Camcorder Research

Digital Camcorder Research
July 2007 Special Edition
Terris.com

Technologies

3ccd	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3CCD
AVCHD	High def audio/visual format
MPEG4	Older high def audio/visual format
SDHC	Higher capacity SD memory card

What to look for

• 3CCD
  • A CCD is the camera's "eye" that turns light waves into digital images
  • CMOS is a brand name for CCD
  • 3 CCD's are better than one
  • Probably captures images better, but probably unnoticeable for most lighting and distance scenarios
  • There is some concern that 3CCD is not 100% solid state but instead relies partially on moving parts. Unclear whether this varies from product to product.
• Ability to take still shots
  • # of megapixels for still shots much larger than for motion camera. Difficult to discern the two from product description
  • Look for a flash!
• High definition
  • Buy Play Station 3 to play blu-ray affordably
  • Some cameras are 720p, the more expensive ones are 1080p
  • You probably don't need 1080p unless your last name is Spielberg
  • HD eats storage (obviously 1080p eats more)
    • up to 1 hour on a 4 GB SDHC card
    • up to 40 minutes on a dual-layer DVD-R
  • Software packages that can handle AVCHD digital format encoded using MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (m2ts) are only starting to show up
  • You will need to choose either blu-ray or HD-DVD to write DVDs. Jury is still out. Writers and media are very expensive.
• Dolby 5.1 surround
• MiniDV tape versus SD and other solid-state storage
  • DV and SD are both digital formats
  • MiniDV tape media is commonly used to store DV format
  • Tape will eventually disintegrate
  • Rewind, fast forward takes time
  • SD typically infers MPEG4 and other types of compression
  • DV is far less compressed and doesn't suffer as much from pixellation especially for high velocity motion and panning
  • Therefore, DV is big. That's why solid state storage for DV is rare, hence MiniDV tape. You can put a lot more data on a tape.
• Hard disk drive
  • Hard disk models are heavier and consume more power
  • Hard disk drives fail. Can you replace the drives without voiding the warranty?
  • Nothing else to buy with hard disk models, until fail
  • Some camcorders support external hard disk
• Write to DVD?
  • Some camcorders write directly to DVD (not HD though - but perhaps can write larger than TV resolution using interlaced format) - that's pretty convenient especially for people who don't edit
  • "it’s not only my opinion that DVD camcorders can’t make a high quality film because their processors are weak for that work. For example my PC with AMD Atlon XP+ 3000 needed about one night for encoding one film from MiniDV format to DVD. "

TV Resolution

Sony DCR-SR300

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000M3GIJ2/ref=pd_cp_p_2/103-6322501-6192637?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=03AT7VV2QAPB7CWVY0PK&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=250314001&pf_rd_i=B000GXBBL8
6 mp still
40 gb drive
10x
5.1 surround

HD Resolution (MPEG4)

Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2

http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-VPC-HD2-Definition-Camcorder-Optical/dp/B000M51NOU/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-6322501-6192637?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1183761728&sr=8-1
10x
7.1 mp still
SD or SDHC

Canon PowerShot TX-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NK6DZI/sr/ref=pd_cp_e_1/103-6322501-6192637?ie=UTF8&qid=1183761728&sr=8-1&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=0XZW7A42Y5CRKJTPZC6M&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=250314001&pf_rd_i=B000M51NOU
7.1MP still
10x
SD,SDHC cards, MultiMedia, MMCplus
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/digital-cameras/canon-powershot-tx1-shoots-720p-hd-71mp-stills-238668.php

HD Resolution (AVCHD)

Sony HDR-UX7

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000M3HYTA/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-6322501-6192637?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
6 mp still
writes to dvds
10x

Sony HDR-SR1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GXBBL8/ref=pd_cp_p_2/103-6322501-6192637?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=11RFR0JRFNP2ET3N2YF6&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=250314001&pf_rd_i=B000LO92EK
4 mp still
30 gb drive
10x

Sony HDR-SR7

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PQJGFO/ref=pd_cp_p_3/103-6322501-6192637?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=03AT7VV2QAPB7CWVY0PK&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=250314001&pf_rd_i=B000GXBBL8
6 mp still
60 gb drive
10x

HD Resolution (AVCHD, 3CCD)

Panasonic HDC-DX1

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-HDC-DX1-Definition-Camcorder-Stabilized/dp/B000LO6AI6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6322501-6192637?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1183760980&sr=8-1
Writes to DVD and HDSD
5.1 surround
?? mp still
12x

• Review - http://fototramp.blogspot.com/2007/03/image-sensor-14-ccd-x-3-560-k-x-3_01.html

Panasonic HDC-SD1

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000LO92EK/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-6322501-6192637?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
HDSC
12x
?? mp still
5.1 surround

Panasonic HDC-SD3

Only available in Japan. "from what I can tell, that camcorder has the same imager and video data rate as the HDC-SD1, so I'm guessing the increase in recorded resolution (to 1,920 x 1,080, from 1,440 x 1,080) will not make much of a difference in image quality. "

Panasonic Pro AG-HSC1U

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NAW2PS/interactiveda654-20
HDSC
12x
?? mp still
5.1 surround
approx. $2000
40 GB portable hard disk drive (external!)

My picks

• I'm liking the Sony HDR-UX7 or the Panasonic HDC-DX1. Both are bulky and their prices are likely to fall in 2 months.
• Since technology is changing all the time, the Canon PowerShot TX-1 seems like a good product to buy now especially for convenient size, or the Sanyo VPC-HD2 because of its belt holder.
• Beware 3 megapixel camcorders. IMO you should only have to carry one camera with you, and a 3 MP digital camera is a paperweight.
• HD camcorders that record directly to blu-ray are right around the corner

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