High-Definition Video For Enthusiasts

Digital video has revolutionized video for the enthusiast, bringing with it many advantages: more capability, more control, more speed, higher quality and easier editing. The drawback has been that standard-definition (SD) video is standard TV resolution (640 x 480), while high-definition digital (HD) video has been too costly and complex for most nonprofessional applications.

Things look a lot better now for the enthusiast videographer, though. With the recent introduction of lower-priced HDV camcorders, those with “real-people” budgets can shoot high-definition video on the same widely available tapes used to store standard-definition digital video. Additionally, there are now a number of HDV-capable editing programs, including some lower-priced ones. And the fast, huge-capacity hard drives needed to store video, as well as HD-capable computers, are more affordable than ever.

Note: A few camcorders record on other media, such as SD memory cards or DVDs, instead of tape. Don’t be confused by the initials “SD.” The only thing SD (Secure Digital) memory cards and SD (standard-definition) digital video have in common are those initials.