Their main advantage is that they avoid the capture process that is used with miniDV tape. However, if you ever want to edit the video, they present a whole new range of problems including the inferior quality of the source material. They have a substantially reduced recording time, and are vulnerable to a loss of all their video if the disc closing process fails.
I'm looking for a camcorder for filming reference material for 3D animation. I was told to get a mini dv camcorder and use the dv in plug to connect it to my computer. Can anyone recommend a camcorder? mini dv or something else? It doesn't have to be very fancy; I'm willing to spend about $300 or $400. It would be great if I could play back the footage at slower speeds and see it frame by frame. Are the Sony HC-21 and HC-32 any good? Also, what are the main differences between mini dvd and dv. Do the mini dvds get higher video quality? Thanks.

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