Does anyone have on of these HD camcorders, where the video is saved on a hard disk instead of a DVD or tape?

I'm thinking this might provide an easier way to copy video into a format which I could save onto a DVD or VCD and set back to family in the UK to watch.

I know the NTSC and PAL issue makes it hard to copy from video tape - has anyone used these HD camcorders and is there way to create DVD or CDs in a format that can be watched on a UK DVD player (or even on a computer)?

you'll be able to convert most stuff pretty easily, but probably time consuming to switch from ntsc to pal, or even to avi to be viewed on the computer...chances are the camcorder will have software that'll do it for you...sony's is pretty good apparently.

we have a hd camcorder that came with a small dock we attach to our computer. it effectivly downloads movie files from the camcorder to the computer in .mp4 format - so just a normal computer file. therefore you can copy to a disk or send via email etc very easily. if we click on one of the files on our pc it loads up real player and we can watch it on the spot.

If I was in the market for a camcorder, I'd get one - no doubt they will replace both tape and DVD completely in a few years.

Plenty of software programs out there to convert video formats to make watchable DVD's in both PAL and NTSC, or other computer formats. I use WinAvi, very simple.

I have a REALLY crappy digital camera that takes movies. I can convert them and burn them with a free copy of Nero I got with my CD burner and make CD's to send to parents in France (PAL or SECAM) or Florida (NTSC.) They play in normal DVD players.

And I'm a technophobe, so if I can master it, anybody can.

WEIRD THING. When wifey and I arrived, we paid $27 for a DVD player from Walmart - and it turned out to be multi-region, playing all our French and British DVDs as well as American ones. No problems with PAL/NTCS or anything. Stick 'em in and they play.

How weird is that?