Start out by talking to friends and relatives about the filming equipment they use. You can shop some of the stores where a knowledgeable sales person is available to discuss the pros and cons of each model with you. The features your cousin Mel loves may not be what will please you. For the purpose of making family movies, Graduation and Wedding as well as travel films choose a camera that is comfortable in your hands and one that you can use immediately but with enough capabilities for advanced functions to allow you to progress in your filming abilities as you go along.

Here are descriptions of some of the latest High Definition Cameras and Camcorders that might suit your needs. This is an exciting time in the history of shooting movies. As of next year everyone will need either a high definition TV or a converter for their analog TV set. Televisions are not the only things affected by this technological marvel. High Definition Digital Cameras are also available now. Let's take a brief tour of what is on the market.

Canon is a well known name in quality cameras. It has the additional advantage of being compatible with Dell Computers. Dell is often compatible only with other Dell products. The Canon TX1 model is the newest model. It can be used as a still camera or used to shoot a video. It is capable of making videos in High Definition quality which of course is the finest in new technology not only in cameras but televisions as well. There are Canon models available for several hundred dollars and up. There are often rebate offers and sales to take advantage of.

The Panasonic LX2 rates fairly well and has many excellent features but also some mediocre qualities. The Sanyo HD1A has some functional problems and isn't recommended.

Another Sanyo model is the shining star of the new hybrids. The Sanyo HD2 is considered the first choice of them all. There is an increasing trend towards the eventual merging of the digital camera which also films video and the full fledged camcorder. The Canon TX 1 was announced. This combination of high mega pixel digital still camera and high definition video filming technology will catch a great deal of attention since Canon is a respected brand name. It may not have been the first but it is definitely among the best.

Manufacturers are moving towards the marriage of the digital still camera with video ability and the camcorder which has filming videos as its target function. There are four main facts to consider when analyzing the following top camera/camcorders. Resolution on all four of the above mentioned cameras is 1280 x 720. Four of the five have a frame rate of 30fps. Panasonic Lumix LX2 has a frame rate of only 15fps. Recording times are 13 minutes maximum clip length with the Canon Powershot TX1, 84 minutes for both the Sanyo models, 32 minutes with the Panasonic Lumix LX2 and 80 minutes (2GB SD (secure digital) card. Finally, these are the formats used by the models. Canon Powershot TX1 - M-JPEG (AVI); MPEG-4 is used by both Sanyo Xacti HD2 and Sanyo Xacti HD1a. The M-JPEG (MOV) is used with the Panasonic Lumix LX2 and Kodak EasyShare Z1275 uses MPEG-4 (MOV).

This should provide a starting point for deciding which model has the features most important to you. Consider purchasing one that is beyond your current expertise since you will become more expert over time. This is an expensive investment and you don't want to find yourself eventually wishing for more advanced functions to conquer than your camera/camcorder is capable of performing.

 

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