The Latest Hard Disk Drive Camcorders!
Say goodbye to piles of fragile videotapes. These camcorders record your videos directly to an internal hard disk. We'll tell you why that's an improvement and why it'll make your life easier.
The latest batch of Hard Disk Drive (HDD) camcorders is a big step in the evolution of home video. These models offer long recording times, easy interfaces, and most importantly, high-definition (HD) resolution. These are HDD/HD camcorders! Take a closer look at some of the new models that we're very excited about here at Camcorder HQ.
Recording Time: It Keeps Going and Going
An Astonishing 60GB Hard Drive
| A | is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of camcorders. |
| B | means they are good, with some standout features. |
| C | means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth. |
| D & F | mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs. |
| A | is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of camcorders. |
| B | means they are good, with some standout features. |
| C | means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth. |
| D & F | mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs. |
The Smallest HD Camcorder Ever!
| A | is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of camcorders. |
| B | means they are good, with some standout features. |
| C | means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth. |
| D & F | mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs. |
Double HD: High Definition and Hard Disk
| A | is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of camcorders. |
| B | means they are good, with some standout features. |
| C | means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth. |
| D & F | mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs. |
One of the major advantages of hard disk drive camcorders is recording time. The standard MiniDV videotape can record between 30 and 60 minutes of standard-definition video before you need to switch it for a new blank tape. The Canon HG10 and Sony HDR-SR5 camcorders, by comparison, can hold up to 15 hours of high-definition video on their 40GB hard drives, as both use the AVCHD recording format. JVC's Everio GZ-HD7, which uses a different format, can record between 5 and 7 hours. Either way, that's quite the upgrade from those puny little MiniDV tapes.
Easy Transfers to Computer, DVD, and Television
Because there aren't any tapes involved, that means your videos are stored within the camera. Eventually, you'll fill up the hard disk and need to offload your videos so you can take more. Well, these camcorders make it easy to quickly transfer and archive your videos, with simple interfaces and software. The Sony HDR-SR5, for example, has a one-touch 'Disc Burn' button, which will automatically burn all new video to a DVD when connected to your computer. If it's HD content, the resulting disc can be watched in Blu-Ray disc players, for maximum high-definition playback.
JVC also offers a quick-burn solution, the JVC Everio Share Station, which is sold separately. This device connects directly to the Everio camcorders, bypassing the need for a computer, and spitting out video discs with ease.
The Sony and Canon HDD camcorders transfer video to computers over USB cables, and although they do not support FireWire, the transfers are reportedly quick and painless, thanks to the compression formats being used. The JVC Everio models connect via a USB docking station. Except for the JVC Everio GZ-MG555, these camcorders have HDMI outputs, meaning you can easily hook up your camcorder directly to the HDTV and watch high-definition home videos with minimal effort.
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