Sony Internal Storage (HDD/SSD) Camcorders

How to Connect Your Camcorder

The switch from film to video, especially the switch to digital, completely changed the paradigm from film cameras. Not only did it remove the need to send film off for processing, in some cases it even removed the need to transfer anything physical at all.

How Do Camcorders Store Video?

While hardly anybody uses tape anymore, not even digital tape, every recorder needs some way to both store the data and then play it back. This is even more important with home movie as you often dont want to play it back on the small screen built into the camera itself, but rather get the full effect of your recording on the TV or other big screen. There are two ways to store your video:

• Removable Storage: Whether a memory stick or an SD card, this provides an easy way to both store imagery and transfer it. All you have to do is remove the card and put it in the slot on your computer or other device, and youre done.
• Internal Storage: Models with an internal HDD or SSD can take advantage of the higher capacity of a hard drive for longer recordings. The difference here is that you have to connect the camcorder directly to your TV or other device to view or transfer your file.

What Features Should You Look For?

One of the good things about choosing a camcorder is that you have options. The trick is figuring out which options matter most to you so that you can decide which model suits you. Some areas to consider:

• Capacity: As just one example, the Sony HDR-XR520V offers a 240 GB hard drive, giving it enough room to store some 30 hours of 1080P video.
• Connectivity: Some models can connect directly to a computer just like an external drive. With this capability its easy to drag and drop your movies wherever you need them.
• External Storage: A secondary storage medium like a memory stick is a good thing to have if you occasionally want to shoot clips and then transfer them to other devices without bothering to hook up your camera.

Making Home Movies

The advantage that the storage in Sony hard drive camcorders gives you is flexibility. You can record all the footage you need and then go through it in editing to get exactly the results you want. Its just like still photography, the chance of getting good shots goes way up if you take a whole bunch of pictures rather than waiting for inspiration to guide you to the perfect shot. There is no secret guide, just hard work and great footage.

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