Standard Definition Formats (SD)
VHS, VHS-C, and 8mm: These are the older analogue Consumer formats used in
home camcorders. VHS is the standard tape used with your VCR. VHS-C is a
smaller version of VHS made to compete with the smaller 8mm format. VHS-C can
be played in a normal VCR with an adapter. These consumer formats are the
lowest quality of video.
S-VHS (Super VHS) and Hi-8: These are
analogue
formats that are a step up from the Consumer formats. Hi-8 is used in many
home camcorders. S-VHS looks like a VHS tape but needs a S-VHS VCR to playback
properly. It is more
durable than Hi-8 and was used more in industrial pro-sumer level work.
Digital8: Digital8 is the digital version of Hi-8 used in Digital8 home camcorders. The cameras use the same Hi-8 tape but records a
digital signal on it. The quality is better than S-VHS and Hi-8, but much of the
current equipment lacks professional features for serious production work.
Digital8 can
reach Broadcast Quality when the proper equipment is used.
MiniDV: MiniDV is the digital format used in DV
home camcorders and DV professional cameras. At the home camcorder level,
MiniDV is similar to Digital8 in quality. At the professional level,
miniDV is similar to DVCam and DVCPro.
DVCam and DVCPro: These are two popular Professional Digital
formats. These formats tend to come with better built cameras and VCRs
designed for professional video production work and achieve Broadcast Quality.
DVCPro 50: This is a higher quality
version of DVCPro.
BetacamSP: BetacamSP is an anolgue Broadcast Quality format that has
long been the standard for TV stations, news, and high-quality video.
While many are now using the Professional Digital formats, BetacamSP is still
used in some areas.
Digital S, DVCPro 50, Digital Betacam: These digital formats are
the high end of the broadcast market. They achieve better video quality
than all the previously listed formats.
High Definition Formats (HD)
HDV: A HD format based on MiniDV.
It uses the same tape as MiniDV but records in an MPEG format instead
allowing it to record a HD image. HDV cameras range from consumer
models to professional models. While all quality for recording in HD
resolution, the image quality varies greatly depending on the camera.
MPEG: There are some cameras that record
direct to a hard drive or flash card of some kind. These cameras use a
different form of MPEG to record in. Like the HDV cameras, the same
caveat concerning image quality applies.
P2: A solid state format used with some
Panasonic cameras. Typically using DVCPro 100 for HD.
DVCPro 100, XDCam, Varicam, HDCam, HDCam SR:
These are all high end formats used in broadcast and films. Most are
tape based (the XDCam records onto disc) and have various types of
compression formats.
