Yes, technically it is a HiDef camcorder. No, its video output cannot compete with traditional HDV camcorders like Sony, Canon, etc. But it's important to understand that this is a hybrid device with a unique feature set and good performance at a price that's about half that of a cheap HDV camcorder. The video quality (in HD mode) is better than regular DV camcorders and the photos are better than my 5 year old Sony 4MP camcorder. If I'm filming an important production video or taking photosβ¦