Camcorder Info Base

Digital Camcorder Formats Explained

Whether you're looking to shoot home movies, independent feature films, corporate videos, music videos, TV commercials or weddings, today's advanced digital camcorders allow you to carry out these productions more easily than ever before. The camcorder most suitable for you will depend on two things: how you plan to use it, and how much money you have to spend. The following brief overview will introduce you to the many different digital camcorder formats available on the market today from the consumer Mini-DV format right up to the professional broadcast HD formats and everything in-between.
Please note that the following list is not necessarily in order of format quality.
You can download a 2-page PDF document that covers all the current HD camcorders by clicking here
Last updated 28th September 2010.
DIGITAL SLRs (Canon, Nikon, Panasonic etc)
Although not strictly a digital video format, digital SLRs are making in-roads into the world of video and cannot be ignored. At the time of writing (September 2010) there are no DSLRs that can produce the quality of video that could be considered for serious applications. Due to the 'line-skipping' down-converting methods of cameras like Canon's EOS 5D MK2 where the method of down-scaling to get a video picture size of 1920x1080 is achieved by simply deleting (skipping) lines on the sensor. This, and other limitations such as a lack of decent filtering, means that DSLRs like the 5D MK2 suffer from chronic aliasing, bayer-type patterning, stepping and other retarded picture artefacts. However, for soft rounded objects such as people's faces, with hard backgrounds thrown out-of-focus by use of narrow depth-of-field, and little movement in the picture, it is possible to achieve some interestingly artsy results. Hopefully, in the future, DSLR manufacturers will strive to fix the serious gremlins that the current first generation of DSLRs are riddled with.
MINI-DV (JVC, Canon, Sony, Panasonic)
A 1/4-inch evaporated metal digital tape format officially introduced for sale in 1995. In 1994, more than 50 companies and various manufacturers agreed on the Mini-DV format. Sony was the first to develop a Mini-DV camcorder one year later. Mini-DV camcorders provide what is arguably the best quality of all of the standard definition home video formats, capable of recording high quality video with 520-line horizontal resolution. Mini-DV camcorders and decks are compatible with most video editing software applications for Apple Mac and Windows computers. Transferring footage from the camcorder to the computer is done via FireWire with many Mini-DV camcorders making it possible to transfer your edited programme back from the computer to your camcorder using what is known as DV-in.
PROFESSIONAL DV (JVC)
Professional DV is basically Mini-DV maxed out. It is no different to any other Mini-DV format, it is simply a name JVC have chosen to give it, a clever marketing ploy perhaps? Professional DV is Mini-DV at its absolute best with features usually only found on much higher format cameras. It is JVC using the standard DV format to address the needs of professional users. Rather than create a variation on a format, JVC opted to perfect the original format, above all delivering it with professional features in terms of TC and hardware design and additional circuitry in order to meet professional needs. See current GY-DV5100 camcorder and recording decks BR-DV3000 and BR-DV6000, which take both the standard size and the Mini-DV tapes.
DVCAM (Sony)
Sony's hugely successful professional version of the DV format but which use a higher-specification recording system to produce pictures that are acceptable to broadcast TV channels and professional video producers. DVCAM is basically the grown up professional brother of Mini-DV and has established itself as the industry standard format for ENG, video-journalism, expedition and much documentary camerawork, whilst the smaller PD170 model has established itself as a favourite amongst independent filmmakers because of its compact size, superb picture quality and affordable price tag. DVCAM tape is more durable, it's more resistant to stretching and dropouts, it's more precisely manufactured and its been specifically designed for professional applications. Sony's DVCAM uses higher tape speed that is 1/3rd faster than Mini-DV. The DVCAM format has a track pitch of 15 microns whilst Mini-DV has a track pitch of just 10 microns. DVCAM uses the same compression system as Min-DV, recording at 25Mbps onto tape.
AVCHD (Canon, JVC, Sony, Panasonic)
AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) is a high-definition recording format used in 'tapeless' digital camcorders. The AVCHD codec/format is a tapeless equivalent to the tape-based HDV codec/format, only with a better encoding system that is more up-to-date. AVCHD was jointly established by Panasonic and Sony in May 2006. AVCHD was announced as a tapeless high definition recording format. The format is based on existing Blu-ray Disc and Sky Broadcast H.264 specification and allows AVC-encoded video to be recorded onto optical disc. The smaller 8cm DVD discs were chosen as the recording media instead of the larger Blu-ray discs. In July 2006 the format was amended to include other types of random-access media, i.e. SD/SDHC memory cards, Sony's own Memory Stick cards and hard-disk drives. Today, the preferred recording media for AVCHD camcorders is solid-state memory cards in the form of SD/HC. This keeps the format more in keeping with Panasonic's P2 and Sony's SxS. This makes solid-state AVCHD camcorders a perfect 'back-up' or 'B-camera' when a small hand-held camcorder is required. The AVCHD codec uses an inter-frame long GOP H.264 compression algorithm, with AC-3 or PCM audio codec. A wide range of frame sizes and rates are supported in both interlaced and progressive. Compared to the aging tape-based HDV camcorders based on the older MPEG-2 codec, AVCHD camcorders achieve higher compression and lower data rates using MPEG-4, but with comparable and even better image quality. AVCHD media files can be copied directly to a computer by removing the media or by connecting the camera via USB. AVCHD files can be transferred to the computer at speeds of 5 to 30 M-bytes per second. DV and HDV camcorders on the other hand are forced to transfer at realtime playback speed of just 3.5 M-bytes per second, requiring Firewire connection and capturing software.
AVCHD Video signals: 1080/50/60i, 1080/24p, 720/50p/60p/24p, 576/50i, 480/60i
Frame sizes: 1920x1080, 1440x1080, 1280x720, 720x576
AVCHD Video compression is MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
AVCHD uses a Chroma sampling format of 4:2:0
Data rates up to 24 M-bits per second.
HDV (HD1) - 1280x720 Providing 720P at 24, 25, 30, 50 & 60 fps (JVC)
HDV stands for High Definition Video (although some refer to it as High-Def DV). The HDV format uses a Mini-DV cassette with the same tape size and mechanical recording system as DV, but records using the MPEG-2 compression codec. Unlike the HD2 interlace version which uses a GoP (group of pictures) of 15 frames (see below), HD1 only uses a GoP of just 6 frames. This lower compression ratio is something of an advantage. HDV is to the HD world what Mini-DV was to the video world back in 1995. HDV is the new consumer variant of professional HD and should not be confused with the latter. HDV uses the MPEG-2 compression codec, whilst high end HD formats do not. HD is also 4:2:2 chroma sampled while HDV is 4:2:0, which means you only get half the vertcial chroma resolution with HDV. HDV is the trademark of a video format specification established in 2003 by Sony Corporation and Victor Company of Japan (JVC). The specification allowed for two varying implementations of the same standard, with HD1 (not HDV1 & HDV2 as they are wrongly referred to by some) being the progressive implementation (720p) and HD2 (1080i) being the interlaced one. The 50Hz variants of 720p, set out in 2003, include 720p/50, 720p/25 and 720p/24. Currently JVC has delivered the latter two with its first HDV camcorder the GY-HD101E, and now the GY-HD200 and GY-HD250. JVC refers to its HDV camcorders and HDV decks as 'ProHD', even though it records HDV and conforms to the general specs and definition of HDV. ProHD sounds like a new or different format, but it is not. This seems to have caused a bit of confusion in the marketplace; rest assured JVC's ProHD products conform to the HD1 HDV standard specifications. One can only assume that JVC recognize the fact that HDV is a prosumer format and JVC's range of products are beyond that. The ProHD range is just that 'Professional'. Also JVC are keen on the idea of the MPEG2 stream being recorded to a hard drive such as their own DR-HD100 (Firestore) 40GB or 80GB FireWire hard disk recorder systems.
HDV (HD2) - 1440x1080 Providing 1080i at 50 & 60 fps (Sony, Canon)
Basically the same as HD1, but uses the Interlaced scanning method as opposed to Progressive. HD2 also uses a Mini-DV cassette with the same tape size and mechanical recording system as DV, and again, it records using the MPEG-2 compression codec, only to a 1080 line interlaced high definition signal, only HD2 uses a 15-frame GoP (group of pictures) algorithm as opposed to the 6-frame GoP of HD1 progressive. As with HD1, HD2 is also 4:2:0 chroma sampled. The 1080i signal is superior in quality to the standard definition of 625 lines. HDV uses the long group of pictures (GOP) algorithm encoding system to achieve very high picture quality at the same 25Mbps data rate as DV. HDV is fast becoming the format of choice for those wishing to shoot professional-quality video footage, not least because it offers the choice of HDV or DV recording on a Mini-DV cassette. It is almost certain that both HDV-1 and HDV-2 will make the standard definition DV formats obsolete over time.
NXCAM (Sony)
NXCAM is Sony's own branding name for the AVCHD (advanced video high definition) codec. This is Sony's professional AVCHD camcorder system. The first NXCAM camcorder is the NX5, which is essentially a Z5, only solid-state only recording to either SD/HC or Memory Stick cards. NXCAM's AVCHD codec uses the MPEG-4 H.264 compression algorithm (as used on Blu-Ray HD DVDS and Sky HD TV broadcasts), albeit at a maximum bit rate of 24 Mb/s (variable) with Linear PCM audio. Unlike HDV,which uses 1440x1080, AVCHD uses full 1920x1080 resolution. In contrast with MPEG-2 (HDV), in which inter-frame compression based on the correlation between adjacent frames uses fixed blocks of 16x16 pixels, AVCHD divides the blocks into multi-sizes as small as 4x4 pixels along with 4x8, 8x8 and 8x16 also, and every variation in-between using these block structures. With this method, it is able to use large blocks to process images that show only slight changes on the screen, and smaller blocks to process images that have considerable change. This raises the accuracy of motion compensation, which in turn, boosts the quality of fast-motion images while increasing compression efficiency.
XDCAM EX (Sony)
XDCAM EX is Sony's HD solid-state offering. The SxS (pronounced es-by-es) cards are half the size of Panasonic's P2 cards, and are more up-to-date hence they are based on the new serial interface (P2 is based on older parallel interface). The PMW-EX1 and PMW-EX3 (PM standing for Professional Media) use full size 1920x1080 half-inch CMOS sensors with half-inch lenses (EX1 lens is built in, while EX3 has interchangeable EX-Mount lenses). The image quality produced by these two camcorders is identical to Sony's XDCAM HD shoulder mount camcorders i.e. F335 and F355; also half-inch models. The EX1 and EX3 camcorders produce far superior image quality over the consumer HDV format due to the larger half-inch chips and the increased maximum 35Mbps variable bit-rate (HDV uses a constant 25Mbps). The PMW-500 is Sony's full-size professional shoulder mounted professional 2/3rd inch solid-state SxS camcorder, recording at 50Mbps and in 4:2:2 (EX1 and EX3 are 4:2:0 colour) colour space. SxS cards are currently available from Sony and Sandisk in capacities of 8GB and 16GB. 32GB cards are coming out late in 2008. Recording times onto a single 16GB card is 50 minutes in best HD 35mbps quality (3 minutes 12 seconds per gigabyte) and 60 minutes at 25Mbps medium quality.
DIGITAL BETACAM (Sony)
Sony's professional Digital Betacam is a videotape format that is mechanically based on the Beta tape transport. The recording on a Digital Betacam is component digital video with four channels of digital audio. Digital Betacam has been available in Europe as a 625 line PAL machine since early 1993. It has been the mainstay of quality broadcast production for many years. Digital Betacam uses 2:1 DCT based compression and high data rate combined with a rugged and well proven tape recording system. Many thousands of VTRs and camcorders are in action across the world. The latest DVW-970P model was introduced mid 2005.
XDCAM (Sony)
XDCAM is a professional digital optical disk recording system introduced by Sony in 2003. It features tapeless (non linear) recording of DVCAM or MPEG IMX video data, which is recorded onto an optical disc similar to a Blu-Ray disc called the Professional Disc, which holds about 23 GB of video data. The XDCAM range includes cameras and decks which act as drop-in replacements to VCRs. Via IEEE 1394, these decks can also serve as random access computer drives for easy import of the video data to NLE systems. The XDCAM format uses multiple compression methods: MPEG-2 when recording in MPEG IMX compressed data at up to 50Mbps, or DVCAM data at 25Mbps. Most XDCAM camcorders can switch from one compression to the other with the flick of a switch. In its 50Mbps IMX mode XDCAM records at a quality similar to Digital Betacam with eight audio channels, whilst giving huge workflow benefits in terms of its 'file based' structure, making it perfect for even the highest quality TV productions. DVCAM allows the user to record twice as much footage and maintains compatibility with a large amount of low end NLE's. MPEG IMX can record at a bitrate of 30, 40 or 50 mbits per second, while DVCAM records at 25mbits per second. The low resolution proxy records at 1.5 mbit with 64 kbit for each audio channel.
XDCAM HD (Sony)
XDCAM HD is the High Definition version of standard XDCAM. XDCAM HD combines High Definition picture quality with the attractions of non-linear, file-based production, XDCAM HD records true 1080-line HD pictures using MPEG Long GOP encoding at a selectable bit-rate of 35, 25 or 18 Mbps. XDCAM HD offers all the workflow advantages of its Standard Definition sibling at a price that's within reach of corporate programme makers and regional broadcasters. XDCAM HD records onto the same optical disk media as XDCAM, giving the same non-linear style workflow and file management benefits in the HD world. XDCAM HD is available in either half-inch or 2/3rd inch. Half inch models include the F330, F350, F335 and F355; the latter two take both 23GB and dual-layer 50GB discs. Half inch record at 35mbps variable. The newer 2/3rd inch model is the PDW-700, which records at a higher 50mbps bit-rate to larger 2/3rd inch chips. The PDW-700 was released for the first time in May 2008 at the same time as the larger 50GB Optical Discs.
HDCAM (Sony)
High quality 1920 x 1080 pixel cameras using very efficient compression technology to record a high data rate (approx 140Mbps) using the tried and tested tape recording system proved by Digital Betacam. A combination that has proved successful on many feature films, high profile dramas, and wildlife films across the world. HDCAM is the camcorder of choice for the very highest production values. The HDW-750P model is revolutionizing European TV production, while the legendary HDW-F900 is a Hollywood favourite for films such as Star Wars: Episode II and Once Upon A Time in Mexico.
DVCPRO (Panasonic)
Introduced in 1995. Panasonic specifically created the DVCPRO family for ENG use (Electronic News Gatherings), with better linear editing capabilities and robustness. DVCPRO is Panasonic's universally adopted professional variant of the standard DV format. Running at the same data rate (25Mbps) as DV but using 4:1:1 sampling, wider track pitch of 18 microns and uses another tape type; metal particle instead of metal evaporated. Audio is only available in the 16 bit/48 kHz variant. DVCPRO is synonymous with newsgathering and cost-efficient digital video production around the world. From independent production to event videography, DVCPRO is delivering superb results day-in, day-out.
DVCPRO 50 (Panasonic)
DVCPRO 50 is often described as two DV-codecs in parallel. Offering significantly less compression artefacts, and a better colour resolution (4:2:2) then that of DV or DVCPRO. DVCPRO50 records video data at 50Mbps, DVCPRO50 is the next step from standard DV family of formats since it addresses the most evident DV shortcomings in colour resolution and compression artefacts, that make standard DV less suitable for compositing and other colour-intensive tasks. DVCPRO50 was created for high-value ENG compatibility. The higher datarate cuts recording-time in half, but the resulting picture-quality from DVCPRO 50 is reputed to rival Sony's Digital Betacam.
DVCPRO HD (Panasonic)
DVCPRO HD uses four parallel codecs and a coded video bitrate of 100 Mbit/s. Compression ratio is approximately 7:1. Panasonic's DVCPRO HD technology offers broadcasters and filmmakers unmatched quality, reliability and price-performance as well as 4:2:2 Digital Component Quality. The DVCPRO HD sits at the top of the DV family of codecs thus you start your production chain with high-quality 100 Mbps 4:2:2 digital component video. With this low level of compression, edit processes are sped up and simplified saving time and money. A camcorder using a special variable-framerate (from 4 to 60 frame/s) variant of DVCPRO HD called VariCam is also available.
P2 (Panasonic)
The Panasonic P2 Series is a growing system of professional broadcast video products, which utilize solid-state memory instead of tape for recording video. P2 stands for 'Professional Plug-in' referring to the removable flash memory cards, which plug into slots on P2 equipment. A solid state recording system, recording DV, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50 and DVCPORO HD compression formats on a robust, reusable recording medium whilst giving huge workflow benefits because of its 'file based' structure. The Panasonic AG-HVX200 is a compact, portable 3-CCD P2 camcorder capable of recording high definition video in the DVCPRO HD format (among other formats). The AG-HVX200 is just one of Panasonic's P2 camcorders; also available are higher end shoulder mounted models such as the AJ-HPX2700, AJ-HPX3000 and AJ-HPX3700.
RED (RED Digital Cameras)
Invented by former Oakley sunglasses entrepreneur Jim Jannard. The Red One digital camera makes bold claims about it's image quality. With no up-rezzing or pixel shifting and a massive Super 35mm chine sized sensor of 24.4x13.7mm equating to 12 megapixels, capturing up to 4K at 30 fps or 3K at 60 fps and 2K at 120 fps; the latter being close to regular 1920x1080 HD formats, only with a higher frame-rate. The depth-of-field produced by the RED One is identical to 35mm film cameras, only without the expense of 35mm celluloid. The RED One is a modular design built around a rugged aluminium body and rail system for mounting accessories from both RED and third party companies. Although the RED One camcorder itself is not prohibitively expensive, but the time you add lenses, battery system, LCD, rails, EVF, hard drive recorder, handle etc, the cost can suddenly double. The RED One is not really a one-man operable camera; it is a professional cinematographers tool for shooting high-end movies. This is the kind of camera Mr Lucas would use