AVCHD Camcorders
The new kids on the block are AVCHD camcorders, which record high-definition video to DVDs, hard drives, or flash memory. I've discussed this new format in depth here. While the quality of the video that camcorders like the Sony HDR-UX7 shoot is good (though it is arguably not as good as video shot by HDV camcorders), this format's Achilles' heel is its editing; no easy way currently exists to edit the video these cameras shoot. None of the major video editing programs can import the video at the moment. You can, however, play back videos shot with AVCHD camcorders on a Sony PS3.
Pros: These camcorders produce high-definition video.
Cons: Models are expensive; video is hard to edit.
Best for: Gadget freaks, and those who want to shoot high-def but don't need to edit.
Hard-Drive Camcorders
Many camcorders are dispensing with DVDs and videotapes completely. Instead, they record the video to a built-in hard drive. The advantage of this is that the hard drives can hold a lot of video: The recently announced $1799 JVC HD Everio can hold up to 5 hours of high-definition video, while the cheaper $500 JVC GZ-MG130 can hold up to 37.5 hours of video on its 30GB hard drive (albeit at the lowest quality). But these camcorders have a problem similar to that of the AVCHD models: They record video in a format that isn't spoken by most video editing programs. Instead, you must use the bundled software to edit the video--and it's pretty weak. Plus, if you fill up the built-in hard drive while you're away from your PC, you're stuck: You can't swap out the drive as you can with DVDs and videotapes.
Pros: These models hold lots of video.
Cons: Editing the video is difficult; hard drives are not swappable.
Best for: Those who travel without a laptop, or who shoot a great deal of video.
Flash Memory
Our final format of camcorder records to the same memory cards that digital cameras use: flash memory cards. The $899 Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2, for example, records video to SD Cards, which you can then take out and pop into a memory card reader on your PC. If you're a budget filmmaker, you can pick up a flash memory camcorder for $100 (look for models like the $100 Aiptek PocketDV5900), but remember that the quality of the captured video will be nowhere near as good as that captured from this camcorder's more expensive cousins.
Pros: Models are inexpensive
Cons: They produce low-quality video.
Best for: Kids, nervous shooters, and cheapskates.
There you have a basic overview of the different formats of available camcorders. One more type is worth mentioning: hybrid camcorders. These include two (or more) of the formats I discussed above. The Hitachi DZH500A, for example, includes a hard drive, a DVD drive, and a flash memory drive. But as David Pogue of the New York Times details in his review (registration required), these models often involve compromises that mean you get the worst of all worlds. While the DZH500A includes both a hard drive and a DVD drive, you're limited in how you can use them; and at $800, this camcorder is much more expensive than a single-format camcorder.
In other news, this is the last installment of the Making Movies column. You'll probably still see me writing about digital video occasionally in PC World, though. It's been fun. And don't forget to stay safe and keep making movies!
Richard Baguley is a hybrid-format writer who writes about digital video, computing, and cell phones. You can send him e-mail here .
Ad Choices