> From: Stephen Chape <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Both DVD camcorders and HD camcorders compress the images and > consequently significant quality is lost in the process. By > comparison Mini DV tapes record high quality video without > compression.
Actually, the video footage on MiniDV tapes *is* still a compressed format (called DV) as well and has a data rate of 25 Mbps (3.6 MB/sec) compared to uncompressed standard definition video which can consume around the 20-30 MB/sec mark. 1 hour of DV format video consumes 13GB. DVD Camcorders are indeed noticeably lower quality than Mini DV as they use a high compression ratio to fit 30 minutes or so of video on an 8cm mini DVD-RAM disc which only has a capacity of 1.46GB. In contrast, the new crop of HDD Camcorders from JVC and Sony have up to 30GB hard disks and store about 7 hrs of footage at 9 Mbps (~1.1 MB/sec) at the highest quality setting in the case of the Sony (8.5 Mbps for the JVC). As such they are indeed running at a higher compression ratio than the Mini-DV format, but they use a different codec (MPEG-2 instead of DV) which makes it more difficult to compare directly. This Camcorderinfo.com review... http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-DCR-SR100-Camcorder-Review.htm ...features a very detailed look at the new Sony DCR-SR100 HDD camera and highlights the improved quality of the video image compared to the JVC Everios and other cameras, though as they say "MiniDV still trumps HDD in video quality, but the gap is closing quickly, and the DCR-SR100 is the best of the bunch." I've got some sample footage on my Mac right now that I captured using a Sony DCR-SR100 and it is impressively high quality. I personally have found the quality pretty comparable to our Mini-DV format camcorders though I haven't done exhaustive tests yet. YMMV >I also believe (but am not positive about this) that the > video clip "markers" are not placed onto the HD each time the > comcorder stops and starts again. I reckon this would make editing a > nightmare. Actually editing is much easier in a number of ways. Every time you start and stop recording it saves the clip as a new file on the camera's HD and each clip appears as a thumbnail on the LCD screen. On-camera editing and deleting of clips is now actually possible and you can transfer to your computer only the scenes you want. It also means editing is quite straightforward as the separate clips maintain their separate identity in your editing program. > One review I read of HD camcorders said "OK for cheap and nasty video > but don't expect to edit your video". In our case we are capturing the footage of lectures at only 384x288 for compression by the iLecture system for delivery over the web so we haven't been too worried about high-end quality, but I think you might be surprised at just how good the latest HDD cameras (particularly this new Sony) are becoming. -Mart -------------------------------------- Martin Hill email: mart "at" ozmac.com homepages: http://mart.ozmac.com Mb: 0417-967-969 hm: (08)9314-5242 > On 23/06/2006, at 1:22 PM, Ronda Brown wrote: > >> Hi WAMUGers, >> >> Is anyone using a Hard Disk Camcorder? >> If so, what are your impressions please? >> >> Yesterday I purchased a JVC HDD GZ-MG37AA Camcorder. It has a 30GB HD. >> It comes with software 'Capty MPEG Edit EX' so you can convert the >> MPEG-2 (Muxed) file to DV Stream for Editing in iMovie HD. >> It also comes with Mono DVD for Everio, if you don't use iDVD. >> If you don't want to edit, you can connect the camera to a DVD >> Burner (sold separately) & dub the video files in the camera to a >> DVD disc. >> >> One reason I purchased it for is it's ability to shoot in bad >> light. It has a LED light that you set to automatically turn on >> when shooting in insufficient light conditions. JVC is the only >> Camcorder (I understand) to have this feature. >> It also has 'Nightscope' for recording with little light in dim >> locations. >> >> I've kept my Sony DV Camcorder DCR-TRV320E as it has DV In/Out. >> The JVC HDD is USB 2 connection. >> >> <http://www.jvc-australia.com/products/ >> _products_sub_group_details.asp?ID=1528> >> >> I've only shot a few minutes in different light conditions, but so >> far I'm quite impressed with it. >> I don't think the quality is as good as DV tape .... but, I haven't >> produced a DVD yet! >> >> I would be interested in anyone's views on Hard Disk Camcorders as >> opposed to DV Camcorders. >> >> Cheers, >> Ronni >> Car'n The Pies >> >> >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Unsubscribe - <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Regards, > Stephen Chape > > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Unsubscribe - <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
