Technology and Innovation

AVCHD
The release of the AVCHD consumer camcorders! from Sony and Panasonic added more affordable| HD camcorders for both the hobbyist and pro-sumer. These DVD- or hard disk-based camcord-| ers include Sony’s new CMOS-sensor HDR-UX5 ($999) and HDR-UX7 ($1,299), both of which record footage to DVD. Both camcorders also feature 5.1 stereo surround sound.
Panasonic’s offerings include the HDC-DX1 ($1,399), which burns to DVD, and the HDC-SDll ($1,499), which records onto an SDHC memory j card. Both units have three CCD chips, which allow for improved color reproduction, and 5.1 stereo surround sound.
The AVCHD format specifications allow for 1080i, 720p and standard definition recording modes, although not every AVCHD camcorder supports all these shooting modes.

With so many high definition camcorders now on the market, along with Panasonic’s DVCPRO HD becoming more affordable, as well as the new AVCHD camcorders, the choice on which camcorder is right for you can be a difficult one. We break down the camcorders to help with that difficult decision.

MPEG-4
Sanyo’s handheld VPC-HDla Xacti Media Camera is the entry-level camcorder in terms of price, and offers 720p video via MPEG-4 compression, captured to SD memory cards, which are sold separately. This small camcorder can fit easily in your hand or pocket, which makes travel easy.

HDV
The JVC GR-HD1 was the first low-cost HD cam I corder to hit the market, in the spring of 2003.11 is a single-CCD camcorder that records in 720p f resolution to Mini DV tape, which is standard orj all HDV camcorders.
Canon introduced the 1-CMOS HV10 ($1,499| as a low-cost consumer-oriented and handheld I HDV counterpart to its higher-end HDV camcorffl ers. This camcorder can record in 60i, along witrl 30F and 24F, which the high-end units can do. The “F” means full frame, and is very similar to how progressive video works. There is also a j native 1920xl080-size sensor. At the time of pun