Newbie question RE: burning DVDs from HD camcorder

[lcinva]

Hi -

I purchased a handycam (cx110) as it was an entry level HD camcorder. I'm using this for archival reasons really; I just had a baby and would like to film family stuff and have the option to record to DVDs. I knew there was something weird about burning DVDs with HD, and I'm wondering if I should downgrade to an SD camcorder to avoid the hassle. If someone could clarify some of the following that would be awesome!

I know any DVDs I burn I can't play in a normal DVD player. So:

1. Is it possible to convert HD recordings to SD, until I (and my parents, who are going to want these DVDs) get a blu-ray or HD DVD player? What software is recommended (I have a PC and an iMac)?

2. Do I need a special type of burner in the computer to be able to burn an HD DVD should I want one?

3. Since it's a Sony (and I've read a couple things intimating that Sony has some proprietary hold on AVCHD), does it mean I HAVE to have a blu-ray or will other branded HD DVD players play HD quality DVDs I burn?

4. I do have an HDTV and HD service. That being said, are newer SD camcorders going to be so significantly worse than HD that I should stick with the HD even though the recording situation is kind of inconvenient?

Lastly - if anyone has an opinion regarding a different camcorder but better quality in the same price range ($350-400), I'd be happy to hear that...I just saw some good reviews and went for it.

Thanks!!

[nharikrishna]

I can answer this one:

2. Do I need a special type of burner in the computer to be able to burn an HD DVD should I want one?

I thought HD DVD is no longer available in the market. Blue Ray and HD DVD competed to become the HD standard, but Blue Ray won it. So you won't see any HD DVD Players being manufactured anymore. BlueRay is the way to go.

Regards

[uno]

I use Vegas 10 to edit the AVCHD-files. With Vegas 10 there is a DVD-program (Vegas Architekt) but out of habit and laziness I have not learnt it so I continue to use Nero to burn my DVD's. I have tried to use Vegas Architekt but Nero seems easier to me.
So the answer to your first question is that you should stay with HD and let the burning program make the DVD out of this HD-file. When you later have a blueray burner you can use the same HD-file.


You should have at least a dualcore processor to edit HD-files.


Another thing is that you can timestamp your HD-file if you wish with e.g. dvmp pro. This has to be done from the original file that you import from the camera. On later files this info is lost.