Hardware

CAPTURING VIDEO

• Tape camera (miniDV - "DV" stands for digital video)
  
• Pros: compatible with all mainstream video editing applications
• Cons: noisy, real-time importing (e.g. a 2 hour recording takes 2 hours to import)
• Hard drive camera
• Pros: quieter than tape, can store many hours of footage
• Cons: heavy
• Flash memory camera
• Pros: quieter than hard drive and tape, lightweight, flash memory cards are easily interchangeable
• Cons: more expensive (harddrives are currently cheaper than flash memory cards)

CAPTURING AUDIO

• Handheld recorder
  
• Multipurpose
  
• Takes time and organization to sync audio with video during post-production if your handheld audio recorder does not connect to your camera
• Lapel mic
• Good for voice
• Wireless makes it mobile
• Shotgun mic
• Highly directional
• Good for interview voice