should i buy a dvd camcorder?

Answer 1

The only advantage to having a dvd camcorder is that it can be easier to:

1. Show your video. Just pop the DVD into a player and go.
2. Store your video. DVD's last much longer than tape.

Digital tape is better because:

1. Longer recording duration.
2. Better quality.
3. Less expensive media.

And most of all, you get more for your buck. DVD camcorders are relatively new, so they're more expensive. You can get a digital tape camcorder with more features for less money.

Answer 2

Well DVD camcorders are very good and more compact than the old 8mm camcorders, there is one problem though, when you want to put in a disk, you have to wait 5 minutes before you can use it because the camcorder Is reading the DVD, and when your done recording you have to wait another 4 mins for it to "write" the disk. So if you have the time and money than i say go for it!

Answer 3

There are pros and cons.

The biggest draw back is recording time. At HQ (sames as Sony Digital 8 or Mini-DVC tapes) you only get 20 minutes. At DVD level (480 lines instead of 530 lines) you get 30mins. At VHS quality (240 lines) you get 60 minutes, but I'm told this quality level sucks!

Next problem, disks can't be used in slot loaded devices, such as a Mac Laptop.

Disks are 8cm (2") not 3"

You only get 1 GB of data.

Next problem, only new drawer players handle all formats. This means to play them back you unit must be 18 months or newer.

Next problem, DVD- (minus) disk require pre-formatting (done from a set up function) and can't be played back outside the camera until you "closed the disk" which means no more recording. DVD minus disks are more compatible with home players.

DVD+ (Plus) disks don't require this, but they aren't always supported by players, esepcially older players.

You are generally limited to 50 sessions (50 seprate scenes) per disk. which is not bad for 20 minutes of time!

On the plus side, you can take the disk and generally have a 50% of better chance that they will play in another set top or computer players.

On the down side, if you get a disk write error you can lose all your material or it may only play back through the DVD recorder and if it doesn't support FireWire, USB or S-Video the only way you can transfer is via the AV composite cables, which are rated as a 5 to 6 on a scale of 10 in quality.

Tape units record 60 to 90 minutes. They generally always support FireWire (not so with DVD camcorders), some support USB and S-Video.

On the down side you must take your camcorder, power supply, AV cables and tapes to someone's house to watch it there or make VHS copies of a lower quality.

Answer 4

YES. DVD camcorders are wayyy better and easier to use than the vhs-C and miniDV cams.
DVD offers you true 5.1 quality surround sound and clearer, sharper images than VHS-c or Mini DV can offer.

Each side of the disk offers you up to one hour recording. You can buy inexpensive dual sided disks.
DVDR disks are also cheaper than mini DV tapes and easier to backup to computers or other disks. You can copy a mini DVD disk multiple times for friends and family onto regular DVD disks.


I bought a SONY model, and I think its fantastic.
When you finalize the disk, you can even place nice TITLE MENUS on the disk for menu navigation ease.


I would suggest you buy Mini DVD camcorder over BLU RAY camcorder simply because Blu Ray camcorders won't be out for a year or two on the consumer market, and even when they are released, they will cost upwards of $1500 wherin, a DVD cam can be had for only $500 or less right now.

Answer 5

Depends on what you want to use it for.

If you like the convenience of just being able to take the disc out of the camera and be able to play it in your DVD player, then the DVD cam is for you.

The bad thing is that you can only record for 30 mins. on most DVD cams in the standard mode. 60 mins. at a reduced quality. (There are some that can record on dual layer discs or double sided discs.) If you are looking for longer record times, then a DVD cam may not be an option for you.

miniDV cams offer a longer recording time and you can download it to your computer or hook it up to a stand alone DVD recorder to make a DVD. A little more work but it depends on what you want to do.

BTW mike, your cut and paste answer offer no help. Thank you for wasting everyone's time with that garbage.

Answer 6

They are convenient, but don't offer the best features or recording time. Mini-DV offers the best computer integration and usually more features as well as longer recording times, but you can't just take the tape out, and pop it into your entertainment system, so having the DVD can make that process much easier.

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

Have you looked an a digital camera. The memory cards are cheap nowadays and you can always copy to VHS or DVD if you have a DVD recorder.

Answer 8

NO.

Everything will be going to blu-ray shortly. Stay tuned.
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Blu-ray Disc

Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.

While current optical disc technologies such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM rely on a red laser to read and write data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name Blu-ray. Despite the different type of lasers used, Blu-ray products can easily be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit. The benefit of using a blue-violet laser (405nm) is that it has a shorter wavelength than a red laser (650nm), which makes it possible to focus the laser spot with even greater precision. This allows data to be packed more tightly and stored in less space, so it's possible to fit more data on the disc even though it's the same size as a CD/DVD. This together with the change of numerical aperture to 0.85 is what enables Blu-ray Discs to hold 25GB/50GB.

Blu-ray is currently supported by more than 170 of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer, recording media, video game and music companies. The format also has broad support from the major movie studios as a successor to today's DVD format. Seven of the eight major movie studios have already announced titles for Blu-ray, including Warner, Paramount, Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM and Lionsgate. The initial line-up is expected to consist of over 100 titles and include recent hits as well as classics such as Batman Begins, Desperado, Fantastic Four, Fifth Element, Hero, Ice Age, Kill Bill, Lethal Weapon, Mission Impossible, Ocean's Twelve, Pirates of the Caribbean, Reservoir Dogs, Robocop, and The Matrix. Many studios have also announced that they will begin releasing new feature films on Blu-ray Disc day-and-date with DVD, as well as a continuous slate of catalog titles every month.

Answer 9

If youre interested I bought a few things at Refurb Depot that worked out well. Same as new with a warranty, but alot cheaper.
Here is the link:
http://www.refurbdepot.com/?refererid=yahooanswers

Answer 10

if you want to sure. however, im just guessing, what you record cant be deleted.