High Definition (HD)

This refers to video resolution at 1020 x 780p or above. All current DSLRs with video recording feature this resolution, with some exceeding it.  

Full HD

Full HD refers to a measurement of 1920 x 1080p. This has been offered by both the Canon EOS 500D and 5D Mark II models.

Video Graphics Array (VGA)

A graphical standard with a resolution of 640 x 480. Most compacts feature a VGA-resolution video mode.

Frames per second (FPS)

The number of frames captured per second of recorded video. 30fps is standard on most compacts, though DSLRs may drop this slightly in order to increase the resolution past VGA.

PAL/NTSC

Colour encoding systems. PAL is used in the UK and more widely across the world, while NTSC is typically used in North and South America, as well as in certain Asian countries such as Japan and Taiwan.