Should I get a HD camcorder? even if I don't have a Bluray burner?

Question

Even if I record in 1080i, how would I be able to retain that quality if I plan to edit and burn videos to DVD. Don't I need to burn Bluray DVD's to retain 1080i? If I don't have a Bluray burner, then isn't it a waste of money to get HD camcorder?

Answer 1

When you downgrade the HD video into SD, you get very nice quality.  So it is still worth it for that.  

If you have a PS3, you could burn MP4 files onto a dvd and retain original quality and you can fit 1-2 hours of video on one.  You just won't have a dvd menu or any dvd luxury.

Answer 2

The reason that HD consumer level video cameras are available now is that they can be made affordable now, and you can publish full HD video to tape for an HD TV and to a video file for use on your computer , the internet, or again for your TV.

There are several newer video sharing websites geared specifically for HD video.  One such site is Vimeo.com .

If you want to watch your HD videos on your TV in full 1080, you can without using DVD.  You have 2 options:

You can watch it through your camcorder.  Capture your video to computer, edit it, and then 'Print the Video to Tape'.  This sends your movie to the tape in your camcorder exactly like capture, but the signal flows in reverse.  Your camcorder can now be connected to your HD television like a big bad HD tape deck or VCR.

If your movie is longer than an hour, you will need to take a station break sometime during the movie.  This gives your audience an intermission, so you may want to manually edit your movie into two parts at the appropriate moment in the movie.  80 minute HDV tapes are also available if you would prefer to fit your feature length movie onto a singe tape.

You can also play the movie from your computer to your TV.  Edit the movie into a complete video file for viewing on a computer.  The computer can be hooked to most HD TVs - purchase of additional hardware depends upon your computer model.  This allows the movie to play in its entirety.  This is the basis of Windows Media Center and AppleTV.

Answer 3

No its not a waste. In a few years they cost of blueray burners will be cheap then you will be fine to buy one. Until then itll just take more DVDs to play all the 1080i video you have.

Basically 1080i will give you a huge video file, then it'll take a few DVDs to burn the whole thing.