MiniDV camcorders are still a great option for capturing quality videos.
MiniDV camcorders record an hour of high-quality digital videotape. You can save the tape for as long as you need it, upload it to your computer or transfer it to another format like DVD. With the advent of camera phones, hard drive camcorders and multi-format recorders, the MiniDV camcorder has taken a back seat. However, video professionals still trust this digital videotape for its quality and long-term storage capability.
MiniDV Format
The MiniDV videotape records a DV compression format for 60 or 90 minutes, with the later offering a lower quality for the extended time. MiniDV tapes have been around since the late 1990s when the digital video camcorder moved from the professional to the consumer market. MiniDV is a small, sturdy video cassette that can be stored for many years without loss of quality. Dust and dirt can affect moving tape parts so storing MiniDVs in a cool, dry area is best.
Camcorder Styles
MiniDV camcorders come in all sizes for professional and amateur users.
MiniDV camcorders are offered in professional, prosumer and consumer models. Professional MiniDV camcorders are costly and require a knowledge of manual settings for optimal recording quality. Prosumer versions have the option of automatic or manual settings and allow for detachable lens and external audio options. Consumer MiniDV camcorders are easy to use, but they still provide a high-quality digital image because of the DV compression format. MiniDV video cassettes work in all camcorder models.
Cost
The benefit of the newer camcorder recording formats overtaking MiniDV, is that MiniDV camcorders have fallen dramatically in price. An excellent MiniDV camcorder brand with many automatic features can be purchased for a few hundred dollars. Professional MiniDV camcorders are also substantially less, because video professionals want the quick computer upload capability of the hard drive and memory stick formats. You can find good-quality, used MiniDV camcorders with warranties on professional camcorder reseller websites.
Maintenance
Camcorders are both electronic and mechanical and require periodic cleaning and maintenance. Dust and dirt are the biggest enemies of camcorder recording heads and video cassettes, leading to clogged video heads, tape damage and incomplete recordings. Purchasing and using a cleaning tape keeps the camcorder's moving parts clean and prevents dust particles from spreading to your other MiniDVs. Keep your videotapes in the plastic cover and store recorded footage in a cool, dry area.
Tags: MiniDV camcorders, camcorder recording, compression format, cool area, digital videotape, Dust dirt, hard drive