I'm guessing 3CCD has better color representation and the HD video camera has much higher resolutions. I'm assuming video cameras that are both 3CCD and HD are very expensive.

Which technology do you go with right now?

I'd like to look into something that for more than just family home videos. I'd like to find a video camera and can make some money with.

Opinions?

Thanks in advance...

I was just at a store that explained the transition between 3CCD and HDV video cams. 3-CCD are thing of the past. There are $1200 sony pocket sized HDV cams that have better quality than a $2400 Canon 3-CCD GL2. Of course a GL2 would have more manual controls but it's the era of HD now and not good looking SD from 3CCD.

I remember when I bought my $900 Hi8 Sony and a few months later DV video cameras were available at $900. Won't let that happen again. My current video camera is small Sony DV that I bought used just because we needed one.

Go HD!!!

(everyone probably knew this already except me :) )

um you are aware that 3 there are 3cdd hd cameras? until the prices on 3ccd mini dv cameras dropped significantly, 3ccd cameras were an expensive broadcast standard. most home users will never need the ability to control colour in the way that a 3 ccd camera allows (as it is of most benefits are for multiple camera shoots) hd is indeed the way of the future and there are plenty of single ccd and three ccd hd cameras

um you are aware that 3 there are 3cdd hd cameras?

Right. What ticks me off is that 3CCD only entered the low end market in the past 3 years or so. Now inexpensive HD video cameras are available. So I should focus on an HD camera and bypass the affordable 3CCD cameras.

Unless I want to spend $3500+ on that new Canon XH-A1...ooooh that would be sweeeeet.

that is the 64 million dollar question. what do you want to do with your video and how will you be viewing it back in the short term and is that likely to change in the long term?

in simple terms a 3ccd camera (any 3ccd camera) will give you better colour.

a hd camera will allow you to watch things back on a bigger sharper screen (assuming your tv plays back hd)

so is a cheaper lower resolution (smaller screen viewing) but better coloured 3ccd camera better than more expensive a higher resolution (bigger screen viewing) hd camera with slightly poorer colour camera, only you can answer that.

to make it harder, if you are likely to edit your video, hd video needs a more powerful computer and more expensive software.

if you don't have a hd tv and have no plans to buy one in the near future than get the 3ccd mini dv camera, but if you have or are getting a hd tv then get the hd camera to go with it!

Thanks for breaking this down. After more research, everything you wrote made more sense to my limited knowledge.

Adobe Premier requires dual XEON processors to edit HDV. So even if I was drooling over the new Canon XH-A1, I won't have the power to work with the video.

I also didn't realize how much the GL2 went down in price. You can get it for $1700 now brand spanking new (after rebate). I've always wanted that video camera. I just hate buying technology that is getting old. Like you said, it depends on what your end product will be. If I ever do this for money, I may not even be producing HD anything so why get an HDV camcorder now?

I guess if I do make some money I can sell the GL2 and upgrade when HDV is more common.

I'm slowly remembering why I never got into videography.....MONEY!

that is the 64 million dollar question. what do you want to do with your video and how will you be viewing it back in the short term and is that likely to change in the long term?

in simple terms a 3ccd camera (any 3ccd camera) will give you better colour.

a hd camera will allow you to watch things back on a bigger sharper screen (assuming your tv plays back hd)

so is a cheaper lower resolution (smaller screen viewing) but better coloured 3ccd camera better than more expensive a higher resolution (bigger screen viewing) hd camera with slightly poorer colour camera, only you can answer that.

to make it harder, if you are likely to edit your video, hd video needs a more powerful computer and more expensive software.

if you don't have a hd tv and have no plans to buy one in the near future than get the 3ccd mini dv camera, but if you have or are getting a hd tv then get the hd camera to go with it!