Video camera, Hard drive or DVD

For overall quality, economy, reliability, ease of operation (including saving and storing video) stick with tapes. Despite all the hype surrounding other formats, industry professionals are still using tape. You won't be disappointed.

I would go for the hard drive. You can also take still pictures.

Pyro,

It's a difficult decision that I recently wrestled with. Here are some things that I tossed around in my mind.

1. I really wanted a Full HD (High Definition) camera to view on our new HD TV. The problem is storage and transportation of data to the TV. A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) camera can be hooked up and viewed but sooner or later you will want to download onto a DVD for archiving. DVD look reasonable but are not Full HD. Therefore mini data tapes are the go. You just have to buy a lot of them and always playback using the camera.

2. Hard Drives are reported to be delicate and possibly can't take the hard knocks we can give them in a 4WD. Back to tapes!

3. DVD camcorders could be a possibility and are available in FullHD but you need a new HD DVD player ($$$) and expensive media. Also the cameras look weird with that round hump. Back to tapes.

4. HDD camera with a DVD docking station to transfer the data. Awkward and similar to (3) above.

5. My solution? Wait a bit longer to see what happens with HD media. It will get cheaper and an obvious winner in the Blue Ray vs HD DVD will be revealed. (remember VHS vs whatever the other one was?) Meanwhile I have bought a Canon S5 IS still camera that takes superb stills as well as excellent movies. It only cost about $650 with a 2 gig card. I can get 300-400 shots plus up to one hour of video on a single card. I use my computer to store all data and burn video DVDs using Premier Elements (standard quality but look great on my TV).

Even if High Definition is not an issue for you I think tapes would be better. DVD's can be broken,scratched etc in the bush.

I am interested to hear what others have to say on the subject.
Check out my camera here.

Canon S5 IS

Kingo

mate the latest cameras have subsituted HD's for SD cards, this is the way to go, its not delicate, solid state - reliable and you change your cards like a disk or tape but with out all the crappiness of tapes - I own a mini dv tape and will be ditching it for SD as soon as possible. Now downsides to SD except possibly cost of sd cards right now, but this is falling very quickly.

Pyro, you can store and record a lot more data on the tapes. That means the quality will be better, especially for the dollars spent.

Get a JVC with a 30GB HD that will last you at least all day, depends on how much you take it might go 2 days, then down load it to a Laptop and away you go again, can also take the shots in widescreen 16.9, I also hear there's a High Def'coming on the market.
Sony Announces High Definition 1080i

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I just went thru this whole procedure too.

Got some good advice from this Forum and others and went for Mini DV tapes for all the reasons stated above.

Bought the Sony HDR-HC7E. $1699 at Camera House. $100 cashback but on the Sony website had the option of $200 worth of some Sony goodies for half price and took that.

Picture is just outstanding. Love the flexibility of tapes. Widescreen 16:9, high definition. Looks broadcast quality on a 50" plasma.

Check Thread 52099.

We just shouted ourselves a new Sony 60 gig HDD camcorder. $802 delivered to our door.
www.insanemobile.com.au
( think thats it, and it will come in from China, but who cares )

Wow first one ever.
Its not the wizz bang HD model, I can't be bothered. The way I see it is, that being a Sony they will shoot a gr8 pic anyway and we wanted the hrs of video.
Main problem is the user, learning everything, but after a couple of stuff ups, I was away, only to findout about the effect of light, and where to stand.
Now there ain't no camera in the world that can think for me, so it's all trial and error..

Next on the agenda is a windproof mic. and a "how to pan and hold" book

Cheers All

Bucky

Some years ago I purchased an 8mm digital sony movie camera, I have had several different cameras from a very old lugable vhs with three different components to the system up to and including a hi 8 and hence one of the reasons for getting the digital 8mm system. I can play back old tapes with the new camera.
The digital camera is great and has excellent picture quality, certainly not HD. My only problem now is the very sad lack of tapes available. I have tried many places including a non plus answer from sony australia. I now use hi 8 tapes with lower record times and similar picture results. My point here is remember you will be stuck with something fairly useless in a few short years regardless of what format you choose.

Pooley

Thankyou to everybody who has replied, it all helps.

No worries Pyro 1, check this out (just launched at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday)

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-Announces-Two-New-High-Definition-DVD-Camcorders--HDR-UX10-and-HDR-UX20-33966.htm

doesnt record on Blu Ray media, but records on DVD AND Memory Stick, I believe in the same quality. Definately worth looking at.