[shezza]

Hi All, Could someone tell me if I were to watch a recording from a std.definition camcorder, and a recording from a High definition camcorder through a Non HD Television would the quality be better from the HD camcorder?

[senu]

It would depend
A lot of the HDV camcorders are at least as good as , ( sometimes marginally better) at capturing SD
However if you play back the video, you would need to be doing so via s-video to do a valid comparison
Unfortunately many Hi Def camcorders only have component or HDMI, ( for Hi def) and composite for SD although you can certainly view SD via component
Im not sure why the answer is so important to you but an HDV camcorder costing £ 500- £1000 may not be as capable as a £2000 SD camcorder at SD even though the HDV model is capable of Hi def which it can do very well
( I have examples of each of those sorts)
But Straightfoward comparison of SD from non HDTV suggest you would get at least as good as an equivalent well sorted SD camcorder

As an example.
The Hi def Canon HG10 (AVCHD on HDD) does not record SD but it can output its Hi def as SD via composite av.. that looks really "awful" .. connect an HDMI to it and watch thru an HDTV you will be forgiven for thinking it couldnt possibly be the same camcorder

[shezza]

Thanks for your reply senu, Perhaps I have not explained myself properly. I have purchased a Panasonic SDR-H60
Someone has told me that I could have purchased a 3ccd high Def camcorder for the same price with a better quality picture.
But I have not got a HD ready TV.so would I be waisting money buying a HD camcorder.

[redsox_mark]

3 CCD high def camcorder.... they are probably talking about the Panasonic SD9 or SD5. The SD5 especially has been going for the bargin price of £350 on Amazon.

I agree with Senu; it depends. You probably won't see the benefit of the HD today. But it still could be worth it, as some day you'll have a HDTV.

It also depends on the sort of SD TV you have. If it is an CRT and can't accept a HD signal, then it's as Senu said; S-video is good, composite not. I have a SD plasma, but it accepts HD signals; and even though the screen is SD, HD footage looks great on it (better than SD).

[shezza]

Thanks Guy's..............