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General discussion

anyone who has upgraded from a mini-dv to a dvd camcorder???

Nov 24, 2004 12:09AM PST

Should I buy mini DV or DVD camcorder? Please help!

I am a first time camcorder buyer. Should I buy a sony mini DV (thinking of DCR-HC65) or a sony dvd201 camcorder? Here are my concerns:
1. The DVD camcorders have not been around as long, so they may have room to improve as time goes on...I don't want to spend a lot of money on something that is not at optimum performance yet.

2. On the other hand, if technology is moving towards dvd camcorders, I don't want to regress and get a mini -Dv camcorder.

3. Do you think both modes will be around for a long time?

4. Is the video quality for the mini-dv cams as good as the dvd cams?

5. Can mini-dv tapes be transferred to a dvd?

6. Which do you feel is easier to use?

7. What is your bottom line recommendation -- mini dv or dvd?

THANK YOU!!!

Discussion is locked

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The really high end cameras are mini DV. If you think about
Nov 24, 2004 11:12AM PST

that, it should tell you something. Mini DV can store a LOT more data than a DVD, and do it for a low price. I think DVD cameras are a marketing gimmick. They are probably like the still cameras that recorded on CD-R. Those, I think, are pretty dead at this point. The serious question these days, as far as I can tell, is how soon you convert to HD cameras.

Mini DVs are transferred to a computer via Firewire. From there, the video can be burned to DVD.

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Re: anyone who has upgraded from a mini-dv to a dvd camcorde
Nov 30, 2004 2:28PM PST

dude...i am asking these same questions..

DVD or miniDV???
I am leaning toward the DVD simply because its easier to play back, but I am worried about 2 things:
1. quality of video (sony DCR-DVD201 model is 520,000 pixels) verses 540,000 for miniDV model from Sony (HC85).
2. record time. Retailer told me record time is only 30 min for DVD camcorder verses 60 min for miniDV at highest resolution each.

Pleas let me know your thoughts..

we can take it off-line if you like.

Don Lykins
Ohio
513-722-4924
dlykins0@yahoo.com

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DVD Problems
Dec 30, 2004 12:52AM PST

Here's some background that you should consider in your analysis.

I took the plunge based on manufacturers marketing claims and sales level tech support - Mistake! Panasonic VDR M50.

The DVD-R disks are fairly straightforward. They can be played in my DVD video player and my PC, and I can use Fleximage DVD-to-AVI for conversion to a file format I can use for editing. The camera creates sequencial files for some reason and this software will only convert the first file. Very frustrating! I ended up playing the DVD-R on my DVD video player and using the video cable, transferred the video back to a DVD RAM disk on the camera. See DVD RAM problems below. The software that came with the camera has so far proven worthless.

I have struggled with the DVD RAM disks. They are fabulous to use in shooting and editing on the camera but I cannot for the life of me get the DVD format converted off the DVD RAM. They cannot be read by my DVD video player or my DVD drive on my PC. I can see and even transfer the files to the PC through USB but for some reason, the DVD-to-AVI software will not recognize the files that were recorded and I cannot use the file format from the DVD RAM for anything other than viewing the video. Again, the software that came with the camera has so far proven worthless.

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BUY MINI DV!! DON'T BUY A DVD CAMCORDER
Jan 3, 2005 11:18AM PST

Well besides the nice write-up here on CNET as to why DVD camcorders are not worth buying yet there are other reasons why you should most defintely choose MiniDV over DVD camcorders.

I'll start by answering your questions.

1. You answered your own question.
2. You aren't "regressing" into buying a MiniDV cam. The market is just starting to boom, with everyone and their pets wanting to be amateur videographers. MiniDVs are the most cost efficient, high quality video-recording camcorders.
3. Yes, in fact, I think MiniDVs will outlast DVD camcorders.
4. Video quality on Mini-DVs are better than DVDcams. This is becuase DVD video technology is compressed as an MPEG2 video file (to save storage space), where as the DV files are larger, but much higher in quality. Therein lies the big advantage; DVD have to worry about storage space on the original master copy media, whereas MiniDVs can be recorded like analog tapes, but retain their high quality because it is digital.
5. Yes. I have made many movie and film transfers and made them into DVDs with no problem.
6. MiniDV cameras are easier to use, and the community for them far exceeds the community available to DVD camcorder users.
7. MiniDV; right now, DVDcams are just a marketing ploy to make ppl invest in a "hot" technology that many regular non-videographers may not know about. They throw out useless specs (such as the number of pixels it's still shot mode can take) or hot words like, "DVD player capability" etc. Don't be fooled, there are so many great MiniDV cameras out there from professional, to non professional. Visit this site for reviews on cameras: www.camcorderinfo.com

Here is my site with my movies (compressed for the internet of course) of what you can achieve with really basic MiniDV equipment: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/kasakura/FFE.html

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"made them into DVDs with no problem" statement
Jan 17, 2005 9:27PM PST

HELP!!!
I have a mini DV and DVD burner and a fairly nice computer but the making of the DVD is not EASY!!!
The time it takes is FOREVER!! Its a 3 step process.
The audio and video in the final product are often NOT IN SYNCH.

Do I need a better and faster computer?
How much more hardware must a person buy.

Thanks for your thoughts.

AJ

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MiniDV equipment?
Jan 19, 2005 11:46AM PST

What equipment are you using? I have a 1.5GH machine operating Win2000. I've been reading various reviews on Dazzle, etc. but am not sure which to go with...any advice would be appreciated!

PS I have the Sony DCR40 MiniDV camcorder...