DVD camcorders are digital camcorders that record straight to DVD discs. Instead of recording to mini-DV tapes, these models burn video to 8-centimeter DVD-RAM, DVD-R, or DVD-RW discs. Most home DVD players can read DVD-R and DVD-RW discs, but only a few home DVD players can read DVD-RAM discs.
Reviewers say that recording straight to DVDs has some problems. Reviews say that you shouldn't plan to do much editing on your computer because the different DVD formats and DVD editing software don't always work well together. Also, you can choose different levels of quality to make the most of the space on a mini DVD, but you can only record about twenty minutes of high-quality footage.
There's no doubt that digital camcorders will be the only kind that can be bought in the future. Still, reviewers are surprised by how long analogue models have lasted. They still work for people who don't have computers and just want a simple, cheap camera that works with VHS.
This Sony digital camcorder records on small DVD discs. Once the recording is done, the discs can be played in most home DVD players right away. Reviews say that the Sony DVR-DVD403 is by far the best DVD camcorder, with image quality that is on par with the best mini DV camcorders, like the Panasonic PV-GS250 below.
It's easy to record to mini DVDs, but it's harder to edit video on a computer, so the Sony is best for people who don't care much about editing. Since there aren't many manual settings on the Sony, the Panasonic is a better choice for people who like to change settings.
Reviews say that the image quality of this Panasonic mini DV camcorder is about the same as that of the Sony DVD camcorder above. Both cameras get high marks in reviews, but the Panasonic uses cheap mini DV tapes, and the DV format is much easier to edit on a computer than the MPEG-2 format used by the Sony.
Plus, the Panasonic has a lot of features that the Sony doesn't have, like a remote control, a manual focus ring, an accessory shoe for an external flash unit, optical image stabilisation, and a voice recorder for narration. The whole thing is easy to hold, and the buttons are in good spots.
When it comes to camcorders, Canon isn't known for making big changes. Instead, reviews say that Canon makes sturdy, reliable, consistently good video cameras in a quiet way. The Canon Elura 90 gets high marks for image quality (though not as high as the Sony and Panasonic above), and it has a lot of useful, basic features, like a 20X optical zoom, digital image stabilisation, quick autofocus, and easy-to-use menus. The Canon Elura 90 is a great value if you want something better than the very cheapest camcorder but don't need something as cutting edge as the Sony or Panasonic above.
This is one of the least expensive miniDV digital camcorders you can buy, and reviews say it's better than Sony and JVC models that cost the same. It does a lot better in low light than other cheap cameras. There are also a few manual controls. Even though reviews say the Panasonic camcorder's menus can be hard to use, this is the best cheap digital camcorder you'll find, with more features and better performance than its competitors.
Most digital camcorders are "DV" camcorders, which record video to widely available DV tapes. Some new models, on the other hand, want to make tape obsolete. A small number of digital video cameras can record to memory cards or a hard drive that is built into the camera. Still others record on what are called mini DVDs, which are small DVDs.
