sony handycam hard drive camcorders,jvc everio hard drive camcorders digicams,hard drive videocams vidcams,

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Hard drive based camcorders from Sony and JVC-prosumer hard drive based digicams.

jvc everio and sony handycam hard drive camcorders

Hard Drive Camcorders for Christmas Consideration

Tired of all those mini DV tapes and Mini DVD’s? How about converting the video from tape or DVD to your computer for editing? Ever lost a tape or SD card of clips?

Say goodbye to all that BS and hello to hard drive based digicams.

Store all your footage onto the built in hard drive then when you are ready just transfer the resulting mpeg 2 files using Firewire or USB onto your computer for editing. Typical storage times are higher than on tape, lightweight, directly access your scenes, simple and quick in camera edit are some of the biggies in convenience. I anticipate this category is going to take off in the next few years.

Of course like every other gadget there are drawbacks. A big one, price, as hard drives are more costly than simply tossing a tape drive or mini dvd drive into a videocam. Plus, even though all these video cams can shoot stills, you would not want to use one of these as a replacement for anything less than a mediocre 3 megapixel point and shoot digital camera. The still image quality of even the best in the lot are lacking. These cameras could also include more options for expansion for things like video lamps and mikes. That would be an extra nudge of encouragement for users to jump onto the tapeless wagon.

Currently only Sony and JVC produce hard drive based camcorders on the prosumer level. The SD based mini digicams like the Samsung SC-X210L do not count here as the memory is too small, typically 512mb to 2gb with resulting video that looks horrid beyond 320x240 even at the best setting.

Perusing the online reviews, it appears Sony genrally comes out the winner with better image quality and faster response while the controls are a toss up. Sony prefers a touch screen control scheme which people either love or hate, JVC uses standard buttons but gets criticized for not being user friendly.

Here are Sony’s video camera offerings with built in drives with some highlights.

Sony Handycam Hard Drive Camcorders

Sony Handycam HDR-SR1

  • HD resolution
  • 3.5” LCD
  • 30 gb hard drive
  • 10x optical zoom
  • AV,component and HDMI output jacks (HDMI cable is optional)
  • headphone jack and mic input
  • accessory shoe
  • manual control ring for exposure, focus or white balance
  • smooth slow-record mode
  • 5.1 Dolby surround recording
  • Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System (supposedly an advanced version of SteadyShot)
  • Super NightShot Infrared System for up to 20 feet distance shooting in low light
  • MSRP:$1499

Sony Handycam DCR-SR100


  • 1/3”, 3.3meg CCD
  • 30gb hard drive
  • 3.3 megapixel CCD sensor
  • 10x optical zoom
  • 2.7” LCD
  • Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System (supposedly an advanced version of SteadyShot)
  • Dolby Digital 5.1ch Recording
  • Interface Shoe
  • Super NightShot Infrared System for up to 20 feet distance shooting in low light
  • manual focusing
  • USB 2
  • MSRP:$999

Sony Handycam DCR-SR80

  • 1 meg CCD
  • 12x zoom
  • 60gb hard drive
  • 2.7” CCD
  • Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System
  • USB 2
  • Interface Shoe
  • Super NightShot Infrared System for up to 20 feet distance shooting in low light
  • Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System
  • USB 2
  • Interface Shoe
  • MSRP:$799

Sony Handycam DCR-SR60

  • 1 meg CCD
  • 12x optical zoom
  • 2.7” LCD
  • 30gb hard drive
  • 20x optical zoom
  • Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System
  • USB 2
  • Interface Shoe
  • Super NightShot Infrared System for up to 20 feet distance shooting in low light
  • MSRP:$699

Sony Handycam DCR-SR40

  • 1/6” 680k CCD
  • 20x optical zoom
  • 30gb hard drive
  • 2.5” LCD
  • USB 2
  • Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System
  • Super NightShot Infrared System for up to 20 feet distance shooting in low light
  • manual focus
  • MSRP:$599

One intriguing accessory for the cameras with the interface shoe is a bluetooth wireless mic with up to 30 meter range for about $150 street. The Sony ECMHW1 Bluetooth wireless microphone is compatible with DCR-SR60, DCR-SR80, DCR-SR100, HDR-UX1, HDR-SR1, DCR-DVD405, DCR-DVD505 and any other intelligent interface shoe vidcams.

JVC Hard Disk Camcorders

JVC Everio GZ-MG505

  • 3x (1/4.5")1.33meg CCD ,JVC’s highest end camera
  • widescreen
  • 30 gb hard drive
  • 10x optical zoom
  • 2.7” LCD
  • SD card slot
  • remote control
  • manual focus
  • digital image stabilization

JVC Everio GZ-MG77 Camcorder

  • 2.2 meg CCD
  • 10x optical zoom
  • 30gb hard drive
  • 2.7” LCD
  • widescreen
  • SD card slot
  • remote control
  • manual focus
  • digital image stabilization

JVC Everio GZ-MG57

  • 1.33 meg CCD
  • 15x zoom
  • 30gb hard drive
  • 2.7” LCD
  • widescreen
  • SD card slot
  • remote control
  • manual focus
  • digital image stabilization

JVC Everio GZ-MG537/MG27 Camcorders

  • 680k CCD
  • 32x optical zoom
  • 2.7” LCD
  • 30gb for 37/20gb for 27
  • widescreen
  • SD card slot
  • remote control
  • manual focus
  • digital image stabilization

JVC Everio GZ-MG21

  • 680k CCD
  • 32x optical zoom
  • 4:3 screen
  • SD card slot
  • remote control
  • manual focus
  • digital image stabilization

Sony Handycam HDR-HC3

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videocam
vidcam

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