High-definition camcorders enter the mainstream

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Most digital camcorders shoot video at about 350 to 500 lines of resolution, which corresponds to the resolution of a commercial DVD. Those who own an HDTV, which can display up to 1080 lines of resolution, may be eyeballing a high-definition camcorder, which can record twice or three times as much resolution.

You'll get the full benefit of high-definition footage if you plug the camera into your HDTV for playback. You can also transfer footage to a computer for editing. Most consumer and professional video-editing software supports (or will soon support) the HDV format used by most HD camcorders. Note, however, if you burn HD footage to a DVD, you'll have to convert it to standard definition. HD DVD burners are becoming more available, but remain expensive. HD camcorders can also be used to record standard-definition video, and most excel when doing so. Professional digital product wholesaler www.rihey.cc

While the ability to edit footage and the need to use the camcorder as the playback device are certainly issues, the biggest thing keeping HD camcorders out of the mainstream has been their price. The latest introductions from Sony and Canon have largely jumped that hurdle, and street prices of those camcorders are competitive with higher-end standard-definition models.

In reviews, the Sony HDR-HC3 (*est. $1,130) and the Canon HV10 (*est. $1,100) run neck and neck, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. At CamcorderInfo.com, the Sony HDR-HC3 is the highest rated camcorder currently on the market. In a review written by David Kender and site founder Robin Liss, editors say that the camcorder blends Sony's high image quality with ease of use. In the HD mode, the picture is very sharp overall, with good color balance. Saturation is also good, but it is not excessive and does not detract from the image.

In his review for CNet.com, Denny Atkin also likes the Sony's HD image, and says that the level of detail is a dramatic improvement over the best miniDV camcorders the site has tested. He adds that in SD, "video quality remains good, with reasonably good detail, accurate color, and sharp images in outdoor shots." One negative is that low-light performance in SD is not as good as in high-definition, where it is excellent.

Like other Sony camcorders, reviews say the HDR-HC3 is very easy to use. Manual controls, while more plentiful than other Sony models, have been pared back compared to Sony's first HD camcorder, the HDR-HC1. Sony's Easy button now takes over almost all user functions. Since most people will be using the camcorder as the playback device for the videos they shoot, Sony has wisely included an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output, keeping the camcorder-TV connection all-digital and making hookup much easier.

The Canon HV10 high-definition camcorder also draws its share of praise. At CamcorderInfo.com, editors say that when shooting in HD, colors are perfectly balanced with just the right amount of saturation. In addition, the image is said to be remarkably noise-free, but while the image's apparent sharpness was good and far better than most SD video, it did have a slightly soft look to it. Standard-definition recording is called "outstanding." Color balance remains excellent in SD, and while resolution is obviously reduced from HD, detail remains good. Noise levels also remain low. Find digital product just inwww.rihey.cc

Another of the Canon HV10's strengths is the presence of more extensive manual-control possibilities. According to CamcorderInfo.com, the manual controls are easy to use and intuitive, but novice shooters might find the camcorder's many features and options confusing. Ergonomics can also be an issue. Specifically, the controls are very small, and some, such as the jog dial and the mode dial, are spaced too closely together. The camera's auto mode generally works fine for point-and-shoot users, but there were some issues with certain shots, such as strong light from windows and low-light situations. In general, David Kender describes the camcorder's low-light performance as "terrible." Interestingly, in his head-to-head comparison of the Sony HDR-HC3 and the Canon HV10, New York Times technology reviewer David Pogue gives the nod to the Canon camcorder based, in part, on its better low-light performance.

In addition to small and awkwardly placed controls, the Canon HV10 suffers from another serious ergonomic issue, according to reviews. Unlike the Sony HDR-HC3, which has a more traditional horizontal design, the HV10 uses an upright, pistol-grip form factor that can be clumsy to use for anything but point-and-shoot videography. In her review at CNet.com, Lori Grunin writes that she had to "steady the camcorder with my left hand while making adjustments with my right, which wasn't always practical." That said, she found the Canon HV10 to be "lightweight (1.1 pounds), attractive, jacket pocket-friendly, and functional." All reviewers found the lack of an HDMI port to be a serious and unfortunate omission.

While the Sony and Canon HD camcorders are priced to compete with high-end mainstream SD models, Sanyo has introduced Xacti VPC-HD1 (*est. $550) , an HD camcorder that aims at the middle of the market. One significant difference between this Sanyo HD camcoder and more expensive HD models is that it shoots video in 720p. While that still meets the HD specification, both the HV10 and HDR-HC3 shoot in the higher 1080i format.

Sound and Vision magazine's Michael Antonoff generally likes the Sanyo HD camcorder. He notes that it is the "smallest, lightest (just over a half pound), and least expensive high-def cam to date." The small size (3.125 x 4.75 x 1.5 inches) is possible because the camcorder records to SD cards, but high capacity cards are need to record videos of any length. He adds that the automatic mode makes the camcorder easy to use for point-and-shooters, but there are also plenty of manual controls for more experienced users. At CNet.com, David English says that while the camera has limitations, "the HD1 is an important technical milestone."

On the other hand, CamcorderInfo.com editors are not impressed with the Sanyo VPC-HD1. Editors say that many standard-definition camcorders, including the Panasonic PV-GS300 and PV-GS500, produce better images, and that while the price of the Sony HDR-HC3 is almost twice as high, "the image quality, handling, and durability is more than twice as good," according to David Kender.

Complicating the HD-camcorder landscape, Sony has just introduced the Sony HDR-UX1 (*est. $1,190) , a camcorder that can record HD video on current DVD media. The catch is that it uses a different compression scheme, called AVCHD. The promise is that Blu-Ray HD players will be able to read the discs directly, and that next-generation video-editing software will support the format. But for now, working with AVCHD video is very difficult, as users must rely on Sony's own software for the task and the discs can not be read by most DVD players or PCs that are not loaded with the required software. Reviews say that this is a terrific HD camcorder, but major compatibility and workflow issues still need to be resolved before it can be unconditionally recommended for most users.

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