Hard drive camcorders

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stormcloud
Hard drive camcorders

What do you think about hard drive camcorders? JVC got 4 of them with 20 and 30 GB. Funny. I've got that ideea to throw a HD on a camcorder a year ago... There goes the patent... :))

Matt Whitlock (not verified)
I like the idea of slapping a

I like the idea of slapping a hard drive in a camcorder. It provides more recording time at SD resolutions than a conventional DV tape, and it would simplify and speed-up transferring digital video to a PC. Better still is never having to buy any form of tape again (another step to a tapeless society). Instead, you need to pick up blank optical DVDs to record your video to for long term storage. If you are constantly tranferring digital video to your PC, this is probably the way to go.

However, there are some down sides I can see as well. Hard drives are not always the most rugged of components, so it's an additional component that is more likely to break than any other part of the camcorder.

Another disadvantage is that with DV, DVD, or analog camcorders, you can remove the tape or disc and your video is ready for playback or storage. Pop in a new tape or disc, and you're ready to record again. Integrating a hard-drive into the camera increases your dependence on a PC, so no matter what you record, you will be forced to move it to a PC for storage or burning.

What happens when you're on the road and you fill up your hard drive? It's not like you can eject the hard-drive and slap in a new one (wouldn't that be cool?). So, if you run out of space right in the middle of little Jimmy's ball game, you'll have to whip out your laptop and transfer 30GB of video while sitting in the bleachers. No matter what, it still takes a while to transfer that much data...

Like most gadgets, a hard drive based camcorder is a great solution for a certain type of user, but a hinderance to others. It's all about how you use it.

Too bad you missed out on your patent stormcloud...

Ron Repking (not verified)
I agree, it really depends on

I agree, it really depends on how you use it if it's right for you. I'm terrible when it comes to spending time downloading media from a gadget to my computer even if it doesn't take long. Filling up the hard drive would force me to do it, but like Matt said, I wouldn't know it's coming and miss some footage, or just might not use it for awhile until I do the download. With a tape, I just pop new one in and go!

Besides, the next camcorder I buy will be an HD camcorder which I don't believe have hard drive options available yet:

http://www.techlore.com/forum/thread/10725/

stormcloud
I agree, once you find your

I agree, once you find your HD filled with media, you always have to run to a PC. But HEY, after Seagate put out a 2,5 inch paralel writing drive with 500GB I kinda feel safe with the storage space for a month. Best thing if you can use the camcorder as an external drive. And about safety... we can always wait for bigger flash drives. Samsung has a 20GB one if I'm not mistaken.

Matt Whitlock (not verified)
But HEY, after Seagate put

But HEY, after Seagate put out a 2,5 inch paralel writing drive with 500GB I kinda feel safe with the storage space for a month.

Are you saying that Seagate has a 2.5 inch 500GB drive? I'm sure they'll get there some day, but the biggest 2.5 inch that their planning on releasing near-term is 160GB. The 500GB drive is a 3.5 inch.

Link to Seagate.com

The only problem with using desktop or even notebook hard drives is battery life. These things would suck through a camcorder battery in no time. You're really limited to a 1.8 inch hard drive for something like a camcorder, which means 60GB max for now. However, now that perpendicular recording is becoming a reality, there should be 120GB 1.8 inch drives soon enough.

stormcloud
Yes Matt. My mistake. It's a

Yes Matt. My mistake. It's a 3.5 inch and it uses perpendicular recording. I totaly agree with your comments.

 

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