I currently have a sony digital 8 type camcorder, as well as canon sd400 camera which can take video. I like the idea and size of the current hard dirve camcorders, but quality of video is of utmost importance to me. How does the quality of video compare on these models? Thank you,
Angela.

Compact cameras have allowed the world to become a more flexible and mobile place. No longer shackled by brick-like behemoths which often had enough mass to warrant their own gravitational pull, hand-held compact cameras have given film-makers the freedom to manipulate the video camera as never before. In the digital age the compact camera has come a long way from the old-school tapes which used to be the only way to capture film. Now there is an array of options to choose from and here is a jargon-free rundown of some of the compact cameras out there to make your choice a little bit easier. Mini-DVD Compact Cameras Mini-DVD compact cameras are usually among the cheapest on the market these days and have the added bonus of being easy to use. Extract the DVD from the compact camera, pop it in your DVD player and you can enjoy the results of your film straight away – it really is as simple as that. The downside with these players is that the mini-DVD discs are quite expensive and are not always compatible with slot loading DVD drives on computers and laptops. Mini-DVD camcorders also compromise on space which will mean the quality of the video will be lower than other systems. Hard-drive/Flash-drive Compact Cameras Compact cameras which rely on a hard-drive or flash-drive have the major plus of not requiring additional storage space. This will save you money on buying DVDs as you can transfer everything directly on to your computer. Hard-drive compact cameras have more storage space than the flash alternatives but also tend to be a little less durable. SDHC compact cameras Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) camcorders are the ultimate when it comes to digital compact cameras. The SDHC card is highly functional and ultra-small, making it easy to use. It is also compatible with most other digital devices, including HDTVs and digital photo frames. As the name suggests, the capacity on the SDHC cards is phenomenal which means they can store more information than other compact cameras and have the best high definition functionality

I used to have several old Sony camcorders, and now I have a collection of tapes which are Video 8, Hi8, and Digital 8. I want to buy an old camcorder, and was told that there are ones out-there that are able to play 2 types of videos, but I’m not sure which. Do Hi8 camcorders play both Hi8 and Video 8 or is it that Digital 8 camcorders also play Hi8?

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I’d like to figure out what version (ex: DZ-BX35A) my Hitachi camcorder is so I can buy a charger for it. Does it specify anywhere on the camcorder this kind of information?