DVD
DVD camcorders allow you to record onto special 8cm blank DVDs. One of the major benefits of this format is that you can usually play these DVDs in your standard DVD player immediately after taking it out of the HD camcorder. A HD DVD Camcorder is ideal for those that don’t want to spend time editing their videos or wan to showcase the recordings as soon as they have been recorded. The DVD recording option usually only allows you to record up to about 20 minutes on one disk but some HD camcorders now accept dual layer DVDs which can increase the recording time closer to 40 minutes.
Hard disk
Hard disk (HDD) camcorders have an internal hard disk that they record the video onto. The size of the hard disk with HD HDD camcorders tends to vary from model to model and can be anything from 20GB up to 120GB or more. Since a HDD HD Camcorder does not require a tape or DVD to be inserted they are often much smaller and lighter than other camcorders (except those that record onto memory cards). Since there is no removalable media you must transfer the video from your camcorder to you computer using a USB or FireWire connection.
Memory card
HD camcorders that record directly onto memory cards are often the smallest available. A memory card is the faction of the size of a tape, DVD or hard disk so if you are looking from a very small/portable camcorder memory card is the way to go.
But, memory cards can be expensive to buy compared to other media and currently memory cards are not available in sizes as large as hard disk drives.
Mini-DV
Mini-DV tapes are a roughly the size of a matchbox. This makes them easy to store and carry multiple tapes with you when you Are filming. They offer a lot of recording time for your money compared to other recording options. Currently a typical 60-minute tape will set you back about £3. Some HD camcorders offer an long play mode which will allow you to record up to 90 minutes on the same tape, although the quality of sound and picture may be reduced slightly.
Different models of camcorder will record onto the Mini-DV tapes slightly differently. This may lead to compatibility problems if you try and use the same tape in different camcorders.
