Finding Your Format
It's quite impossible to choose a camera without knowing which format best fits your needs. Below, you'll find many of the most popular formats.
DVCPRO HD Based on the standard definition of DVCPRO format, the DVCPRO HD from Panasonic uses a data rate of 120 MBps and intraframe compression, both of which will provide strong protection from generational loss.
The DVCPRO HD also has supporting cameras and decks that use FireWire I/O, which is a very important feature for keeping an eye on your bottom line. The cost of the equipment is a bit pricey, as it can cost upwards of 80,000$.
HDCAM The HDCAM format from Sony is based on DigiBeta and can record in 24p, 25p, 50i, and even 60i. It uses a high data rate of 140MBps, which produces a great looking picture with few glitches. Because of the very unusual 17:6:6 color sampling scheme, the color detail is half of DVCPRO HD. The picture is top of the line, proving to be among the best available on the market.
HDV There is quite a bit of buzz surrounding HDV as the newcomer to the high definition marketplace. With high compression rates, HDV has enabled high quality shooting and editing with low cost tools, including the convenience of high definition video to Mini DV tape. This has also helped to open up the HD field to a wide variety of videographers and producers who would never have even considered going high definition otherwise.
The biggest drawback to going the HDV route is also the greatest strength - high compression. Both audio and video can suffer dramatically from too much compression. The audio in theory isn't up to CD quality, although some users report that they are perfectly happy with it.
HD Video Cameras
HD Video Cameras
JVC And The First High Def Camera
... high definition video and images. The GR-HD1 records digital images to mini DV tapes using MPEG 2 compression, recording and playing back digital high definition images while still maintaining conventional 525i DV standard recording times. The GR-HD1 also comes with an optical 10X zoom lens and a built ...
... camera, the XL H1 camcorder and 20X HD video zoom lens will provide broadcasters with a low budget 1080i resolution option for ENG, documentary or even reality television productions. Film makes will also fall for the extensive Cine controls and 24 frame rate option the XL H1 has to offer. Canon's custom ...
... HD video is intended to look like real life. There is an extended gray scale, a heightened sense of color - and the resulting detail is simply incredible. HD at this incredible level has 720 X 1028 lines of progressive video, which means that the video is shot in one entire frame at a time. Also, it can ...
... HDCAM Sony couples their HDCAM cameras together under the name CineAlta. They cover a broad range of prices and features, ranging from the XDCAM HD models and the F350 to the widely used and widely popular F950. The XDCAM HD cameras record directly to Sony's professional disc media, which is physically ...
... RAM for standard resolution video, although that goes up to a GB of RAM and a 256 MB graphics card when working with 1080i HD video. You can find plenty of software available that supports editing high definition videos. For example, the latest versions of Pinnacle Studio and Ulead Media Studio 8 can ...