Finally! A Hi-Def recording solution for camcorders! Canon’s DW-100.
April 28th, 2008 by Todd B
It has happened to me before. More than once. I am heading to my son’s play or recital with camcorder and monopod in hand only to find out I did not bring a blank tape. Currently I use a Panasonic standard definition camcorder that uses mini-DV cassettes. You would think I would learn. I am not Boy Scout material for sure.
So I have always been attracted to these camcorders that do not require the use of separate media and use hard drives that record the video. But I need a little more before I make an investment in another camcorder to get better video quality (high definition) and to accomplish my dream of being free of having to buy media and not being prepared when I arrive at the event. What has always been the issue for me with the hard-disk camcorders is where do you store the video once the hard drive is full?
To keep the high definition quality that the camcorder can deliver, you would need to transfer the video to a PC that has software installed to handle high definition video and a DVD burner capable of burning HD to discs. This for me has always been a big turnoff. Hence when Canon announced the DW100 burner, the solution to my high definition hard disk drive issues seemed to be solved. The DW-100 uses AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) technology allows the high definition video to be burned to standard 5″ DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-R DL disks.
At this time it looks like you would have to use the DW-100 to play the disks back on your TV unless your DVD player is compatible with AVCHD. But at least it is a step in the right direction. On a DVD-R/RW disc, you can choose the quality of video by how much you compress it, from 30 minutes to 100 minutes.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Hey Todd,
great article on the burner. Just a quick note: This burner connects via USB cable to the camera (no analog a/v inputs) and is listed on Canon’s web site as being compatible only with the HG10, Vixia HF10, Vixia HF100, FS10, FS11, and FS100 camcorders.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Those AVCHD recorded discs can be played back with the High Definition recording quality on your Blu-Ray DVD players and Sony PS3 systems.