Spotlight on Camcorders Buyer's Guide

Heath McKnight
Special 2007

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Video cameras have become so prominent in our society that we see them everywhere, including on our phones. But if you want a good quality picture, steer away from the quick-pix cell phone cam and one-cam-does-it-all mentality, and find yourself a good video camera that suits your needs. In this camcorders buyer's guide, we're breaking out the current camcorders into two categories: Compact Cams and Prosumer or HD Cams. We hope our guide will help you with your next video project.

In addition to the standard-definition (SD) digital video formats, compact HD and HDV camcorders in both the consumer and professional market are on the rise. But Mini DV is still a major force for most when choosing a compact cam.

There are also new options in terms of where the footage is recorded. Traditionally, there is tape, and Mini DV tapes can record either DV or HDV footage. But with new advances in digital storage, the options of recording to a DVD-R or a hard disk drive (HDD) are now easier than ever.

Hybrid camcorders combine both the DVD and HDD recording options. Among its many features, the new Hitachi DZHS300A gives enthusiasts several nice options, including true widescreen (16:9), the ability to record an entire event on HDD but transfer only one clip to DVD.

Panasonic has its own HDD or SD Memory Card camcorders that record in both HD and DV. Many of them are three-CCD camcorders, giving better overall image and color quality, as functions are spread to each CCD.

For a smaller option, the SDR-S150 packs a punch and records to a card. It has three CCDs in its small body. DVD-based camcorders from Panasonic include the VDR-D210, D230 and D310. The D310 is a three-CCD unit.

One way to keep camcorder costs down is to put the functions of imaging onto either one CCD or one CMOS. Technology has so advanced that a one-chip camcorder captures footage very well, especially with a CMOS-based camcorder.

The costs are even lower with a CMOS unit in some cases, based on how the chip is built vs. a CCD. One other advantage a single-chip camcorder has over three is the size of the sensor, which gives more pixels and higher quality.

JVC offers some excellent single-chip HDD camcorders, including the Everio series. The camcorder records all footage to a drive, which can be accessed quickly when hooked up to a computer. Its hybrid camcorders record both video and high-quality stills to either HDD or an SD Memory Card. The GZ-MG555 has been making waves with its five-megapixel CCD.

They also have several one-chip consumer camcorders that record to tape, such as the GR-D series, which includes the 350, 395 and 796. A couple of these camcorders offer native 16:9, which is impressive for a non-high-definition consumer camcorder. In the HD realm, the company offers a high-definition version of the Everio (not HDV, however) and the GR-HD1, the first low-cost high-definition camcorder.

Sony also offers several hard disk-based camcorders, which have single CMOS and CCD chips. Its tape-based camcorders have some single-CCD chip sizes reaching 1/3-inch, which most sub-$10,000 SD and HD camcorders have. Sony introduced CMOS to its small HDV camcorders in 2005 and the AVCHD format in 2006, which both help keep costs down. Sony’s new single-CMOS HDV camcorders include the HDR-HC5 and HC7.

Both Panasonic and Sony support AVCHD. Sony recently released the HDR-UX5 and UX7, both of which record to DVD.

The one-CCD Canon HV10 and HV20 have the largest sensors of all low-cost high-definition camcorders, since more pixels can affordably be packaged onto a larger single chip. Canon also offers some great DVD camcorders, including the DC50, DC230 and more. For a little more money, the three-CCD GL2 (Mini DV) is an excellent consumer and professional-style camcorder.

Sanyo offers small, handheld camcorders that record both standard- and high-definition video to an SD Memory Card, including the VPC-HD2 Xacti Media Camera, which records in 720p. They also have some affordable standard-def camcorders.

Samsung has several Mini DV, DVD and SD Card-based camcorders that record in standard definition. The new SC-D372 Mini DV camcorder records in widescreen (16:9), for a cinematic feel.

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