Format Fight: HDD vs Flash Memory in Relation to Camcorders

[2Old4Toys]

Just 2 yrs after you made this upload, Flash card overtake HDD Camcorders. Remarkable that it's simply a no brainer now cost is not an issue for Flash.

[rml695]

@2Old4Toys Agreed. 

[bakonfreek]

I like HDD better because both can have substantial data loss...flash can go corrupt, HDD can crash. I prefer HDD because I got the camera and 64GB of memory for $100 cheaper than the flash...go with HDD if you want memory, go with flash if you drop the camera a lot.

[hobocamptheater]

many people say that flash will take over and have completely killed hard drives by 2017.

but I know that there are a few advantages over flash

if flash is slightly damaged it loses everything and no longer works while if that happens to a hard drive it has a much better chance of staying alive.

I know that you have already concluded but I just wanted to say.

NOTE: your voice reminds me of a guy (screen name: filmnstuff) (this is not an insult just something that I wanted to say)

[jeedo2006]

thank you very mach

[user12119]

I still prefer MiniDV.

[Allura41]

Just wondering what camcorder you ended up buying?Im in the same dilemma now...not sure which to buy..i want to make vlogs on youtube so im concerned about quality.

The canon fs200 has caught my eye.

[rml695]

I got a PowerShot SX10 IS which has stereo video recording capabilities.

[joeythegeek1942]

but for the Camcorder side of things, for video or even HD video, use an HDD, if its just pictures and low quality video, just get a 4GB SD card. for youtube videos, i would just go for a webcam or the Flash memory. Great videos, keep it up...

i'm trying to get all of my software on SD cards(CD's on the 2GB, and DVD's on the 8GB). and its also a good move for me because for christmas im getting an asus Eee PC, and i have to give my dell to my sister, which doesnt live with me.

[rootbrian]

[continued]

The disk and flash card weren't plugged into my computer's IDE or usb ports since I have an external PSU.

Flash VS ESD: Flash loses, ESD wins.

Hard disk VS ESD: Hard disk wins, ESD loses.

Tests were done using only one (1) shock.

[rootbrian]

ESD (Electric Static Discharge) can disable flash memory completely.

I sacrificed an old compact flash memory card, sparked it once using a BBQ igniter and since then, it doesn't work at all.

I did the same with an old hard disk with a few MB's in data errors once, it still works.

All it did was stall the motor for a few seconds and make the disk read/write tone arm act as if the disk was being defragmented.

[rml695]

I did hear something about how if a complete failure of the memory medium occurred, that the odds of complete data loss is more common in flash but what are the overall odds of a failure rate occurring? I think in flash it was less likely than in HDD.

[rootbrian]

Flash memory is limited to a certain number of write/erase cycles. Once they're used up and spent, the thing is useless.

If the flash memory is internal (eg. on-board), you can't upgrade it.

Hard disks are different, they are upgradeable.

Like so with HDD mp3/video players, the disk is swappable in case it's ever damaged or the device fails to recognize or format it correctly.

[rml695]

I'd asked about the cost of replacing a failed hard drive in one of the JVC Cameras and the salesman told me that unless it's under warranty that you should forget it.

[rootbrian]

SD cards are discounted and cheap at tigerdirect, newegg and a few other places.

The one thing thats a risk for discounted or low priced memory cards, some are used, the store or company just doesn't tell the store staff at all. The customer ends up finding out cause of a short lifespan and gives a bad review without even knowing.

[commodore256]

If you're recording in MPEG2 in DVD quality and you have 2 audio tracks recording at near CD quality , you could get almost 6 1/2 hours out of a $40 16GB memory card that you can reuse. So you could spend $80 and get 12 hours of DVD quality footage.

I'd say go with the flash model and record in DVD quality and if you need anymore space to record in HD, you can just buy a bigger card when the price of flash memory goes down.

So 3 years from now, you could get 64GB for the price of 16GB today.

[maddogg360]

Flash camcorders are lighter smaller and flash memory last much longer than hard drives plus you can always keep extra memory in you pocket.

I would definitely go with flash.