If you're wondering why you should make the leap from your old analog camcorder to a brand new digital camcorder, take a look at the advantages digital has over analog.

• Digital camcorders are smaller and easier to use. Digital video (DV) camcorders are smaller because the size of the tape cartridge is smaller. Small size means more convenience, easier handling, and longer battery life (due to less equipment to power).
• The quality is far better than ever before. Picture quality with video depends on the horizontal resolution, which is measured across the picture as if counting vertical lines. All video formats (except HDTV) have the same vertical resolution, or number of lines going down the picture. The horizontal resolution varies, however. VHS tape offers 240 lines; a live TV broadcast offers 300 lines; a digital satellite broadcast offers 400 lines. Digital video in the mini-DV cassette format offers 500 lines of horizontal resolution, resulting in a much sharper, clearer picture.
• You can edit digital video with a personal computer, a hard drive, and editing software. Digital video is data, and like any other data can be manipulated with software on a computer. No more tapes to rewind or fast forward.
• You can make copies of copies with no loss in quality. Digital video data last forever, even though the medium for storing it doesn't. Even if you make copies of copies of copies, the digital information will still be duplicated exactly each time. The quality of analog video deteriorates when you copy a tape.