Digital Camcorder Storage Methods
When you are selecting a digital camcorder, it is important to research the recording methods that your camcorder uses to store your digital media.
Today, the most common methods feature a built-in hard drive, Secure Digital (SD) cards, mini DVD recording, and Mini DV.
Each type of recording media is unique and brings both its advantages and disadvantages.
Built-In Hard Drives- Advantages A built-in hard drive in a digital camcorder provides for an efficient way to record videos easily at any time, manage and edit the videos, and save money in the future.
With a built in hard drive, you can easily transfer media from your digital camcorder directly onto your computer.
This allows you to manage and edit your videos within minutes! Most internal hard drive digital camcorders will also allow the user to manually edit videos directly on the digital camcorder.
Some camcorders will even allow you to burn DVDs directly from the digital camcorder.
You will not need additional media storage accessories to save and archive videos because of the internal hard drive.
You can easily transfer files to and from a computer and the majority of hard drives will have a large enough capacity to store hours of video! Disadvantages Because there is a hard drive installed with your digital camcorder, it is not as compact and easily transported as other digital camcorders that use an alternative recording method.
With some built-in hard drives, the storage amount may not sustain the video length you would like to achieve with optimum quality.
It is important to select a digital camcorder with a substantial amount of free space in the hard drive so you can record long durations of video without a problem.
Secure Digital Cards- Advantages The Secure Digital (SD) Cards are slim in size and are specifically designed for use in smaller and portable electronic products including digital camcorders.
Even with its small size, it still records media in clear quality while boasting faster transfer rates.
Secure Digital Cards have been developed to adapt to the advanced technology of the future.
Disadvantages Secure Digital Cards currently have small capacities which can ultimately decrease video recording lengths.
If you are looking to record extended periods of video, the SD Card may not suit your preferences.
However, the future is extremely bright with SD Cards as the recording space is continually increasing.
Mini DVD Recording- Advantages The Mini DVD recording media is a small, 8cm version of the standard DVD that are used for movies we purchase today.
With a Mini DVD, it is extremely easy for playback on a television.
Your Mini DVD will be allowed to play on most DVD players.
You can even begin to edit your film directly on your digital camcorder.
It is also a simple process when you are interested in editing on your computer.
Disadvantages The Mini DVD has limited capacity and varies from recording 30 minutes to 60 minutes of video.
The Mini DVD has generally a medium level of video quality.
Mini DV- Advantages Mini DV, a miniature version of our regular VHS tapes, is commonly misrepresented as an obsolete recording method because of the rarity of VHS tapes used today.
However, this is a common misconception because Mini DV brings clear quality video pictures and can record a significant time amount of video.
Disadvantages When you are uploading the video to your computer for editing and file sharing, the film is transferred to your computer minute-for-minute off of your Mini DV.
This is extremely slow loading times and an annoyance to video editors.
Best Overall ChoiceCurrently, the Secure Digital card is the preferred video storage method.
Although it has smaller storage space, it is growing with technology and will shortly be available in large recording sizes.
The card itself may appear small, but it has incredible capabilities including stunning video quality and easiness of video transfer to computers for the editing process.
With the SD card, manufacturers will additionally be able to create digital camcorders in smaller sizes for portability so consumers can bring their camcorder almost anywhere! We recommend the PanasonicSDR-S10 SD Super Compact Size Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.
It utilizes the Secure Digital Card and a 2 Gigabyte Secure Digital Card is included with your purchase.
Today, the most common methods feature a built-in hard drive, Secure Digital (SD) cards, mini DVD recording, and Mini DV.
Each type of recording media is unique and brings both its advantages and disadvantages.
Built-In Hard Drives- Advantages A built-in hard drive in a digital camcorder provides for an efficient way to record videos easily at any time, manage and edit the videos, and save money in the future.
With a built in hard drive, you can easily transfer media from your digital camcorder directly onto your computer.
This allows you to manage and edit your videos within minutes! Most internal hard drive digital camcorders will also allow the user to manually edit videos directly on the digital camcorder.
Some camcorders will even allow you to burn DVDs directly from the digital camcorder.
You will not need additional media storage accessories to save and archive videos because of the internal hard drive.
You can easily transfer files to and from a computer and the majority of hard drives will have a large enough capacity to store hours of video! Disadvantages Because there is a hard drive installed with your digital camcorder, it is not as compact and easily transported as other digital camcorders that use an alternative recording method.
With some built-in hard drives, the storage amount may not sustain the video length you would like to achieve with optimum quality.
It is important to select a digital camcorder with a substantial amount of free space in the hard drive so you can record long durations of video without a problem.
Secure Digital Cards- Advantages The Secure Digital (SD) Cards are slim in size and are specifically designed for use in smaller and portable electronic products including digital camcorders.
Even with its small size, it still records media in clear quality while boasting faster transfer rates.
Secure Digital Cards have been developed to adapt to the advanced technology of the future.
Disadvantages Secure Digital Cards currently have small capacities which can ultimately decrease video recording lengths.
If you are looking to record extended periods of video, the SD Card may not suit your preferences.
However, the future is extremely bright with SD Cards as the recording space is continually increasing.
Mini DVD Recording- Advantages The Mini DVD recording media is a small, 8cm version of the standard DVD that are used for movies we purchase today.
With a Mini DVD, it is extremely easy for playback on a television.
Your Mini DVD will be allowed to play on most DVD players.
You can even begin to edit your film directly on your digital camcorder.
It is also a simple process when you are interested in editing on your computer.
Disadvantages The Mini DVD has limited capacity and varies from recording 30 minutes to 60 minutes of video.
The Mini DVD has generally a medium level of video quality.
Mini DV- Advantages Mini DV, a miniature version of our regular VHS tapes, is commonly misrepresented as an obsolete recording method because of the rarity of VHS tapes used today.
However, this is a common misconception because Mini DV brings clear quality video pictures and can record a significant time amount of video.
Disadvantages When you are uploading the video to your computer for editing and file sharing, the film is transferred to your computer minute-for-minute off of your Mini DV.
This is extremely slow loading times and an annoyance to video editors.
Best Overall ChoiceCurrently, the Secure Digital card is the preferred video storage method.
Although it has smaller storage space, it is growing with technology and will shortly be available in large recording sizes.
The card itself may appear small, but it has incredible capabilities including stunning video quality and easiness of video transfer to computers for the editing process.
With the SD card, manufacturers will additionally be able to create digital camcorders in smaller sizes for portability so consumers can bring their camcorder almost anywhere! We recommend the PanasonicSDR-S10 SD Super Compact Size Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.
It utilizes the Secure Digital Card and a 2 Gigabyte Secure Digital Card is included with your purchase.
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