Digital Camcorder Formats Explained

A quick summary of the different types of camcorder media available to consumers.

Digital camcorders are available in a variety of formats, each of which requires a different type of media to record video. MiniDV is currently the most popular format, and will continue to dominate the camcorder market for the foreseeable future. That said, there are a few other format options that are worth considering; this guide to the basics should help you decide which is best for you.

MiniDV

The majority of current digital camcorders use MiniDV cassettes that record DV-format video. Though shaped much like a traditional VHS video tape, MiniDV tapes are much smaller, measuring just 2 x 2.75 inches. MiniDV tapes are inexpensive (60 minute tapes are available for around $4), available in a variety of lengths, and capable of recording high quality video with 500-line horizontal resolution. Some digital camcorders support MiniDV tapes with a memory chip built in, allowing digital indexing of the tape as well as the addition of text and titles to video.

MiniDV tapes are compatible with most video editing software applications, and can also be played directly from MiniDV VCRs, which are designed to accommodate the small tapes and cost upwards of $500. MiniDV camcorders' current dominance of the market means that this format will be the industry standard for the foreseeable future.

Micro MV

Some Sony camcorders use Micro MV tapes, which are smaller than MiniDV tapes and record video in MPEG-2 format instead of the more common DV format. The advantage of Micro MV tapes lies in their size: Smaller tapes allow for smaller camcorders, and models that use Micro MV cassettes are the smallest and most portable of all.

On the downside, the MPEG-2 video produced by Micro MV camcorders is not compatible with many video editing software applications, and the tapes are more expensive than MiniDV cassettes. If you want the smallest possible camcorder, however, then Micro MV format is worth a look.

Mini DVD-R and DVD-RAM

A small number of camcorders use 3-inch Mini DVD-R and DVD-RAM discs instead of digital videotape. While the prospect of being able to record video and then play it directly from a DVD player is appealing, this format has a number of drawbacks. DVD-R discs must be specially formatted by the camcorder before they can be played back on a home player, after which they are locked and no more information can be stored on them. DVD-RAM discs can be reused, but they are expensive and their format makes them incompatible with some home DVD players.

Digital8

Digital8 camcorders record digital video onto analog (non-digital) 8mm videotapes, giving users all the advantages of digital video while still using inexpensive analog tapes. These camcorders are bulkier than DV camcorders, however, and likely to grow less popular as consumers continue to adopt the digital-only MiniDV format.