Hard Disc camcorders

StewartTurner · Post by **StewartTurner** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:14 pm

Hello.

I'm thinking of buying a new Sony Hard Disc camcorder. I would like to understand something about capacity. The 30GB version says it will store "up to" 20 hours of footage. My experience of mp3 players and still cameras make me wary of the "up to" because it usually means on a low quality setting.

Does anybody know how much footage on the highest quality this might equate to? I'm not sure if I can justify the extra cash for the 60GB version if I can get 20 hours on 30GB.

Any general comments about HDD cameras or Sony would be appreciated too.

Cheers,
Stewart.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:43 pm

Is that the Standard-Def or High-Def hard drive camcorders you are looking at

Regards,
George

StewartTurner · Post by **StewartTurner** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:59 pm

Standard I think.
High Def is a bit pricey and I have no plans to upgrade my tv!

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:05 pm

Hi Stewart

I know little about Hard Disc camcorders.

I can only assume that the camera is using Mpeg 2 as the video media.
High quality Mpeg 2 is approx 4 Gb per hour.
Video Studio¡¦s lower limit quality is about 1.777Gb , that may equate to 20 hrs at 30Gb, after all 4,38Gb = 4.7 Gb

If it were to use Avi (as Mini Dv) then you would be looking at 13 Gb per hour.

If you were to ask the question Mpeg v Avi, it¡¦s a big question¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡Kwhich is best?

Any how I think you are looking at 6 hours of top quality Mpeg 2 on a 30 Gb hard drive.

Trevor

StewartTurner · Post by **StewartTurner** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:18 pm

Thanks Trevor, that's very helpful once again.

I usually work with about 2 hours of DV footage to put together a 1(ish) hour DVD, and this is collected over several months, so I can always download inbetween times. I can't think of any situation where I would need more than 6 hours so I think this will be plenty.

Cheers,
Stewart