How to Buy a Camcorder -- All Format Camcorder Buyer's Guide (page 2)

When it became obvious that most buyers preferred smaller camcorders, several manufacturers teamed up to develop a smaller VHS-compatible format. The result was VHS-C (or Compact VHS), a format that uses the same basic tape stock wound in a much smaller shell. This allows manufacturers to make VHS-C camcorders considerably smaller and lighter than full-sized VHS machines. And VHS-C camcorders are among the cheapest available, to boot.

With the help of an adapter, VHS-C owners can put their cassettes directly into their home VCR. Like full-size VHS, many VHS-C camcorders offer audio and video dubbing.

Unfortunately, the VHS-C format trades large size for some other drawbacks. The first is shooting time--normal VHS-C cassettes run just 20 to 40 minutes in their highest-quality mode. VHS-C tapes are many times the cost of regular VHS per minute and aren't nearly as easy to find. VHS-C offers the same video and audio quality as its larger sibling, which is fine for home viewing but marginal for editing.

Like full-size VHS, the VHS-C ranks have thinned over the years. Several models are still available, however, including the RCA CC6392 ($699), the Panasonic PV-L859 ($900) and the JVC GR-AXM910 ($850).

Sony and friends' answer to VHS, the 8mm format has been a consistently good seller for over a decade. The 8mm format offers a slightly improved picture over standard VHS, with considerably better audio (higher fidelity, plus stereo). The 8mm cassette is small, which makes for a smaller and lighter camcorder. Tapes run long in this format--2 hours or more--though 8mm cassettes are still not as easy to find as the ubiquitous VHS T120. Camcorders bearing the 8mm logo are inexpensive and relatively feature-packed.

There are a few negatives regarding the 8mm format. First, you can't play your freshly shot 8mm tape in your home VCR. You have to run cables from camcorder to TV with most models, which can be a hassle. Second, because 8mm is so similar to VHS in video quality, the same reservations apply. 8mm video doesn't look so hot after copying or editing, making it a questionable choice for anyone considering the production of serious videographery.

Selection of 8mm camcorders is very good, with five manufacturers currently selling 8mm models. Prices range from the inexpensive Samsung SCA30 ($330) up to Canon's flagship 8mm model, the ES970 ($799). In between are models from Hitachi (VME555LA, $500), Sharp (VL-E685U, $449) and Sony (CCD-TRV16, $599).

What do you get when you take the VHS format and improve its image quality dramatically? You get Super VHS, or S-VHS. Expressed in terms of resolution, the S-VHS format offers a picture nearly twice as sharp as that of VHS. S-VHS camcorders offer hi-fi stereo sound as well, allowing them to deliver sound quality that exceeds that of the standard 8mm audio. S-VHS camcorders also have a special S-video jack that makes for a cleaner signal for viewing or editing. All this adds up to a format that's good enough for advanced home or semi-professional shooting and editing.

In recent years, more standard VHS VCRs have appeared with a feature called quasi-S-VHS playback. This allows them to play back S-VHS tapes at normal VHS resolution, which is a great convenience for the S-VHS shooter. Unless you have an S-VHS or quasi-S deck, however, you can't easily watch your fresh footage.

S-VHS tapes offer a full two hours of recording time, but they're expensive and less likely to be found on the shelf of your local food/gas mini-mart. Other disadvantages include the format's considerable size and weight, relatively high camcorder prices and a field that's dropped to just two models.

That's right--as of press time, there were just two rather expensive S-VHS camcorders available. Both JVC's GY-X3U ($4950) and Panasonic AG-456U ($2225) are priced and equipped for the industrial/semi-pro videographer. As such, they offer a full complement of manual controls and other advanced features. In the lower-cost consumer realm, the S-VHS format has fallen to the new, higher-performance digital formats.

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