coldcity80
I'm looking to purchase a good HD Hard Disk Drive camcorder. I'm a Sony fan, but there are several options out there. Should I instead look into purchasing a Canon (Flash Memory) camcorder? What's better, Hard Disk Drive --or-- Flash Memory?
Answer
Short answer: Flash Memory.
Long answer:
With the known limitations consumer hard disc drive camcorders have with vibration/shock and altitude, challenges archiving the video and huge expense recovering data from crashed hard drives, I no longer recommend hard disc drive camcorders.
Flash memory camcorders use the same highly compressed file types so if you must, then flash memory is better between the two. Check the Sony HDR-CX500 series or Canon HF or HF S series camcorders.
Please keep in mind that video compression = discarded video data = reduced video quality. Also, if you are expecting to edit that video, you will need an editor that can deal with AVCHD/MTS files. There is nothing useful in the box with the camcorder and if you are running Windows/Vista, MovieMaker cannot deal with MTS files (Sony Vegas and Adobe Premiere float to the top. Macs have iMovie '08 or newer that can deal with AVCHD/MTS files (or FinalCut).
If you want best available video quality, then you need least compression applied to the video data stream. That continues to be DV and HDV format - and for consumer camcorders, that means miniDV tape. Canon HV40. It also happens to be the least expensive camcorder available with a mic jack and manual audio control. Since we are here... Check what the bigger dogs use...
Sony HDR-FX7, HDR-FX1000, HVR-Z1, HVR-Z5, HVR-Z7
Canon XH series, XLH series
Panasonic AG-HVX200
JVC GY-HM series
Most are miniDV tape. Those which are flash memory save to DV/HDV format - not anemic AVCHD (except the Panny - it saves to DVCPRO HD onto P2 cards). There are no prosumer or pro-grade camcorders with internal hard drives. The external hard drives (Sony and Focus Enhancements FireStore) save to DV/HDV.
Short answer: Flash Memory.
Long answer:
With the known limitations consumer hard disc drive camcorders have with vibration/shock and altitude, challenges archiving the video and huge expense recovering data from crashed hard drives, I no longer recommend hard disc drive camcorders.
Flash memory camcorders use the same highly compressed file types so if you must, then flash memory is better between the two. Check the Sony HDR-CX500 series or Canon HF or HF S series camcorders.
Please keep in mind that video compression = discarded video data = reduced video quality. Also, if you are expecting to edit that video, you will need an editor that can deal with AVCHD/MTS files. There is nothing useful in the box with the camcorder and if you are running Windows/Vista, MovieMaker cannot deal with MTS files (Sony Vegas and Adobe Premiere float to the top. Macs have iMovie '08 or newer that can deal with AVCHD/MTS files (or FinalCut).
If you want best available video quality, then you need least compression applied to the video data stream. That continues to be DV and HDV format - and for consumer camcorders, that means miniDV tape. Canon HV40. It also happens to be the least expensive camcorder available with a mic jack and manual audio control. Since we are here... Check what the bigger dogs use...
Sony HDR-FX7, HDR-FX1000, HVR-Z1, HVR-Z5, HVR-Z7
Canon XH series, XLH series
Panasonic AG-HVX200
JVC GY-HM series
Most are miniDV tape. Those which are flash memory save to DV/HDV format - not anemic AVCHD (except the Panny - it saves to DVCPRO HD onto P2 cards). There are no prosumer or pro-grade camcorders with internal hard drives. The external hard drives (Sony and Focus Enhancements FireStore) save to DV/HDV.
Sony Handycam HDR-CX100/B Camcorder and the Sony HDR-SR11. Which ones better?
Nate
HDR-SR11 has a greater price than the HDR-CX100/B by a few hundred bucks...could someone tell me whats so much more pricey that the HDR-SR11 seems better?
Answer
The SR11 is a few years old and hard disc drive based. At the time it was introduced, it was near the top opf the line of their consumer AVCHD camcorder. They were discontinued and replaced by the XR series.
The CX100 is a newer design, uses flash memory (fewer moving parts so longer battery life). But it is basically the entry level of the Consumer camcorders using AVCHD. A better comparison to the SR11 would be the flash memory HDR-CX500 series (not the CX100 series).
If I had to choose between the two (CX100 and SR11), I would probably go with the CX100 because:
1) flash memory does not suffer from the known issues hard disc drive camcorders have with vibration/loud audio.
2) flash memory does not suffer from the known issues hard disc drive camcorders have with high altitude.
3) removable flash memory does not suffer from the known issues internal, built-in, hard disc drive camcorders have with data recovery when the camcorder breaks befor the video has been transferred for editing.
HOWEVER, shopping in that price range, I would take the Canon HV40 miniDV tape based camcorder over any consumer flash memory or hard disc drive camcorder. More flexibility, built-in archive when the tapes are not re-used, manual audio control, mic jack, 24p and 30p - among several other reasons... Sony abandoned the consumer miniDV tape environment when they discontinued the HDR-HC9. Interestingly, they think anemic AVCHD/MTS is "good enough" for consumers who don't know better - but their prosumer HDR-FX7, HDR-FX1000, HVR-HD1000, HVR-A1 and professional HVR-V1, HVR-Z1, HVR-Z5 and HVR-Z7 all record to DV/HDV format, mostly to miniDV tape...
The SR11 is a few years old and hard disc drive based. At the time it was introduced, it was near the top opf the line of their consumer AVCHD camcorder. They were discontinued and replaced by the XR series.
The CX100 is a newer design, uses flash memory (fewer moving parts so longer battery life). But it is basically the entry level of the Consumer camcorders using AVCHD. A better comparison to the SR11 would be the flash memory HDR-CX500 series (not the CX100 series).
If I had to choose between the two (CX100 and SR11), I would probably go with the CX100 because:
1) flash memory does not suffer from the known issues hard disc drive camcorders have with vibration/loud audio.
2) flash memory does not suffer from the known issues hard disc drive camcorders have with high altitude.
3) removable flash memory does not suffer from the known issues internal, built-in, hard disc drive camcorders have with data recovery when the camcorder breaks befor the video has been transferred for editing.
HOWEVER, shopping in that price range, I would take the Canon HV40 miniDV tape based camcorder over any consumer flash memory or hard disc drive camcorder. More flexibility, built-in archive when the tapes are not re-used, manual audio control, mic jack, 24p and 30p - among several other reasons... Sony abandoned the consumer miniDV tape environment when they discontinued the HDR-HC9. Interestingly, they think anemic AVCHD/MTS is "good enough" for consumers who don't know better - but their prosumer HDR-FX7, HDR-FX1000, HVR-HD1000, HVR-A1 and professional HVR-V1, HVR-Z1, HVR-Z5 and HVR-Z7 all record to DV/HDV format, mostly to miniDV tape...
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