HD Camcorders

Types of HD camcorders

Most digital camcorders shoot in standard definition that roughly matches the resolution of a standard DVD. However, a growing number of camcorders shoot high-definition footage that experts say looks stunning when played back on an HDTV. These HD camcorders also usually have a standard definition mode and can produce SD video that's as good as (and often better than) that produced by standard-definition camcorders. The downside right now is the higher price tag. But as with all newer technology, prices tend to drop as the technology matures. HD camcorders have already dipped below the $1,000 mark.

Like standard definition camcorders, HD camcorders can record to different media, including tape, memory cards or an internal hard drive. In terms of best picture quality, most reviewers point to tape-based HD camcorders. These use a format called HDV, which records high-definition video to the same inexpensive tapes used by standard definition miniDV camcorders. All consumer HD recording formats use some type of compression. Because of the high resolution, file sizes are huge. Compression formats the recorded data so that it takes up less recording space. HDV recordings use MPEG-2 compression to do this. While this scheme does slightly degrade quality, reviewers are consistently impressed by how good HDV video can look when played back on an HDTV. MPEG-2 makes editing recorded footage a little more difficult than with other recording formats, but most video-editing software now supports HDV. You can record about 80 minutes of best-quality video to a miniDV tape.

The easiest way to view HDV video is to use your camcorder as the playback device, plugging the camcorder into your HDTV. However, placing the video on a DVD for others to enjoy presents some challenges, because you'd need a high-definition DVD burner on your computer, then you'd need a high-definition DVD player to play the resulting video. However, you can convert your HD video to standard resolution for recording to a regular DVD.

AVCHD is the other main recording system used by consumer HD camcorders. It is media- independent and can be recorded to hard disc drives, removable memory cards, DVDs and more. Its other benefit is that it simplifies the job of creating high-def DVDs that others can enjoy. AVCHD video can be recorded to regular DVD blanks using the regular DVD burner that's found on most modern computers. The finished discs can then be viewed on Blu-ray players (but not HD DVD players, the other high-def disc format). You can also just plug your camcorder into your HDTV to view video.

Critics point out that AVCHD has two significant drawbacks, however. One disadvantage is that it uses MPEG-4 compression. While that allows for much smaller file sizes, video (particularly fast moving video), suffers from more artifacts (which can appear as color problems, jagged edges and other picture defects). That said, the video still looks very good overall; it's just that HDV video looks better. The other drawback is that editing AVCHD files can be even more of a challenge than HDV. Though the number is growing, only a handful of software programs can currently edit AVCHD files. CNet.com has a recent article that lays out the state of AVCHD editing and provides a list of software packages that support it; you can find the link in the Best Research section below.

Finally, some HD camcorders go it alone, using their own proprietary recording system. However, those either also output the video in a file format that can be handled by most editing software or provide software that converts proprietary files into something more universally recognized.

Best HD camcorders

In the largest number of reviews, most critics point to the Canon HV20 (*est. $900) as the best HD camcorder currently available. The Canon HV20 uses the HDV format and saves footage to the same inexpensive miniDV tapes used by standard-definition camcorders. In his review for CamcorderInfo.com, John Neely sums up the consensus by saying, "the Canon HV20 is that rare camcorder that bursts onto the scene, and sets a new standard in its niche."

First and foremost, image quality is outstanding. Footage is described as sharp and well saturated, especially for outdoor and other well-lit shooting situations. However, a couple of features really set the Canon HV20 apart from the competition. One is an optical image stabilization feature that does a great job of eliminating hand shake. CNet.com's Philip Ryan says that Canon's Super-Range Optical Image Stabilization works better than other systems. In CNet's tests, the feature could not quite remove all of the hand shake when using the camera at the far end of its zoom range, but it does a better job than most others.

The Canon HD camcorder's other notable feature is the ability to record 24p (24 frame-per-second, progressive) video. This mimics the way film cameras capture footage and is a feature that is prized by advanced shooters. For pros and serious hobbyists, experts say this feature can make your home videos look more like movies.

The Canon HV20 HD camcorder does have some shortcomings, however. One is that while a good deal of manual control is possible, some important things are missing, such as independent control of the shutter speed and iris opening which are features that are important to more experienced users. We've also seen conflicting reports about the camcorder's ergonomics. In his review for PC World, Alan Stafford complains about the Canon HV20's "tiny buttons," while CamcorderInfo.com's John Neely says that operating some controls, like the zoom rocker and the joystick control, required an "awkward grip." But Nick Strayer, in a review for Videomaker.com, says that though it takes some time to get comfortable with the HV20 and that the hand strap is uncomfortable at first, it is "easy to operate, with convenient hand controls for focus, zoom, exposure and back light correction."

Another area where we see a difference in opinion is low-light performance. CNet.com's editors are not impressed with the HV20's operation in dim light. TrustedReview.com's Rob Tucker echoes that opinion, though he notes things look a lot brighter when the camcorder is in the 24p mode. Testers at CamcorderInfo.com, on the other hand, are more pleased with the HV20's low-light capabilities in its standard mode. Neely reports, "this camcorder is a killer in low light" when 24p is selected. Despite these differences of opinion, we had no trouble identifying the Canon HV20 as the HD camcorder to beat right now.

The Sony Handycam HDR-HC7 (*est. $1,060) is another HDV camcorder that is earning high praise. It is actually the highest scoring camcorder at CNet.com (along with two other Sony HD camcorders), besting the Canon HV20. Video quality is described as generally excellent, and colors are both accurate and well saturated according to editor Lori Grunin. CamcorderInfo.com's Neely agrees that image performance is first rate, though perhaps a little oversaturated. Low-light performance is generally considered good. CNet.com's Grunin says, "In a typical single-lamp living room environment it fares better than many competitors for sharpness, noise, and color."

Critics say that the Sony Handycam HDR-HC7 HD camcorder is feature loaded, but getting to some of the features is a nuisance because of Sony's touchscreen interface. That interface looks sophisticated and lets Sony create a sleek camera with few buttons and visible controls. However, accessing manual controls, white balance, scene modes and other features means navigating a series of touchscreen menus. On the other hand, the HD camcorder includes Sony's Easy Button for automatic control of most functions, a feature that works well.

Like the HV20, the Sony Handycam HDR-HC7 HD camcorder includes optical image stabilization. Most found that the system is effective, but Brian Peterson at Videomaker Magazine says that large movements "can suffer from occasional image stuttering when the stabilization system attempts to lock onto or unlock from a target." The Sony Handycam HDR-HC7 also has dual record, which lets you snap still images while recording HD video. (In general, experts say a regular digital camera is still a better choice for snapshots than a camcorder of any type.)

Buyers on a budget might be interested in the Sony Handycam HDR-HC5 (est. $810) . This HD camcorder is a feature-light version of the Sony Handycam HDR-HC7. Most notably, image stabilization is electronic rather than optical (experts say optical is better) and both the microphone and headphone jacks found on the Sony Handycam HDR-HC7 are missing here. Stills are shot at lower resolution. We haven't seen much reviewer feedback on the cheaper Sony HD camcorder, but early previews indicate that the feature omissions don't affect overall image quality. User reports are mostly positive thus far.

Although the model numbers are similar, Sony's Handycam HDR-CX series does not record to miniDV tapes. Rather, they record to memory cards using the AVCHD format. That format aims to make it easier to share HD videos with others. You will still need a Blu-ray DVD player (or PlayStation 3 game console) to view the discs (HD DVD is not compatible), but videographers won't need to spring for expensive high-def DVD burners or use expensive recordable HD media. Instead, standard DVD burners and discs can be used. Editing AVCHD video is more challenging, but several compatible software packages for both the PC and the Mac are now available. (See the link in Best Research for more information).

While editing remains a concern for many, critics' biggest issue with AVCHD camcorders is that image quality can't match that of HDV. However, CNet.com editor Philip Ryan says that the Sony Handycam HDR-CX7 (*est. $965) "does produce very nice video, and will likely blow your socks off if you're used to a standard-definition camcorder." Still image quality is also above average for a camcorder.

The Sony Handycam HDR-CX7 stores its footage on removable Memory Stick Pro Duo cards, resulting in a camcorder that's very compact -- just 2.75 x 2.75 x 5.25 inches. While that makes the Sony Handycam HDR-CX7 HD camcorder small enough to slip into a large jacket or sweatshirt pocket, some critics say it makes accessing the controls more difficult. Recording time is not particularly long to a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo card (*est. $90) -- just 30 minutes at top quality -- but larger cards are available. Sony's usual touch screen menu is there and, as always, opinions are mixed. Some say its small 2.7-inch screen size isn't very pleasant to navigate. Other reviewers don't mind the touch screen. A couple of reviewers quibble that Sony doesn't include a Memory Stick Pro Duo card in the box – so you need to buy a card before you can play with your new HD camcorder.

Sony also makes several other similar HD Camcorders. The Sony Handycam HDR-SR7 (*est. $1,100) records to a 60GB hard disk drive that can hold up to 8 hours of top quality video. Though not as compact, it is still small and is perhaps more comfortable for many to hold. Reports say video quality is generally excellent. The Sony Handycam HDR-SR8 (*est. $1,600) bumps up the hard drive to 100GB. Both use AVCHD and MPEG-4 compression.

In its review of the Sony Handycam HDR-SR7, CNet.com editors are impressed with image quality. David Pogue, technology columnist for The New York Times, laments the difficulty of working with AVCHD video when editing, but his review is a little older and more software support is now available. Overall, he finds the Sony Handycam HDR-SR7 "an impressive machine."

Another variation in Sony's lineup, the Sony Handycam HDR-UX7 (*est. $915), records directly to DVD discs. However, recording time to dual-layer discs is just 25 minutes, and 15 minutes to single-layer discs. There is a Memory Stick Pro Duo slot, but you can only use that media for capturing still photos.

Sony is not the only manufacturer supporting AVCHD. Panasonic has just turned over its offerings, introducing the hard-drive-based Panasonic HDC-SD5 (*est. $1,000) and the Panasonic HDC-SX5 (*est. $900) , which records to DVDs and SDHC memory cards. We haven't yet seen reviews for the Panasonic SDC-HD5, but its predecessor, the Panasonic HDC-SD1 (discontinued), was generally considered a step below the best offerings from Sony and the latest Canon. At the time of this update, the Panasonic HDC-SX5 has only been reviewed by Great Britain's Trusted Reviews and does not fare particularly well. Editors say the Panasonic HDC-SX5 is susceptible to noise issues in low lighting, and those are made worse by the high MPEG-4 compression that's part of AVCHD. However, if you do want an HD camcorder that records to DVDs, the Panasonic HDC-SX5 does have one advantage over the Sony: it can record video -- up to 1 hour and 20 minutes of best quality footage -- to an 8GB SDHC memory card.

Canon supports AVCHD in addition to developing camcorders that use miniDV discs. The Canon HG10 40GB (*est. $1,100) hard-drive-based HD camcorder has been given thorough once-overs by a couple of reviewers. David Kender at CamcorderInfo.com generally loves the Canon HD camcorder, noting that it has much in common with the very highly rated Canon HV20, including the same high quality imaging system, optical image stabilization system and a 24p mode. He notes some significant improvements to controls as well. The big fly in the ointment is that the camera's 24p is judged to be virtually unusable because of video stuttering. Still, Kender's conclusion is that the Canon HG10 is the best HDD camcorder currently available.

However, CNet.com editors somewhat disagree. They concede that the Canon HG10 is solid overall, but add that it has "its share of annoying quirks." Lori Grunin doesn't like the ergonomics, and says that while some changes work for the better, (such as an improved zoom control), others are setbacks. One complaint is that the joystick on the HG10 is located on the LCD bezel. That means that "with the HG10, you're forced to shoot using the LCD far more than necessary; that's not just annoying and harder to hold steady, but you end up wasting a lot of battery power." CNet also judges audio quality as sub-par.

Some HD camcorders use neither AVCHD nor HDV, instead using their own proprietary system. One example is the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 profiled above. Another is the JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7 (*est. $1,170) , which fares somewhat better in reviews than the Sanyo HD camcorder.

Unlike other hard drive camcorders, the JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7 uses a proprietary MPEG-2 encoding scheme with less compression than the MPEG-4 used in AVCHD hard drive camcorders. Whether that results in a better camcorder is the subject of some debate among reviewers. One thing they do like is the flexibility that JVC offers for those who like to edit their video. The included software can convert the JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7's video to a number of popular file formats for use with video editing software.

Despite the lower compression, however, video quality is a disappointment according to many experts, who report problems with noise and oversaturated color. However, David Pogue at The New York Times compares the JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7's video against that of the Sony Handycam HDR-SR7 and finds little difference.

Important Features: HD camcorders

Here's what the experts say to look for when buying a digital camcorder:

• HDV is the highest image-quality format. Although strides are being made among models that record to DVDs, hard disc drives or media cards, HDV is still easier to edit, and the tapes themselves -- the same used by standard-definition miniDV camcorders -- are inexpensive and readily available.

• Camcorders that record to a hard drive or to memory cards are most compact. However, some reviews say these can actually be too small to hold comfortably.

• A long optical zoom helps you compose your shot. Most HD camcorders top out at 10X. Digital zooms can extend things farther, but are of limited value, especially when recording HD, as they tend to pixilate images (i.e., cause them to become blocky and lose detail). With a zoom, optical image stabilization helps counteract camera shake, which can be especially noticeable in HD footage. Even so, using a tripod is a good idea for long-zoom shots.

• Most HD camcorders take good still shots. Most reviewers agree that a digital camcorder is no substitute for a dedicated digital camera. But HD camcorders have imagers with a lot more pixels than standard definition camcorders and do a better job of capturing stills.

• Sharing videos remains a problem. For most, the best playback device for HD footage is the camcorder itself. Placing the video on a DVD requires a process that is difficult in some formats, or requires expensive high-def burners and high-def blank discs. Once created, watching high-def discs requires a high-def player, and the two formats battling for market share -- Blu-ray and HD DVD -- are not compatible.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
7	Canon HV20 (*est. $900)	details
4	Sony Handycam HDR-HC7 (*est. $1,060)	details
2	Sony Handycam HDR-SR7 (*est. $1,100)	details
2	Sony Handycam HDR-CX7 (*est. $965)	details
1 each	Canon HG10 , Sony Handycam HDR-SR8 , Sony Handycam HDR-HC5 , Canon PowerShot TX1 , Panasonic HDC-SD1 , JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7

For now, tape based HDV high-definition camcorders remain the champ in terms of video quality and editing ease. The Canon HV20 is the runaway leader among those and all camcorders in reviews. The Sony Handycam DCR-HC7 is also good. Although most say the video quality is not as nice, and editing is, for now, more of a challenge, AVCHD camcorders offer great convenience. The Sony Handycam HDR-CX7 is very petite and records to removable memory cards. The HDR-SR7 is similar in features and performance, but records to a 60GB internal hard drive.

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