MiniDV and hard drive camcorders are two of the options out there.
If you've been thinking about purchasing a camcorder, you might wonder what type is best. For the most part, different units are better for different people. That's because no two users will have the same needs. Understanding the differences between the models can be the best way to choose which video camera is best for you. Two of the options are MiniDV and hard drive camcorders.
The Formats
The first issue is just understanding the formats. Mini-DVs are videotapes. These are quite similar to the old VHS tapes. Of course, they are smaller and the recordings are digital, rather than the analog recordings of old VCRs. Hard drive units function like a PC or Tivo. A hard drive built into the camcorder stores the video files. This is the central difference in terms of technology.
Convenience
There are two ways of looking at the convenience comparison. With a hard drive camcorder, there is no tape. That means, if you've got your camcorder, you can film. A different way of looking at it, though, is if you are out filming and run out of space on your hard drive, the only way to continue is to delete footage. You need to link to a computer to save it off the camera. With a MiniDV you can just put a new tape into the camera.
Quality
The quality comparison is a lot more decisive. While you might find some variation from one unit to another, side by side a hard drive camcorder will produce better-quality video and audio than you can get from a MiniDV unit. So, if your only consideration is the quality of the end product, you are going to want to get a hard drive unit. If it's not the most important concern, though, MiniDV still produces quite good quality. It's just not comparable to the hard drive units.
Pricing
If you are price conscious, you'll probably want to go with the MiniDV option. There is another side to this argument, though. If you've got a computer to store your videos, you are done. So, while the machine will certainly be more expensive if you compare similar machines, you don't have to buy tapes. With the MiniDV, it's a repeat purchase situation. So, while the hard drive camcorders cost more for initial outlay, you save money in terms of buying blank media.
Media Failure
Another possible downside to a hard drive unit is media failure. If you are using a MiniDV machine and the media becomes damaged, you lose your video. Beyond that, you've got a bad tape that will need to be discarded. Media failure on a hard drive machine means the unit will have to go into the shop for a hard drive replacement. That's the same loss of video, but also loss of machine use and a more expensive repair.
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