All Things HDV Buyer's Guide

Heath McKnight
May 2007

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With so many high definition camcorders now on the market, along with Panasonic's DVCPRO HD becoming more affordable, as well as the new AVCHD camcorders, the choice on which camcorder is right for you can be a difficult one. We break down the camcorders to help with that difficult decision.

There are now a number of more affordable high definition (HD) camcorders, which use a variety of compression formats (MPEG-4, AVCHD, and HDV) than ever before, but all of them are more consumer oriented. As low-cost HD becomes more popular and common, expect prices to drop further.

MPEG-4
Sanyo's handheld VPC-HD1a Xacti Media Camera ($799) is the entry-level camcorder in terms of price, and offers 720p video via MPEG-4 compression, captured to SD memory cards, which are sold separately. This small camcorder can fit easily in your hand or pocket, which makes travel easy.

The release of the AVCHD consumer camcorders from Sony and Panasonic added more affordable HD camcorders for both the hobbyist and prosumer. These DVD- or hard disk-based camcorders include Sony's new CMOS-sensor HDR-UX5 ($999) and HDR-UX7 ($1,299), both of which record footage to DVD. Both camcorders also feature 5.1 stereo surround sound.

Panasonic's offerings include the HDC-DX1 ($1,399), which burns to DVD, and the HDC-SD1 ($1,499), which records onto an SDHC memory card. Both units have three CCD chips, which allow for improved color reproduction, and 5.1 stereo surround sound.

The AVCHD format specifications allow for 1080i, 720p and standard definition recording modes, although not every AVCHD camcorder supports all these shooting modes.

HDV
The JVC GR-HD1 was the first low-cost HD camcorder to hit the market, in the spring of 2003. It is a single-CCD camcorder that records in 720p resolution to Mini DV tape, which is standard on all HDV camcorders.

Canon introduced the 1-CMOS HV10 ($1,499) as a low-cost consumer-oriented and handheld HDV counterpart to its higher-end HDV camcorders. This camcorder can record in 60i, along with 30F and 24F, which the high-end units can do. The "F" means full frame, and is very similar to how progressive video works. There is also a native 1920x1080-size sensor. At the time of publication, Canon announced the HV20, which has a new design and an HDMI connector.

Sony introduced the 1080i HDR-HC5 and HC7 in January 2007, which are very similar to its AVCHD offerings, except these CMOS-sensor camcorders are HDV and record to Mini DV tape.

Most of the camcorders found in this price range are considered consumer, but they still pack a solid punch in terms of features and functionality. Most of these camcorders are HDV.

Sony
The Sony HVR-A1 ($3,100) is a professional, 1-CMOS HDV handheld camcorder that records in 1080i60 resolution. Because it's from Sony's pro division, this camcorder offers more features than the consumer HD camcorders, along with pro tech support.

Sony's two consumer camcorders that have three chips and more professional-style manual controls are the 3-CCD HDR-FX1 ($3,700), similar to the professional HVR-Z1 and the 3-CMOS HDR-FX7 ($3,500), similar to the professional HVR-V1. While the FX1 has the edge in terms of more professional controls and 3 third-inch CCDs (compared to the FX7's 3 quarter-inch CMOS sensors), both camcorders offer excellent 1080i video capture to Mini DV tape.

Canon
Nearly a year after Canon introduced the XL H1, the company revealed two smaller yet similar HDV camcorders, including the XH A1 ($3,999), a 3-CCD camcorder capable of 1080i recording to tape. The unit is more affordable than the identical XH G1 because it doesn't include HD SDI out, which is a pure digital, uncompressed video-only output. Like its siblings, the XH A1 can record in 1080i60, along with 30F and 24F, with an option for 50i and 25F recording.

JVC
JVC showed off its new Everio hard drive-based camcorder, the GZ-HD7, at this year's CES. Shooting in 1920x1080i or the slightly lower resolution 1440x1080i is possible, and the footage is stored on a 60GB hard drive. This is not HDV, but something new for JVC.

Many of the camcorders listed below are very similar to the Moderate/Low units, but include features that raise the bottom line.

Sony
The HVR-Z1 ($5,950) 3-CCD camcorder can record in either 1080i60 or 1080i50 modes. There aren't too many differences between the Z1 and the FX1, but the Z1 offers more image controls and balanced XLR audio inputs, to name the major differences.

The HVR-V1 3-CMOS camcorder offers both 1080 progressive and interlace capture. It can shoot in 60i, 30p, and also the very popular 24p, for film-style recording. The progressive signal is "packaged" into a 60i "stream," meaning the final output is interlaced, while retaining the progressive look. This makes it easier for consumers with older televisions to watch the video without any problems. This is known as 3:2 pulldown. The V1 is similar to the FX7, but has far more professional-style controls.

JVC
The professional JVC HDV/ProHD camcorders, including the HD110 ($6,550), offer 720p recording and the ability to switch lenses. The HD110 can record in 30p, 25p, and 24p while in HDV mode and 60p, 50p, 24p, and 60i in DV mode.

Canon
As described earlier, the Canon XH G1 ($6,999) is very similar to the XH A1 and the higher-end XL H1, except like the H1, it offers HD SDI, Genlock, and Time Code output, known as the Professional Jackpack.

These are the HD camcorders that are geared strictly for the professional, relying primarily on manual controls, though they include automatic controls if you need to fall back to them.

Panasonic
The Panasonic AG-HVX200 ($5,995) is the only DVCPRO HD camcorder in the sub-$10,000 category. Though the base price is around $6,000, this doesn't include the P2 cards, which are needed for recording HD. A Mini DV tape transport system is included, but it can record only DV footage (not HDV).

P2 is a card-based technology Panasonic developed to keep the camcorder's costs low. While the prices are dropping, two 8 GB P2 cards, which can hold about 8-20 minutes of HD quality footage each (depending on shooting format), can cost around $1,200 each as of this writing. These cards are necessary to shoot in HD.

The AG-HVX200 is similar to the revolutionary AG-DVX100 DV camcorder in look and design. It can capture footage in 1080i 24p, 24pA, 30p and 60i, along with multiple frame rates in 720p mode, from 12 fps to 60 fps. This can give the user smooth slow- and fast-motion effects.

Canon
Canon's HDV equivalent to its XL family of DV camcorders is the XL H1 ($8,999). Like the JVC camcorders, this camcorder also includes the ability to remove the lens and put another on. The XL H1 also has a significant number of film-like image settings, and a Professional Jackpack (HD SDI, genlock, and time code output).

JVC
The JVC GY-HD200 ($8,995) is designed more for electronic news gathering (ENG), along with digital cinematography and other forms of videography. It is very similar to the HD110, but has more features, including the extra ability to record in 60p and 50p in HDV mode.

The GY-HD250 ($10,995) is also similar to the GY-HD200 and GY-HD110, and is the most professional of its ProDV camcorders. This camcorder features HD SDI, genlock and time code output.

When deciding which HD camcorder to buy, consider whether you truly are a hobbyist or a prosumer. Many of the smaller HD camcorders are ideal for both, but prosumers may need the extra features found in the higher-end HD cams. Always keep your end needs in mind when choosing a camcorder.Happy shooting.

Now that you've thought about that HD or HDV camcorder, you need to plan how to edit your high definition images.

What do all the editing applications that support high definition video have in common? They all contain ways to capture HDV footage using an intermediate codec, changing the HDV footage to a more standard and universal high definition (HD) format, which is easier to edit with.

The reason is that HDV's compression, which is very similar to how video is compressed for DVDs (MPEG-2 TS, or transport stream), is hard to cut natively on an edit system. This is why the manufacturers of most of the major editing software provide an intermediate codec or offer one as a plug-in. The footage encoded with the intermediate codec can be converted back to HDV upon playback to camera or VTR, though with uncompressed HD, the file sizes can easily quadruple.

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