MiniDV Camcorders - Oldie But Goodie or Obsolete Dinasour?

MiniDV camcorders are quickly becoming the old school recording formats for digital camcorders, and yet this format still has many benefits.

This type of camcorder should not be confused with mini camcorders, as they are not, MiniDV is synonymous with video compression and is named after the mini size of the cassette tapes onto which video is recorded or video format. MiniDV cassette formats are available in both Digital Video and High Definition format and they can fit 60 minutes of video in both DV and HDV and up to 90 minutes of DV in the lower quality setting.

The newly available recording formats, such as, Flash Memory, Hard Disk and DVD, have taken a lot of the spotlight of the MiniDV models, however it remains a model worth looking into when considering a digital camcorder for purchase.

How the MiniDV Camcorder Works

Video records to the mini cassette and is then transferred to a computer via firewire port and downloaded. The video is then edited with the use of video editing software. Once the video is edited it can be burnt onto DVD's directly from the computer.

4 Reasons to Get One

1. First, and maybe most important is price. While, the newer recording formats were hitting the market, the MiniDV models began to drop in price, making these types of camcorders attractive and accessible for everyone.

2. They are compact. The very small size of the recording cassettes allows for a very compact digital camcorder that does not sacrifice functionality for a smaller size, in fact they are as sophisticated as their larger counterparts.

3. Another great benefit is that many of these models serve two functions, as a digital video recorder and as a still digital camera for taking great digital pictures.

4. The picture quality that comes with DV compression, such as that with MiniDV tapes is generally excellent and often better than with other media formats, such as DVD, Flash and Hard Disk.

So, while MiniDV types of camcorders are becoming more and more of an oldie, their low price and excellent picture quality make them a sound and smart investment.

And, there is no need for concern in regards to product support because with the growing number of high-def models being created, the MiniDV will remain one of the preferred recording media formats for high definition camcorders and manufacturers will continue to support all products and accessories related to them.

Canon, Hitachi, Toshiba, Sharp, Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus, JVC, Samsung and Sony, all manufacture models of MiniDV digital camcorders with Sony offering the largest variety of these models in a wide price range.