[Ken42]

I have one of the first Panasonic Digital camcorders (NV-DS5) which has served me well for almost ten years and is still going strong.

I usually record with the sound off in order to avoid the usual background chatter on holiday videos, and then add music using the audio dub feature before transferring to my DVD recorder for editing and making DVDs in 4:3.

I'm thinking of moving to High Definition and have been researching all day, but can't find answers to my questions.

1. Are there any models which allow audio dubbing afterwards or must that be done with a PC?

2. If I make a mistake in recording a few seconds of footage, will the non-tape models allow me to 'rewind' a bit and restart? Or must I edit the mistake out later?

3. Can I archive the HiDef footage to a large computer disc and wait until HD DVD recorders come down in price and make HD DVDs? What problems will I encounter?

[redsox_mark]

1. Are there any models which allow audio dubbing afterwards or must that be done with a PC?

As far as I know, only with HDV models when shooting in DV mode (e.g. the Canon HV20).

2. If I make a mistake in recording a few seconds of footage, will the non-tape models allow me to 'rewind' a bit and restart? Or must I edit the mistake out later?

With a non-tape model, each time you stop the camcorder it creates a new clip (file). So there is no need to rewind, you just stop, then start again. You can delete the unwanted clip.

3. Can I archive the HiDef footage to a large computer disc and wait until HD DVD recorders come down in price and make HD DVDs? What problems will I encounter?

Yes you can. Depending on how much you shoot you'll need a lot of disc space, and make sure you have a way of doing backups.

[Ken42]

Thanks redsox. I wonder if you (or anyone else) can answer a couple of questions about the Canon HV20 as their website is a bit short on detail.

1. Having recorded in HD can it play back in SD onto my DVD recorder?

2. Does it have a viewfinder as well as an LCD screen?

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by Ken42

Thanks redsox. I wonder if you (or anyone else) can answer a couple of questions about the Canon HV20 as their website is a bit short on detail.

1. Having recorded in HD can it play back in SD onto my DVD recorder?

2. Does it have a viewfinder as well as an LCD screen?

yes yes