Camcorders that use a hard drive are much more convenient than conventional camcorders that use a tape or discs. There is no need to worry if you're going to record over Suzie's dance recital or if the tape is in the correct spot. It is always ready to record when you are. Transferring your content to a computer or DVD burner is as simple as plugging in a cable. Hard drive camcorders can record hours of video without ever having to change tapes. This is especially handy for times when you want to record more than one hour without a pause.

Hard drive camcorders are typically smaller than their mini DV counterparts. Since there are no tapes or discs, there is no need for a media transport mechanism, allowing manufacturers to slim down the chassis and save a little weight.

All your footage gets stored to the hard drive. As a result, it is very easy to manage clips and even rearrange them in different orders. Typically, every time you hit the record button, the camera will create a new clip. This makes it easy to go back and delete the ones you don’t want.

In this site, you’ll find articles related to Hard Drive camcorders, as well as comprehensive reviews and a side–by–side comparison to help you make an informed decision on which camcorder is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS — We do the research so you don’t have to.

Hard drive camcorders have many different features, and can vary from one to another. The best ones will have the following features:

• Hard drive capacity: It’s pretty simple. The larger the hard drive, the more record time you have.
• Resolution: It goes without saying that the higher resolution a camera has, the better your pictures will look.
• Optical zoom: The best camcorders will have a good optical zoom range. This will allow you to zoom right in on the action without any picture quality loss.
• Image stabilizer: Make sure your camera has some sort of image stabilization device in it. The best camcorders will use an optical system.
• Battery life: What good is having all this storage space to record if the battery is constantly dead? Good camcorders will have a long battery life. Most cameras; however, don’t come with the largest capacity battery. Make sure you include the cost of an extra battery in your budget.
• Low lux rating: You won’t always having optimal recording conditions and you might need to record in low light situations. Look for a camera with a good low lux rating. The lower the number, the better.
• Anti-shock mechanism: Let’s face it, your kids are going to drop your camcorder eventually. Good hard drive camcorders will have an anti-shock mechanism to protect the hard drive.