Although film has been a widely used format to capture images for over a century, video is still relatively new. Film uses a chemical process to replicate the images it is exposed to, while video records data as electronic information. Over the past few decades, video has gone through a myriad of improvements, leading to the digital formats, such as miniDV and HD, which exist today.

Consumers in the '80s were quick to embrace the possibilities offered by the video camcorder, leading to a revolution in the way we kept track of our lives. The high demand for new quality products drove the industry to create smaller, more efficient products--spearheading the current digital revolution. Today, video camcorders have reached a point where certain models are actually good enough to shoot a feature film with.

So, what format is best? As always, only the individual user can decide the answer to such a question. MiniDV has rapidly become the standard for most video camcorders, although newer DVD technology seems to have struck a chord with convenience-conscious consumers. On the high-end of the spectrum, new HDV camcorders loom on the horizon, offering a myriad of new possibilities.

With so many choices currently available, how are consumers to make up their minds? Sony? JVC? Panasonic? The amount of money you are willing to spend will greatly dictate the quality of the camera you purchase. Nevertheless, thanks to recent improvements in digital technology, even the cheapest digital video camcorders can offer results previously impossible with older analog formats.