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Best HD Video CamcordersCamcorders have been around for a long time now. The main innovations in recent decades were price reductions and smaller form factors. These days, even most digital cameras have modes for taking basic digital video shots as well. The real advance in digital camcorders has been the advent of HD or high-definition video. Most of us were used to watching TV and videotapes on regular old TV sets. From across the room, the pictures looked OK, but if you sat up close to the screen you could see the terrible lack of resolution with just 480 lines of resolution (the moving picture "illusion" was created by drawing and redrawing those lines really quickly, making it look like motion video). What is HD video and how does it work? The lines of resolution on a TV or video screen are like the pixels on your computer monitor or digital camera -- basically, higher definition means more details and clarity in the image you are seeing. So viewing digital photos on your computer monitor with a resolution of 1280 pixels by 720 looks much better than looking at digital photos on your old style TV set -- the TV just doesn't have as many dots and lines to show all the details in the image. The same is true for video.
Pumping low resolution video (whether from your antenna, your regular cable TV, your VHS tape, or your old camcorder) to any TV, old or new, results is a low resolution picture since the detail captured and displayed contains only those 480 lines of detail. Hi-Def, or HD video, created a new standard, in 2 different formats, both of which carry much more detail. There is the 720 format with 1280x720 pixels, and the 1080 format with 1920x1080 pixels (also called Full HD). You'll also see an "i" or "p" at the end of those terms, like 720i or 1080p, indicating whether the picture is redrawn through progressive scanning or interlaced scanning. Video captured and played back in HD format is dramatically better than the old format, and you need a HDTV or computer monitor to see the video, since old-style TVs just can't display all that detail. Many people think DVDs have much better image quality, but they really are not much better than regular TV. To get real HD video, you have a few options -- you either get digital cable that broadcasts HD channels of video, you watch Blu-Ray DVDs which are in HD format, or you shoot and view your own videos using an HD video camera. In this guide, we will be talking about the latter -- getting your own HD camcorder. If you are ready to buy online, we recommend Amazon.com. We are always impressed by their competitive prices, fast shipping, and customer service -- plus almost everyone already shops with them and trusts them. You can browse their up-to-date list of best-selling HD camcorders here
What are HD camcorders? How do Hi-Def Video Cameras Work?
Most Popular HD Video CamerasWhen it comes to finding the best HD camcorders out there, it should be no surprise that they are made by the same electronics companies that make all the TVs, DVD players, cameras, etc. that you already know and love. The big names in this game are Canon, Sony, and Panasonic, with Samsumg, Sanyo, JVC, and Aiptek filling in the gaps with some lower-priced or different design models. First off, how much do HD video cameras cost? While it is true that you can pay $3000-$5000 for a high-end professional HD camera (as in shoot your own movies..), most home users can get by spending $600-$1000, while some cheap HD cameras will only set you back $200 or less (more on those later). The Canon VIXIA models are some of the more popular, newer AVCHD cameras. The Canon VIXIA HF100 sells for around $550 (no HDMI cable or external battery charger includer). One of its highlights is that it records to flash memory cards - no tapes, no DVDs, no moving parts or lags when you start and stop recording. It records at full Hi-Def 1920 x 1080, and the LCD monitor (no viewfinder) is also HD, so you can see and review what you are capturing in HD. It shoots in 24 or 30 frame mode, with auto-focus and a 12X optical zoom. An HDMI terminal makes it easy to connect to your HDTV with a single cable. Picture quality and color overall is excellent, though some prefer the less compressed MPEG-2 video format and HDV tape when it comes to "perfect" HD video capture. You can store approx. 2 hours of video on a 16GB SD memory card, while battery life is stretched at an hour -- consider an extra battery if you are planning extended video recording or will be away from your computer for long. The VIXIA HF100 uses only removable SD cards for video capture - there is no built-in memory. The Canon VIXIA HF10 comes with 16GB of built-in memory, or you can use removable SD cards as well - it costs about $100-$150 more than the HF100, but required using special software for transferring the video files from the built-in flash memory to your PC -- I prefer being able to just remove the SD card and pop it into my memory card reader without cables or special software. As mentioned above, keep in mind that playing back and editing AVCHD video can be tricky -- you'll want a pretty powerful computer with lots of memory and a compatible video editing software program (like Sony Vegas). As with most cameras, natural outdoor lighting leads to much better looking images than indoor light.
Low-Cost HD Video Cameras - Want a cheaper Hi-Def camcorder?Not everyone wants to spend $700-$1000 on a video camera, especially the way kids use them these days. If you still want to capture HD video but don't want to break your bank account, check out the Flip MinoHD or some of the products made by Aiptek. The Aiptek A-HD+ 1080P High Definition Camcorder (just over $150!) is a real bargain for what it does. It doesn't have all the features and bells and whistles of a fancy $800 camera, but it is easy to use, takes pretty good video, and you don't have to be afraid to let your kids play around with it. It is kind of a pistol-grip style small camcorder, with a flip out LCD screen (2.4-inch TFT Color) for framing your shots or reviewing what you've already filmed. It uses SD memory cards (up to 32GB) for storing video, and also has 128MB of flash storage built-in for basic storage needs. It uses H.264 compression (AVCHD) that lets you capture stunning HD 1080P (1440 x 1080 with 16:9 aspect ratio). You can hold about 60 minutes of video on a 4GB memory card (can handle cards up to 32GB). A nice feature in the built-in HDMI connector for playing back videos directly on your HDTV. Some of the drawbacks - no autofocus, no optical zoom (4X digital zoom), no image stabilization. But for $150, this would be our first choice for a simple HD video camera. They also make a 720 model which sells for around the same price, called the Aiptek GO-HD High Definition 720p. This records HD video at 1280 x 720 resolution using H.264 technology. It has a 3X optical zoom and autofocus, things lacking in the A-HD+. Battery life tends to be pretty limited on these cameras - maybe 30 minutes. And picture quality in low-light is noticeably worse than on more expensive cameras. But for a cheap HD video camera, it may be just what you are looking for.
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and HV30 (about $200 cheaper). The Canon HV20 sells for around $900. It's got a 10X optical zoom and records in both true HD (1080p and 24p cinema mode) and SD (standard definition). This camera has been selected by many as the best of 2007, and it lives up to its reputation with gorgeous detailed video capture and true-to-life colors. It uses Mini-DV tapes to record video - about an hour fits on one tape. Sanyo also makes the popular Xacti models, like the Sanyo Xacti HD1000 which sells for around $600. This pistol-grip style mini camcorder packs a lot of power and features into a small form-factor: 10X optical zoom, full 1920x1080 (1080i) high-definition video capture using a single CMOS sensor, video storage on SD memory cards, image stabilization. It also uses the MPEG-4/H.264 compression standard for smaller file sizes (and some of the headaches mentioned above about working with these file formats). Overall, a rugged, solid performer - recommended. And you can't talk about HD cameras without talking about Sony. Their hard disk based models (as opposed to removable SD media) have been popular for some time, like the 
. This model sells for around $1100 and captures true HD video in 1920 x 1080 resolution - it is also a 10 MP digital still camera, so it works double duty. It comes with a built-in 60GB hard drive from storing your digital video. It has a 12X optical zoom lens, Dolby digital audio, and a 3.2 inch widescreen LCD display. You can also choose to shoot in HD or SD. One nice feature is face recognition software that recognizes faces while you are filming and keeps them in focus. This is also an AVCHD style camcorder. Sony is known for their leadership in camcorders, and the HDR-SR11 doesn't disappoint when it comes to video quality -- it is among the best we've seen. As a final recommendation, take a peek at the Panasonic HDC-HS9 AVCHD 60GB HD video camera -- it runs around $700 but consistently ranks in the top 10 of HD camcorders. It uses 3 CCDs instead of a CMOS for image capture, which in theory gives you truer colors. Add to that optical image stabilization, 60GB of hard drive storage space, surround sound, 10X optical zoom, and SD removable memory slot, and you have a real winner. Pick any of these cameras listed above, you will be getting a top of the line HD video camera.