Hard Disk Drive Camcorders

The camcorder has come a long way since 1983 when Sony first released units to the public. Although the device was bulky and needed to be held on the shoulder the Betamovie as it was called was an instant hit. In the following years Hitachi, RCA and Panasonic came out with its own versions which used the VHS cassette with a few hours of recording time. In 1987 the Super VHS recorders with better quality and consumer cost effective units set the standard for the future of camcorders.

As the years progressed and technology evolved hard disk drive camcorders were born. IBM first used the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) in 1956 but was mainly used for computers geared towards accounting. In the 90’s a need for large capacity storage was realized. The Hard Disk Drive camcorders use a hard drive like a computer to record digitally. The difference from other units to the HDD is that it does not need to be converted and can simply be copied from one directory into another.

Hard disk drive camcorders are priced higher than ordinary recorders but the features which come with the HDD will make it worth every penny. With high optical zoom lenses the HDD provides professional close-up quality videos. Most video camera quality diminishes when recording far away objects because of hand shaking but with the hard disk drive camcorders the O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilization) takes over. This advanced piece of technology uses gyro-sensors which stabilize the image.

Using the LP (long play) mode on a 40 GB hard disk drive camcorder will let you record over 30 hours of video continuously. Of course this depends on the size (gigabytes) of storage space the HDD has. One of the most fascinating aspects of the hard disk drive camcorders is the shock sensing technology. When a normal camcorder is dropped there’s nothing you can do about it and the camcorder doesn’t know any better.

Not true with the HDDC which has sensors that tell the head to move away from the hard drive thereby protecting both components. Then the memory buffer backs data up automatically as it falls. If only it could pull a rip-cord and deploy a parachute for a softer landing. Hard disk drive camcorders come with many more features and are geared for easy use such as the USB connections for easy downloading to DVD burners or a PC. With the simple push of a button you can transfer images and video quickly.

One of the very few drawbacks of a HDDC is the battery life which usually last only 2 hours. You can also purchase a longer lasting battery which provides 4 hours of use but they are a bit pricey. Another problem in some of these camcorders is that a viewfinder has been replaced by the LCD screen. For most people this isn’t a problem but there are some people who would prefer to have both.

When purchasing a camcorder you must remember why you are purchasing it. The memories you will record can last you a lifetime but do you want fuzzy memories or crisp and clear memories? Spending more money up front and buying a good quality hard disk drive camcorder could save you money. If you purchase a tape camcorder you’ll continually have to purchase tapes for the life of the camcorder. If you purchase a DVD camcorder again you’ll have to spend money on discs. Tapes and discs can get scratched and eventually will wear out. Splurge a little and get yourself the best hard disc drive camcorder now and you won’t regret it.