If you’re planning to buy a camcorder to record your Diwali festivities, we tell you which one to buy and how to get the best out of it

Camcorders are great for recording those special moments that will be treasured for years. With the growing popularity of high-definition (HD) televisions, it was only a matter of time before HD camcorders broke into the mainstream too. We have tested eight HD camcorders and 14 standard-definition camcorders for this test. Although more expensive than standard-definition models, HD camcorders are a cut above. They look like standard-def camcorders from the outside, but inside their sensors can record more detail. Most can record 1,080 horizontal lines that make up a video image, compared with a standard-def model’s 576 lines. This means you see more fine detail, feel a greater sense of depth, and enjoy better sharpness. Colours are often better, too. To make the most of an HD camcorder, you need a good, large HDTV. If you don’t have an HDTV, you can still use a standard TV, but you won’t benefit from your HD camcorder’s better video quality. In years gone by, recording on tape was most popular. Now, most models record on either an internal hard disk or a memory card – many offer both options. Some camcorders use blank 8cm DVDs for recording. We take a look at the most popular recording formats and explain the pros and cons of each opposite.TO READ FURTHER... Please Login, Register or Subscribe