Dear Tech In-Law,

We are currently researching the different types of entry level camcorders and are having trouble deciding on a format.  We are considering either a model with a hard drive or one that uses a DVD.  Do you have any suggestions on which kind to buy?
Lisa


Dear Lisa,
The price for an "entry-level" camcorder has really come down the past few years and you will have a lot to choose from.  As far as the format goes, it really depends on your lifestyle and what is realistic for you and your family.  If you are the type of person who wants to be able to capture some video and then quickly turn it around and watch it, then a DVD might be a good option for you.  The downside with the DVD based models is the space is limited when you record at the highest quality which will be a factor if you are planning on capturing more than 20 minutes or so at a time.

The hard drive models will be able to hold more video and most new models have a slot for a high capacity memory card for additional storage options.  The one thing to keep in mind about either a hard drive or DVD model is the video quality and compression.  Both of these use a higher compression in order to fit more media onto the device which means there will be a slightly lower video quality that is not too noticeable unless you plan on doing some video editing of what you shoot.  If that is the case you might want to consider one other format which is the digital video or DV tape based models.  The video quality will be better and you will have a better editing experience.

Like I said, it boils down to your lifestyle.  If you don't plan on editing much and want to be able to watch the video right away, stick with a DVD or hard drive model.  If that is not an issue and you anticipate working with a video editor often, you will be more happy with a DV based model.  The high definition camcorders that are being released will remain at a premium price for awhile which will leave you plenty of bargains in the standard definition format.  Good luck!