A Mini DV tape (left) and a mini DVD-R disc (right) cost about the same amount. You can fit more video on a tape, but the disc plays in most DVD players.

Price. When trying to decide between the DVD and Mini DV formats, I was concerned about the price of the media. After all, if I?m going to invest in a camcorder, I don?t want to have to spend an arm and a leg every time I need a disc. But it turns out that disc prices are comparable to tape prices: Mini DV tapes sell for $8 to $10; 8-centimeter DVD-R discs go for $7 to $10.

It is worth noting, however that you can record up to a maximum of 90 minutes on a Mini DV tape, whereas the little DVD-R only holds a maximum of 60 minutes of footage. Also, tapes are (obviously) re-recordable, while mini DVD-Rs aren?t. Their rewriteable counterparts (mini DVD-RWs) cost about $14. So tapes do give you more recording bang for the buck. However, I decided that I don?t mind paying a premium for disc-based conveniences like easy navigation and being able to watch home movies on my DVD player.

By the way, if you plan to collect a lot of footage for later editing, you'll probably prefer to use DVD-RWs. The reason is that with DVD-Rs (unlike virtually every other digital photo or video medium), you cannot delete or overwrite a video scene or digital photo you've captured, even if you haven't finalized the disc yet. I was surprised to find this out, and it made me much less hesitant to spend more for a rewriteable disc. Reviewing scenes or photos on the cam's LCD just isn't the same if you can't discard the ones you don't like — especially if you're used to being able to do this on a digital camera or camcorder.

Video quality. In his review of last year?s DCR-DVD300, my colleague James Ralston wrote that, since DVD uses a different compression method than Mini DV, he expected a slight loss in video quality with DVD — which, in the end, he didn't see. I?m not half the technology geek that Jim is (that?s a compliment, Jim!), but I borrowed another co-worker's Mini DV camcorder to see whether my untrained eye could detect any difference in image quality.

To me, both formats looked comparably gorgeous. The Mini DV model I borrowed had a more sophisticated CCD and lens than the ?DVD101, so it did provide a slightly better-looking picture. But I couldn't detect any compression artifacts with either format. And, needless to say, if you're used to VHS-quality resolution for your home movies, you won't be disappointed with the DVD picture you get from this camcorder.

Decision time
So we're left with the big question: do we like this camcorder enough to actually buy it? For me, the answer is yes. The benefits, the convenience, and — I'll admit it — the plain coolness of recording to DVD make this cam well worth the money. If, on the other hand, you ask my husband this question, you'll hear something more like, "I MUST HAVE IT!" He grew so attached to the ?DVD101 in just a couple of days that I don't think I'll ever be able to separate the two of them.

As long as he understands that making home movies doesn't excuse him from his diaper-changing obligations, I think we'll be okay.