The recording format for digital camcorders is one of the most important features that concern a camcorder buyer. Several formats are currently available, including, DVD, MiniDV, MicroMV, Flash Drive, Digital 8, and Hard Disk.

There was a time when hard disk was referred to only in terms of computers. These days, hard disk also applies to digital camcorders, and has become one of the best recording formats for several reasons.

Hard disk drive digital video camcorders are compact and record in MPEG-2 video that are saved to a built-in internal hard disk drive within the camcorder. The video is saved to the internal hard disc within the camcorder and then downloaded to a computer and burnt onto to a DVD.

5 Reasons to Buy a Hard Disk Camcorder

1. The upside of the hard disk camcorder is the ability of storing huge amounts of video data by using compression. Models with a 30GB internal hard drive can record up to 7 hours of quality video or up to 37.5 hours of footage in extended recording mode. Models with a 20GB hard drive can record up to 5 hours of DVD-quality video or up to 25 hours of extended recording in economy mode. To put this into storage capacity, it would take 22 DVD type camcorder storage disks to hold 7 hours of video.

And, this is on going recording, without having to stop and replace the media, that is very convenient for recording extended footage, like plays, concerts or ballgames. Hard disk camcorders also provide quick random access to scenes for ease of operation.

2. Recording quality of most brands of hard disk camcorders is very high quality and yield a superb DVD quality video.

3. Fast transfer and saving of footage to a PC or laptop. Hard disk camcorders transfer recorded video from the video camera to the computer via USB cable and that enables a 10 minute transfer time for each 60 minutes of footage.

4. The hard disk camcorder has no moving parts and so there is less chance of mechanical breakdown.

5. Hard disk camcorders tend to be smaller and more compact than other media types of camcorders.

The first hard disk camcorders were introduced by JVC in 2005, and named the Everio series and there are currently 8 models in  the JVC Everio hard disk series.

Today, there are several other manufacturers of these types of camcorders, including, Sony, who offers 9 different models of hard disk camcorders and Panasonic who offers 12 models.

The prices of hard disk camcorders vary, depending on the manufacturer, generally they range from $249 up to $1400 retail, with the ground breaker, JVC Everio series falling in the mid $400 range.

In today's competitive Internet market place it is unnecessary and often a mistake to pay a high retail price tag for a hard disk camcorder, or for any type of digital camcorder for that matter.

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