Overview

HDV was designed to offer existing video production environments a cost-conscious upgrade path from standard-definition (SD) to high-definition (HD) video. As such, HDV shares the same DV25 cassette-media and tape-transport as DV. Recording times for HDV are identical to DV -- a 60 minute MiniDV cassette can store 60 minutes of either DV or HDV footage. As of yet, no HDV cameras can record HDV at LP speed, so the maximum record time on one tape is 80 minutes, as opposed to 120 with an 80 minute tape at LP. Although wanted by the consumer market, it is not likely that there will be an HDV camcorder that records HDV in LP mode because of the even higher risk of video drop outs on the thinner 80 minute tapes.

HDV recorders are offered to both the consumer and entry-level video production market. Consumer models are sold to the mass consumer market, competing with other camcorder product used for home, travel and vacation video. HDV video can be edited on a modern desktop/laptop PC, and burned and distributed on home-video DVDs. Prosumer models are designed for individuals and organizations specifically interested in video production, and are generally sold to amateur videographers, local production and marketing agencies, etc. HDV video can also be imported into a professional environment, although the quality of the product limits this use to news and other non-studio applications.