Storage and Recording

Perhaps the most important part of deciding which sort of camcorder to buy is what sort of video recording it utilizes. Digital recording is made possible by a CCD or CMOS chip inside the camcorder. This chip converts the images picked up by the lens into a digital signal. Camcorders available on a mass-consumer scale employ one chip, while higher end cameras used by professional videographers draw upon three chips. Today’s options for storage are DVD, MiniDV, hard disk, flash memory, and SD card. DVD and MiniDV camcorders still use discs and tapes, but are the cheaper options for those on a budget. A MiniDV camcorder can be purchased for as little as $200; a DVD camcorder for about the same.

DV technology is also the choice for those with older, slower computers. In spite of this, MiniDV camcorders are declining in popularity. DVD offers the convenience of “drop and view”, as in dropping the DVD into a DVD player and hitting the “Play” button. Hard disk drive camcorders are ideal for those who want maximum data storage. The downside to hard disks is the susceptibility to breakage of moving parts. Currently, flash memory and SD car memories are the most popular choices for camcorder data storage. These camcorders are the most compact of the camcorder choices, making them ideal for people who want ultimate portability. Fewer moving parts also mean less fragility in case the camera is dropped. This doesn’t make them invincible; it just means data won’t be lost due to camera-trauma. SD card and flash memory models are ideal for quick data upload. Because both flash drives and SD cards are removable and able to “plug” directly into computers, data cables are not necessary. However, flash drives and SD cards are limited by memory size, so for larger amounts of data, regular dumping is required. You’ll also want to find an SD card with high read-write capabilities for faster data storage.