SymphonyX8

Good day to everyone, I'm new to this forum so I hope you can be lenient. My current analog DVR has finally conked out and I've been looking to upgrade to HD for some time. I've been looking at HD-SDI and HDCVI in particular because of the cost. IP cameras where I live are astronomically expensive, with IP cameras costing at least twice as much as their similarly spec'ed HD-SDI or HDCVI equivalent. I've been Googling for some time now and it seems that HDCVI is fully backwards compatible. You just install your new HDCVI DVR and HDCVI cameras, plug in the cables, and you're good to go. I'm not exactly sure if it's the same with HD-SDI. Can I simply buy an HD-SDI DVR and cameras and plug them over my old cables? My cables aren't too long, the longest running at 50 meters max. Also, is it possible to mix and match older analog cameras with either HD-SDI or HDCVI? I don't have the budget to upgrade all my cameras at the moment, and I'll probably be upgrading 4 to 5 at most to HD. I'll be upgrading the rest down the line when I have more funds. I would like to get HDCVI because of the cost. 1080p HDCVI gear costs only about 75% of HD-SDI while 720p HDCVI gear is ridiculously cheap, only slightly more expensive than analog CCTV gear. At least that's the case where I live. But I've been reading that HD-SDI has superior image quality and I'm inclined towards that. Your inputs are appreciated.

This is the answer I'm looking for. I wasn't asking if HD-SDI or HDCVI cameras will work on an analog DVR. I was asking if analog cameras will work on an HD-SDI or HDCVI DVR. Apparently it's backward compatible with HDCVI. I'll be ordering an HDCVI kit this month and I'll let you guys know how it does when it's installed.

While what all of you have said is informative, they aren't helping me decide at all. I'm choosing between HD-SDI and HDCVI. That's what I've indicated is available to me. IP is a no-no because of its cost. It might be cheaper or comparatively priced where you live, but where I live it isn't. From what survtech said, HD-SDI is only viable if the cables are in very good shape. Reminds me of an HDMI cable. Either it works or it doesn't. I might go with HDCVI if this is the case then. But my question still isn't answered: can I attach both an HDCVI and an analog camera to an HDCVI DVR and will it work? They can both use the same cables, so I assume it should work, although the measly 700TVL of my analog cameras will be upscaled to the 1080p recording resolution if this is the case. I'm not asking about hybrid DVRs. I'm aware of hybrid DVRs which can handle different tech at the same time, but they're costly and rare where I live. They are out of the question. I'm just asking if your typical HDCVI or HD-SDI DVR can still use analog cameras in addition to HDCVI and HD-SDI cameras respectively. EDIT: Apparently this is the case... I'll probably just upgrade to HDCVI completely since the cameras are cheap anyways.