video; whilst nearly all current digital video camcorders still record in standard definition [SD]. The question is, how much better is HD than SD?

The quality of standard definition video recorded is much improved since first introduced and it is easy to edit film captured in standard definition into DVDs.

DVD recorders use mini or standard DVD's to record the video rather than tape mechanisms common in miniDV and prior formats. Whilst it is very convenient to instantly view a recording on DVD player, DVD camcorders do have their constraints.

The primary constraint of DVD camcorders is that the video recording cannot be imported or edited in all video editing software. Supporting programs include: Adobe's Premiere Elements 3 and Pinnacle's Studio Plus 10.

HD Camcorder Reviews