SD vs HD
Nowadays, most camcorders allow users to record both SD and HD videos. If someone who doesn't want to save money for an HD camcorder or TV, that's because he hasn't seen the difference between SD and HD. This page will introduce you some basic knowledge about SD and HD camcorder.
Standard Definition (SD)
> 16:9 widescreen pictures
> Improved picture quality - similar to DVD quality
> MPEG digital stereo sound - similar to CD quality
> Some Standard Definition programs are enhanced with Dolby Pro Logic surround sound
> Standard Definition broadcasts are transmitted at all times - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
> Additional channels and multi-camera views are broadcast in Standard Definition
SD Picture Resolution SD picture resolution is: - 576i (576 horizontal lines interlaced)
High Definition (HD)
> 16:9 widescreen pictures
> HD picture resolution - highest available picture quality (when viewed on an HD display)
> MPEG digital stereo sound and, on selected programs, Dolby Digital sound
> Some broadcasters are currently transmitting a number of High Definition programs
> In August 2002 the Government announced it will seek to change each broadcaster's HD obligation to an annualized requirement of 1040 hours. These obligations will commence from 1 July 2003 for mainland capital cities, and effectively not before 2005 in other areas. Programs transmitted in HD will also be simultaneously broadcast in SD.
> An HD-DR will also receive SD broadcasts, to enable the HD viewer to receive SD digital transmissions when HD
broadcasts are not being transmitted.
Standard Definition display resolutions:
| Video Format (WxH) | Name | Pixel aspect ratio (W:H)(Standard 4:3) | Pixel aspect ratio (W:H)(Anamorphic 16:9) | Description |
| 640x480 | 4:3 | Used to be used on YouTube | ||
| 720×576 | 576i | 5:4 | 64:45 | Used on D1/DV PAL (ITU-R 601) |
| 704×576 | 576p | 12:11 | 16:11 | Used on EDTV PAL |
| 720×480 | 480i | 8:9 | 32:27 | Used on DV NTSC |
| 720×486 | 480i | 8:9 | 32:27 | Used on D1 NTSC (ITU-R 601) |
| 704×480 | 480p | 10:11 | 40:33 | Used on EDTV NTSC |
High-definition display resolutions:
| Resolution (W×H) | Pixels | Aspect Ratio | Video Format | Description | Bitrate (Mbps) | Storage (MB) for 1 min |
| 1024×768 | 786,432 | 16:9 (non-square pixels) | 720p/XGA | Used on PDP HDTV displays with non square pixels | 135 | 1012 |
| 1280×720 | 921,600 | 16:9 | 720p—HDTV standard format | First step toward true 1080p HD, see below (HD) | 158 | 1187 |
| 1440×1080 | 1,555,200 | 16:9 | 1080i | Used on a majority of HDTVs, and is 'half' of 1080p due to its interlacing (i) | 266 | 2002 |
| 1280×1080 | 1,382,400 | 16:9 (non-square pixels) | 1080p | Used on PDP HDTV displays (Full HD, HD Ready 1080p) | 237 | 1780 |
| 1920×1080 | 2,073,600 | 16:9 | 1080p—HDTV standard format | Used on all types of HDTV technologies (Full HD, HD Ready 1080p) | 356 | 2670 |
| 3840×2160 | 8,294,400 | 16:9 | 2160p DCI Cinema 4k standard format (4096×2160) | Quad HDTV, (there is no HD Ready 2160p Quad HDTV format) | 1424 | 10679 |
HD Picture Resolution HD picture resolution may be one or more of the following:
576p (576 horizontal lines progressive)
720p (720 horizontal lines progressive)
1080i (1080 horizontal lines interlaced)
Some brands of camcorders tested
Standard definition Canon FS10
Canon FS100
Flip video ultra series
JVC GZ-MG630
JVC GZ-MG680
JVC GZ-MS120
Panasonic NV-GS330
Panasonic SDR-S26
High definition Canon HF10
Canon HF100
Canon HV30
Panasonic HDR-SD20
Sony HDR-HC9
Sony HDR-XR200
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