To watch your HDV footage you will need an HD monitor. These really fall into 2 types:

1) HD TVs - which normally have a remote control, and component as well as HDMI in (plus various other connections)

2) Computer screens which are 1920 x 1080 and have an HDMI input as well as VGA and DVI (the latter are the regular computer connections).

In general HDTVs will give a better video picture than computer screens, slightly sharper and more like proper video.  Computer screens tend to be a little "flat" but still give a good picture on which you can judge focus and colour.  Computer screens are generally cheaper.  Here is a selection of one we have tested.

Can you view standard definition through HDMI?

This is very variable and depends on the screens and the device you use to out put (A Matrox MX02, Black Magic card, or Grass Valley card) .  HDMI will generally always handle HD pictures but some screens can only handle 16:9 and not 4:3, some will handle SD NTSC (the American standard) but not PAL.   We will try to list below what resolutions these monitors can display.