Digital Video Cameras Buying Guide

Buyers' Guide to Digital Video Cameras Contents

• Analog and Digital video
• DV camcorders: which one to choose?
• Tape-based camcorders
• HD-based camcorders
• Disc-based camcorders
• controls and features
• DV and the web
• Editing your video for the web
• Entry-level video editing applications
• High-end video editing applications
• Camcorder pricing

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Digital Video (DV) is an ideal format for anyone wanting to use a camcorder (DV camera) to work with video on the PC or the Web. The most exciting aspect of DV editing is the purity of the content. No matter how much you work with your video, if you keep the data in a digital format, the video quality will be exactly the same.

However, deciding on the right camcorder can be difficult when you look at the many choices available. The type of media you want to use, the quality you need and the price you want to pay are all important aspects to consider.

Several pieces of the DV puzzle had to come together to bring movie making to the masses. PCs had to be sufficiently powerful to deal with the demands on storage and performance that video makes. Next, there had to be a way to connect a camcorder to a PC quickly and easily. Finally, there had to be a waay to preserve the quality of the original footage so that it could be used without degradation.

The latest Pentium III- and 4-based PCs provide more than enough processing power to deal with video transfers, and the increases in storage capacity and dramatic reductions in the cost of RAM have also served the DV user well. The arrival of Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows XP provided crucial operating system support for Digital Video connectivity features such as FireWire, and Plug-and-Play support for removable hard drives and DV camcorders.

Analog and Digital Video: What's the difference?

The analog process transmits video as complete frames, with the receiving device then interpreting and translating the signal into video and audio on a monitor. It is at this interpretation stage that a progressive loss of data, however small, leads to a loss in quality.

Digital video, on the other hand, stays digital (such as '0's and '1's ) with the data constructed to describe the colours and brightness of a video frame. On the receiving end of this data transmission, there is no translation or interpretation, just the delivery of the data into another digital device. This consistency of delivery is the crucial advantage that digital video has over analog video when it comes to working with video on the PC.

FireWire (other terms include iLink, IEEE 1394 or 1394EEE) provided both the transfer speed, at 400Mpbs, and consistent rates to allow the average PC user to edit their video like a pro.

What About USB 2.0?

In the not too distant past, there was a clear distinction between USB and FireWire. USB 1.1 could not transfer high quality DV; loosely defined as 25 frames per second (fps) with each frame being 640x480 resolution, due to USB's transfer limit of around 11Mbps (or around 1.5MB per second). Transferring DV requires a transfer rate of at least 3.6MB per second, which left FireWire as the only option due to its ability to work at 400Mbps, or up to around 50MB per second. Then along came USB 2.0 with a transfer rate of 480Mbps or around 60MB per second.

At first glance it would appear that USB 2.0 is even faster than FireWire; however speed is not the only issue when it comes to DV. One serious issue with USB 2.0 is that it can not guarantee a specified data transfer rate. This is due to USB 2.0 being a master-slave technology, which means it needs a computer's CPU to coordinate the appropriate data transfers. While not a problem when dealing with low demand peripherals such as Web cams, scanners, printers etc, digital video requires dependable performance to avoid dropping video frames.

FireWire is a much more independent technology in that it works in a peer-to-peer relationship. For this reason, many professional DV users are now able to download their video from a DV camcorder to an external hard drive without the use of a PC. Finally, and most importantly, FireWire delivers data consistently at a specific rate. If you want to work with video, even to edit the family movie, go with FireWire.

DV camcorders: which one to choose?

From the introduction of the first DV camcorder using the MiniDV tape format, the choices of DV camcorder have expanded, and there are now several format options to suit the way that you want to work.

If you want to prepare video for the Web, or to write to DVD or VideoCD with little or no editing of video, a disc-based camcorder may be the ideal solution. However, if you want to edit your video on the PC, a tape-based camcorder should be at the top of your list due to its ability to transfer video to the PC in a format suited to editing. MPEG in all its forms is first and foremost a delivery format, which makes it less than ideal when it comes to editing on the PC.

Tape-based camcorders

MiniDV tape-based camcorders are the most popular DV camcorder choice, with the first model arriving in the mid-1990s. A mini-DV cassette is of similar dimensions to an audio cassette and about half the size, with tapes priced from around AUS$10 each. The tapes hold from 45 to 90 minutes of footage and capture an impressive 500 lines of resolution, compared to around 400 lines for Hi8 camcorder models.

The advantages of MiniDV include a proven tape format with widespread availability. Most PCs with a standard FireWire connection will automatically recognise a MiniDV-based camcorder in much the same way that a USB device, such as a printer or scanner, is recognised when connected to a USB connection.

In addition, Sony offers Digital 8 camcorders that allow you to use your old 8mm analog cassettes while also offering a direct DV connection to your PC, so you can store DV footage on 8mm tape. This solution could be a useful option for schools and learning institutions with a large collection of Hi8 and 8mm tape footage Note: don't be confused by 'tape'. For example, 8mm tape is not analog, it's just tape, ready to store whatever a device wants to send; remember the tape decks on the Commodore 64?

MicroMV, another Sony development, is the smallest DV cassette on the market, recording MPEG-2 video direct to tape. Many camcorders provide wireless connectivity to the Web and other Bluetooth devices. MicroMV-based camcorders are not as widely supported as MiniDV, and many video editing applications are unable to recognise the camcorder without a utility supplied with it. Investing in a MicroMV camcorder would not be advisable. Sony has only one MicroMV model available (as of April 2005) and seems to be quickly losing interest in MicroMV as a viable format.

Other DV tape formats include DVCam and ProDV, offering high-end features such as a more robust tape construction, lower compression ratio and an interchangeable lens system, specifically designed to appeal to professional moviemakers. These formats should only be considered when working within a professional environment, as prices for such camcorders start at around $10,000 and go much higher.

HD-based camcorders

High Definition (HD) video is creating a lot of interest, mainly due to some spirited campaigning by the cable networks wanting you to buy HD boxes to watch TV. Plus, HD is delivered in a widescreen format (16:9) rather than the normal TV format of (4:3). The average consumer has every right to be confused as to what High Definition really is, as most of the companies involved still can't agree on a standard. The standard that seems to be getting the most support is 1080i, which means a resolution of 1080 interlaced lines or 720 progressive lines. TV signals in general give you 525 lines so the increase in quality is dramatic, if you have the HD gear to watch the video in all its glory.

However, you won't be seeing camcorders available for the average video maker for some time yet. At the moment there are three or four models available, with the cheapest priced around $7000. For serious video users, the best option for the medium-term would be to go with a good quality 3CCD camcorder that natively supports the widescreen (16:9) format.

Disc-based camcorders

Tape is not the only option when it comes to DV camcorders, for there is a variety of different media including mini DVD discs, removable storage and even hard drives.

Panasonic, Hitachi and Sony have released DVD-based camcorders that can record from around 20 minutes up to 1 hour of MPEG-2 video (depending on the quality selection) directly to small 8cm DVD that can then be played directly in a home-based DVD player. However, there are not many options for consumers, with around a dozen choices available across the three companies.

The rewritable options include DVD-RAM for Panasonic camcorders or DVD -RW/+RW for Hitachi and Sony camcorders. It's important to determine the compatibility with your home DVD player before going with a DVD Camcorder, as users are presented with the same -RW, +RW compatibility issues that exist with PC-based DVD recorders. The latest DVD-based camcorders also provide support for write-once discs such as DVD-R and DVD+R, which means that, once finalised, the disc can be played on most DVD players without any trouble.

Hard drive-based camcorders, utilising a non removable drive (about the same dimensions as one used in a notebook) to store video straight to the drive, have been around for some time. Hard disk camcorders operate by storing captured video in either the MPEG-2 or MPEG-1 format. Limitations include the inability to add additional storage, as well as the relative fragility when compared to other storage options such as Flash Memory and CD-based media.

Thankfully, some companies have released models with enough capacity to compete with MiniDV-based camcorders for the average videomaker with drives about the same size as a CompactFlash card. JVC has released a couple of Everio camcorder models with 4GB hard drives. This capacity provides more than enough room for hours of MPEG-2 video. Much like flash memory, the drives are removable and can be easily replaced. These models are becoming more common.

Recent increases in storage capacities in removable memory such as Secure Digital (SD) cards and Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro have led to the release of a series of pocket-sized camcorders that can record over an hour of high-quality MPEG-2 video.

If you are looking for a small camcorder, take a look at the latest Flash Memory camcorders, such as the Panasonic D-Snap, that use SD cards instead of tape. The huge reduction in SD media prices (you can now get a 512MB SD card for under $90), makes flash card-based camcorders a much more affordable option.

Controls and features

The central part of a DV camcorder is the Charge Coupled Device (CCD). This sensor creates a video picture by recording light intensity to recognise an image shape, and levels of red, green and blue (RGB) to reproduce a full-colour picture. A single CCD captures information on RGB colours in one go, while a three-chip CCD (found on more expensive camcorders) devotes a CCD to each of the three colours.

Many tape-based DV camcorders have both colour eyepiece viewfinders and a flip-out TFT LCD screen to view the action as well as preview video footage. However, most tape-less models only offer the TFT screen to preview captured video and to view while recording footage.

When you need to get close to the action, a good zoom lens can be a valuable feature. However, don't be swayed by the digital zoom figure, no matter how large; always base your buying decision on the optical zoom. The optical zoom gives a true indication of the video image, whereas digital zooms interpolate the available pixels to zoom in on an image. Optical zooms generally range around the 10X mark, with digital zooms ranging from 120X and above.

Auto focusing systems are great, although a manual focus option can be very handy in conditions such as low light or when focusing on a subject against a landscape. Available on most camcorders, the manual focus control can be found either as a ring on the lens itself or as a dual button system on the camcorder's body.

Program AE (Auto Exposure) allows the camcorder to set all the functions for shooting certain types of footage, leaving you simply to point and shoot. Situations covered include Portrait, Sports, High Speed Action, Twilight, Spotlight, Sand & Snow, and Low Light.

Playback and record controls are much like the ones on a VCR, with all camcorders including the basic functions of Play, Stop, REW, FF and Pause.

Most video camcorders these days provide a titling feature in the camcorder itself; however, this feature is to be avoided at all costs unless you do not intend to edit the footage on a PC. The title effects on many camcorders are quite limited and can't be removed afterwards.

Virtually all new camcorders use a rechargeable Li-ion battery, although a spare battery may be useful as the batteries are unique to each camcorder maker and often each model.

Many of the latest DV camcorders allow you to capture digital still images onto a removable flash memory card. The most popular media choice is SD or MMC memory, but Sony and Samsung camcorders capture still images to a Memory Stick. Some of the latest models have broken the megapixel image barrier and a few offer 3Mp still image capabilities.

Note: DV camcorders are unlike digital still cameras in this regard. Most camcorders offer no more than 1Mp, with anything above considered to be a distinctive feature.

If your camcorder doesn't have still image capabilities, you can always do a capture of the screen in your editing program. Remember that the image resolution when capturing a still in this manner will always be 640x480, which is less than 1Mp.

DV and the Web

The latest PC systems can quickly and easily capture video from a camcorder or webcam, ready to edit and deliver to viewers online. There are some issues to consider. Do you want to stream the video or send it in as a complete file? Will your audience be a targeted group such as an e-mail list or just one individual? Will it be available to everyone on your homepage?

A popular way to create small audio and video files is to use MPEG.

MPEG-1 was the format devised for VCD and also happens to be a good option for Internet distribution over a broadband connection due to the transfer rate of 1500Kbps, which is comparable to a high-speed broadband connection. However, the widespread adoption of MPEG-4 by most movie makers wanting to show their video on the Web, makes MPEG-1 a less attractive option for video distribution.

MPEG-4 is a great video format for the Web because it can deliver good video quality at extremely low data rates, even down to 10Kbps. Yet, when needed, the bit rate can be lifted to around 1Mbps, providing near-DVD quality video. DivX, one of the most popular formats on the Web for distributing movie titles, is based on the MPEG-4 format.

Camcorder makers such as Sony, Canon and Panasonic are providing live Web streaming capabilities using an MPEG-4 encoder in their DV camcorders, with the latest models taking advantage of the greater transfer speeds available when using USB 2.0. This allows you to connect your camcorder to the PC through a USB connection and send live video over the Web at various quality levels, depending on the internet connection speed of your audience.

Another option with many new camcorders is to record Web-quality video to removable storage media such as an SD card or Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro. This option allows you quickly and easily to transfer your video to the PC via a USB connection or through a card reader.

MPEG-2 is the format used in DVD video distribution and has playback rates from around 500 to 1000Kbps. By altering the playback or delivery rate, users can tailor the delivery of a video to meet the speed of a connection or to store more video on a DVD disc. The arrival of MPEG-2 camcorders allows users to distribute video immediately via the Web through the PC, or through wireless technologies such as Bluetooth.

Editing your video for the Web

The general video rule of 'if in doubt, leave it out' couldn't be more relevant when working with video for the Web. This means that elaborate transitions and complex 3D effects should be avoided unless necessary.

MPEG compression deals with video by creating a reference video frame, and providing information on the changes or motion taking place on the frames before and after. This means that the more action in a series of frames, the harder it is to compress the video.

Complex transitions usually create a lot of motion, which in turn limits interframe compression and the ability to optimise compression quality.

Most video editing applications allow you to scale an entire video to a new resolution such as 320x240 for video on broadband, down to 176x144 for streaming over the Internet via a modem connection.

Most DV camcorders come with a basic selection of video editing tools, although these applications are generally light versions with some features and tools removed. As you become more experienced, you may want to look at the more powerful options available.

Entry-level video editing applications

Starting out on the road to DV can be daunting when it comes to editing your video footage. The following programs provide a mix of guidance and user control to help you create a great-looking video straight away.

Windows Movie Maker 2.1 (Windows XP) is a great introductory video editing application and is available free as part of the Windows XP operating system. However, you may have to update to the latest version from www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/moviemaker. The collection area contains all the relevant assets you need to make a movie, with a surprisingly large range of titles, effects and transitions to select. Select the AutoMovie option if you want to create a movie with a few mouse clicks. Movie Maker 2 is only available for Windows XP users, so Windows 98 and Me users will have to look elsewhere.

Click here for a screenshot example.

Pinnacle Studio 9 from Pinnacle (www.pinnaclesys.com) uses a simple, drag-and-drop interface to help new users get creative quickly. Some of the features not normally found in entry-level packages include custom audio and over 100 transitions including Hollywood FX 3D effects.

Studio 9 writes MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 files for output with presets for S-VCD and Video for the Web. The excellent Make Movie process guides the user through the whole video making process with little fuss.

There are several variations of VideoStudio, with the Plus version adding more support for interesting effects such as a Chroma Keying, where you can place yourself against another video background like a weatherman on TV.

VideoStudio 9 from Ulead (www.ulead.com) provides a series of clear steps to help the video editing novice gain confidence in the movie making process. The user is guided through processes including Capture, Editing, Effects, Overlay, Titles, Audio and Sharing (or Output). When you have completed editing, the finished movie can be output in a variety of formats including MPEG-2 for DVD-quality video or MPEG-1 for VHS-quality video.

Adobe Premiere Elements 1.0 (www.adobe.com) offers a more substantial option for video editors frustrated with the level of "hand holding" with most consumer-level video editors. Premiere Elements 1.0 provides the same click-and-create options to simply let the application do most of the work; but also allows you to add more input or control to how the final movie will look. The workspace is simple to follow and more closely resembles a more professional video editing application such as Adobe Premiere Pro.

Vegas Movie Studio+DVD software (www.newmagic.com.au) has been around for a while, known as Vegas MovieFactory until purchased by Sony and renamed. However, the feature set has remained, with an easy-to-use video editor and the most powerful audio tools available for the consumer. Capturing and organising video files couldn't be easier, and the tools to add titles, music and effects are intuitive without being simplistic.

High-end video editing applications

Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 (www.pacific.adobe.com) is still the most widely used video editing application in the semi-professional market. PC users will be pleased to know that Adobe no longer supports Premiere on the Mac platform. This means that all interface, workflow and design parameters are developed with a Windows user in mind.

Professional-level features in Premiere Pro include strong colour correction options and new motion controls. On the audio side, AC-3 export, 5.1 surround sound mixing, the ability to record voice recordings to the timeline, and sub frame audio editing should please all experienced Premiere users.

MediaStudio Pro 7 from Ulead (www.ulead.com) offers quality editing with software only, real-time preview and output, and DVD Workshop AC3 for DVD authoring. Rounding out the bundle is Ulead's image editor PhotoImpact 8, and COOL 3D Studio for 3D text and object animation. Unfortunately, there hasn't been an update in features for a while, apart from a HD plug-in, and Ulead seems more interested in developing its consumer VideoStudio product.

Pinnacle Edition 5 from Pinnacle Systems (www.pinnaclesys.com) uses a familiar Windows interface, following a three-point editing system preferred by most professional video editors. Clips can be dragged to the source window with all the set in and out points. The ability to provide multiple sequences allows you to treat a collection of video clips as one object, which is a great timesaver when working on large projects.

If you want to get seriously into your video as well as working out your soundtrack, Vegas Video (www.newmagic.com.au) is a good option. However, be warned, all the applications in the prosumer space assume a certain level of competency; so don't expect the same wizards and step-by-step walkthroughs that are commonly available with entry-level video editing applications.

Camcorder pricing

Consumers have never had it so good when it comes to purchasing a new DV camcorder: prices for models start below $800 and range up to around $4000 for high-end semi-professional models.

DVD camcorder models are generally priced between $1100 and $2400, with more expensive models offering larger optical zoom lenses and high digital still image resolutions. DVD camcorders are not recommended unless you have a specific need for this type of model. As all who have used DVD media are beginning to realise, the discs are not as indestructible as the industry would have you believe, and the price per MB is still too expensive compared to alternatives such as tape.

On the MiniDV camcorder front, models for around $1000 should provide all you need to take great video: 20X optical zoom, LCD viewfinder, a simple menu system, and compact size.

However, you may not get removable memory to capture digital still images and Web quality video onto an SD card or Memory Stick for this price.

Once you pay around $1200 to $1800, you can expect to get Megapixel and above quality still images, as well as features such as USB streaming that allow you to use your camcorder as a live Web cam.

Above the $2000-$2500 mark, you can expect to get all the features of lower-priced camcorders in a smaller package. Other features on offer may include some wireless connectivity. You can also expect to buy a 3CCD camcorder for the first time this year in this price range, with Panasonic offering a couple of models below $2500 and Sony following soon after.

As you approach the semi-professional $4000 mark, 2Mp and 3Mp digital still images become standard, as do features such as more manual exposure controls and the ability to send video via a wireless network.

Three-chip CCDs may also be offered, providing stronger colour accuracy when compared to single CCD models.

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