A camcorder can capture great family moments, vacation memories and even a homemade horror flick. No matter what the purpose, choosing the right camcorder that fits your needs will enhance those moments. Two popular styles of camcorders on the market today are hard drive and DVD camcorders. Each one provides specific benefits for each type of recordable media and sharing options.
DVD Camcorder Pros
DVD camcorders are very easy to use. They use mini DVDs to record video and playback is as simple as popping the recorded DVD into a DVD player. The ability to write to a DVD and instantly watch it adds attractiveness to this popular design. DVD camcorders make sharing your videos with friends and family a snap
DVD Camcorder Cons
DVD camcorders are simple and easy to use but they come with negative limitations as well. A Mini DVD can hold 1.4 GB of storage, while a dual layer mini DVD can hold twice the amount, recording time is extremely limited. Recording time for standard definition video is around 25 to 30 minutes total and high-definition recording lasts for about 10. With frequent usage, the cost of blank media can add up.
HDD Camcorder Pros
Hard drive camcorders have a built-in storage device to capture video. Hard drive capacity on this type of camcorder ranges from around 30 GB and even up to 120 GB. A 30 GB HDD camcorder can record for up to seven hours on standard resolution on high quality settings.
Hard drive camcorders are also quite shock resistant. Unlike DCD camcorders, an HDD camcorder can be jerked around and bumped without causing any skipping. With hard drive camcorders, buying blank media is not a requirement.
HDD Cons
Video recorded to a HDD camcorder needs to be transferred to a PC or a standalone DVD burner. This can be difficult for those with limited computer or technology skills. Most HDD camcorders do not include a viewfinder so all footage needs to be shot using the LCD screen. Without the ability to turn off the screen, battery life may be shortened.
Overall
The best choice is a HDD camcorder. Storage space is abundant which is perfect for any application the storage space and lightweight design make HDD cameras a sure pick. Though transferring video needs to be done on a PC or portable DVD player, it is still easy task to accomplish
DVD camcorders are only recommended for those who have very limited technical expertise and those who do not record video frequently. Media storage is very limited, so purchasing a DVD camcorder for large quantities of video footage will take more than one disc.
Tags: drive camcorders, blank media, Camcorder Pros, hard drive, record video, very limited