A Review Of Digital Camcorders

by Scott Michaels

Digital camcorders that record directly to DVD discs are called DVD camcorders. Rather than recording to mini DV tapes, these models burn video to 8-centimeter DVD-RAM, DVD-R or DVD-RW discs. DVD-R and DVD-RW media can be read in most home DVD players, but DVD-RAMs are readable only in a few home players.

Reviewers say there are some drawbacks to recording straight to DVDs. Because of frustrating incompatibilities between the various DVD formats and DVD editing software, reviews say you shouldn't plan to do much editing on your computer. In addition, although you can select different quality levels to maximize storage on a mini DVD disc, you'll only be able to record about twenty minutes of top-quality footage.

There's no question that digital camcorders will eventually be the only camcorders available. Still, reviewers express surprise at the resilience of analog models, which still fit the bill for those who don't own computers and just want a simple, inexpensive VHS-compatible camera.

This Sony digital camcorder records to miniature DVD discs, and once finalized, the discs are immediately playable in most home DVD players. Reviews say the Sony DVR-DVD403 is easily the best DVD camcorder, with image quality that competes with the best mini DV camcorders, such as the Panasonic PV-GS250 below.

While recording to mini DVDs is convenient, it's not as easy to edit footage on a computer, so the Sony is best for those who don't care much about editing their video. Since the Sony doesn't have many manual features, the Panasonic is better for those who like to fiddle with settings.

Reviews say image quality is comparable between this Panasonic mini DV camcorder and the Sony DVD camcorder above. Both get high scores in reviews, but the Panasonic records to inexpensive mini DV tapes, and the DV format is much easier to edit on a computer than the Sony's MPEG -2 format.

Plus, the Panasonic has a bunch of features missing on the Sony, like a remote control, manual focus ring, an accessory shoe for an external flash unit, optical image stabilization and a voice recorder for narration. The whole package is comfortable to hold, with well-placed controls.

Canon isn't known for making big innovations when it comes to camcorders; rather, reviews say Canon consistently and quietly offers sturdy, reliable, consistently good video cameras. The Canon Elura 90 gets high scores for image quality (though it falls a bit behind the Sony and Panasonic above), and has a bunch of useful, basic features, like a 20X optical zoom, digital image stabilization, responsive autofocus and intuitive menus. If you want something more than the very cheapest camcorder, but don't need something as cutting edge as the Sony or Panasonic above, the Canon Elura 90 is a great value.

This is one of the cheapest miniDV digital camcorders you can buy, and reviewers say the Panasonic outclasses similarly priced camcorders from Sony and JVC. It performs much better in low light than its budget competition. Included are a handful of manual controls. Although reviews say the Panasonic camcorder's menus can be a bit clunky, this is the best cheap digital camcorder you'll find, with better features and performance than its competitors.

The majority of digital camcorders are 'DV' camcorders, which record video to widely available DV tapes. Some new models, however, are looking to push tape into obsolescence. A small handful of digital video cameras can record to memory cards or an internal hard drive. Still others record to miniature DVD discs called mini DVD.

About the Author

What to look for when purchasing a digital camcorder.

TECH KNOW

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BUYERS' GUIDE

MINI DIGITAL VIDEO CAMCORDERS

Camcorders are getting smaller and easier to use all the time, but choosing the best model can be tough. Here, the experts at T3 magazine select three of the best mini digital video (DV) camcorders.

What to buy

Sony DCR-HC22, left: Stylish, and the touchscreen makes it easy to use.

There's also a good night mode Pounds 330, sony.co.uk

Canon MV830I: Easy to use and decent-quality footage make this a good choice if you're on a budget.

Pounds 300, canon.co.uk

Panasonic NV-GS21: Well made and good for outdoor use, but a little on the average side.

Pounds 300, panasonic.co.uk

Verdict: Sony's camcorder is a great all-rounder, and feels like it should cost a lot more.

Source: T3 magazine

(c)2006. Associated Newspapers Ltd.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

Get the Facts with DVD Camcorder Reviews

by Mark Sturge

One of the latest technological toys on the market is DVD camcorders. DVD camcorders are unique devices that allow you to record video directly to a disk that you can put in your DVD player to watch, or put in your PC to edit. While this sounds really nifty, what you will discover when you read most DVD camcorder reviews that have been written by techies, is that the DVD camcorder is far from perfect.

Although the new DVD camcorder models are close to achieving the same level of picture quality as the MiniDV, they aren't quite there yet. That being said, DVD camcorders shouldn't be overlooked if owning one truly interests you. The reason is because there are some exceptional models on the market that may be worth your while if you wish to obtain this technology.

One of the better models out there is the Sony DCR-DVD403. In fact, according to some DVD camcorder reviews, this particular model is considered to be one of the most advanced DVD camcorders to date. It is celebrated for capturing wonderful stills and impressive video. That being said, when compared to the top-of-the-line MiniDV's out there, it still can't match their superior picture quality. Furthermore, this DVD camcorder uses an MPEG2 compression, which is considered to be worse than the compression methods used by the MiniDV.

In other words, the problem with many DVD camcorders, aside from their expensive price tag, is that their heavy compression causes images to lose quality. Basically, the image that comes through the lens and on to the sensor of the DVD camcorder is exceptional, but it loses its quality as soon as it is compressed down into DVD format. This is currently the problem that DVD camcorder manufacturers need to overcome.

Something else that needs to be taken into account when considering DVD camcorders is DVD disk technology. DVD disks are endowed with a technology known as "transparency". This type of technology allows the user to record video you can instantly play, edit, and share with no strings attached. While the technology does exist it still hasn't been totally perfected.

Another aspect that you need to consider about DVD camcorders is that most of the disks you use will need to be finalized in order for your DVD player to be able to read them. DVD camcorders come with the feature to finalize the disk so you shouldn't have a problem with this procedure.

As far as DVD disks are concerned there are different ones that you can use. For instance, there are DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM disks. DVD-R and DVD+R hold approximately 30 minutes of video, as does DVD+RW. However, the major difference between DVD+RW and DVD -R and +R is that a DVD+RW is a re-writable disk, which means that it can be recorded over and used more than once. These disks do not need to be finalized. A DVD-RAM disk, on the other hand, can hold more video than the others, and produces slightly better images. However, the images on the disk need to first be transferred to a PC, as most DVD players can not play the format of this disk.

Finally, if you are really interested in getting a DVD camcorder, you should check out plenty of DVD camcorder reviews about the camcorder you are interested in buying before you make any final decisions. Find out whether or not purchasing a DVD camcorder is worth your while, or if you should just stick to the MiniDV.

About the Author

Mark Sturge is the owner of KMS Productions and webmaster at kmsvideo.com. A site where visitors can find digital camcorder reviews such as the Sony DVD range as well as useful hints and tips to better their filming techniques.

http://www.allaboutcamcorders.com

DVD Camcorders

by Max Bellamy

When considering a camcorder purchase, there are several factors to take into consideration, Below are some suggestions for criteria you should examine before making a choice.

Low-light performance is the most sought-after feature one should look for. If you are shooting in the dark, at night, or in a low-light area, this particular feature will help you maintain the same video or image quality that you have always aimed for. Even room light can be considered as low light, although sellers often avoid it. So you must pay close attention to this feature before making the purchase.

Combos or integrated packages that offer both video and still photography options are not always advantageous, as one has to compromise one feature for the other, technically. It's only in the high price-range camcorders that superior video and still-image quality is maintained. Megapixel values assigned to the model that range from three to five undoubtedly are a classic connotation for still images, but have less impact on video reception quality. So it is wise to make separate purchase for video and still photography.

Digital camcorders available in the market come with zooming facilities that brands advertise most. But in digital formats, zooming distorts the image quality, so it may not be taken as an impressive criterion for making the purchase. Similarly, some high-end camcorders have three CCD chips instead of one. These chips convert light into digital information. Though camcorders that offer three such chips are costlier than one-chip cams, the latter still are considered better performers. Buyers who belong to the professional genre also do not mind investing the extra more, as they hate to compensate for the output quality.

Before buying any model, the camcorder needs to be tested, and while still in the demonstration stage, you must understand that the facilities that the brand is promising run well on the cam, too. So you need to figure out all that you would do with the particular model and find answers to performance-related queries. And make sure to get the warranty.

Finally, to be an informed buyer, you must do a bit of research, understand all the camcorders available in the market, determine how you will benefit from each, and compare all of their prices.

About the Author

Camcorders provides detailed information on Camcorders, Digital Camcorders, Camcorder Batteries, DVD Camcorders and more. Camcorders is affliated with DVD Digital Camcorders.

http://www.allaboutcamcorders.com/