Editing from Different Camcorder Storage Types

toddyboy · Post by **toddyboy** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:23 pm

I'm looking to buy a camcorder now and, of course, plan to edit the footage, using VS. Aware of the inherent editing difficulties with MPEG format, but is there a difference between taking video from a mini-dvd vs hard drive based video camera as far as editing capability? Do the mini-dvd files need to go thru more conversion steps? If anyone has specific camcorder recommendations, would like to hear. Again, thanks for any thoughts on this. - Tod

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:20 pm

If you want a life without harassment, then go for mini-DV. This will give you good quality without any of the editing losses inherent if you have to re-render MPEG. Furthermore, it is mature technology, which HD isn't.

toddyboy · Post by **toddyboy** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:50 am

I understand that mini-dv (tape) is better for editing. but is there any difference between pulling mpeg2 files into VS from a camcorder that saves directly onto a mini-dvd format vs hard drive? Thanks - Tod

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:59 am

It entirely depends on the type of compression used. The problem with these tings is that they make the file size very small by applying high compression. That makes editing troublesome at best and darn right impossible at worst.

I would not use any of them at this point in time. MiniDV is proven technology and has none of the problems associated with editing highly compressed files.

CycleWriter · Post by **CycleWriter** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:10 am

I faced this same consideration recently and decided on the Canon HV20 for its use of MiniDV format. The HDD and DVD camcorders are mostly about convenience and come fraught with compromise for people who want to do more than just view their recorded footage via direct connection to a TV. Most of these camcorders use AVCHD or MPEG4 compression. As such, not all editing programs can handle these formats and even the ones that do require significant processing power to do so. Also, since these are highly compressed formats they don't provide the same picture quality as what you can get from MiniDV. If you don't plan on investing in a Blu-Ray burner and playback device for your HD output and a really fast quad-core computer to edit on, then stick with MiniDV. I'm glad I did. Even the stuff I shoot in HDV and downsample to SD looks better than anything I've shot with an SD camera.

toddyboy · Post by **toddyboy** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:26 am

Do you guys think my computer system has the "juice" to capture mini-dv without dropping frames if I purchase an add-in firewire card?
Tod

CycleWriter · Post by **CycleWriter** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:13 am

toddyboy wrote:Do you guys think my computer system has the "juice" to capture mini-dv without dropping frames if I purchase an add-in firewire card?
Tod

You're probably at the low end of the minimum specs, but you should be able to.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:31 am

My old Dell laptop P3 1.0 GHz 512 MB RAM same graphics as yours, captures in DV format via Firewire just fine. It is relatively old technology (Firewire, I mean) and designed for even older, less powerful machines than yours.

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:07 pm

It should be OK because the CPU is almost unemployed during "capture" of DV because the DV stream goes straight to the HDD because of DMA. There is no conversion with DV, unlike other formats; it is straight copying.

toddyboy · Post by **toddyboy** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:29 pm

Thanks for the information... you've sure got me leaning to mini dv. My concern was that I wouldn't be able to capture it well with my old faithful Gateway, but sounds like it shouldn't be a problem. Got any recommendations for a specifc camcorder model to get? - Tod

Post by **Ron P.** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:40 pm

What's your intentions? Home movies, or something close to pro, semi-pro? What can your budget handle, up to $1,000 or more?

You can get some good quality camcorders for less then $1k, and some real good quality ones for $5k. Help us a bit here, or the list could be real, real long..

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:43 pm

I have 2 different Panasonic 3-CCD types and am delighted with their performance. I would avoid Sony because some of them have non-standard command interfaces (also some Canons).

toddyboy · Post by **toddyboy** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:18 pm

Video is a hobby for me with the occasional paid wedding, party, etc - Tax refund is burning a hole in my pocket and was hoping to spend up to $800-$900 on a camera. I've waited a long while to upgrade.... been using a Panasonic SVHS AG camcorder since the 80's - great unit but it's getting kinda heavy.

- Thanks
Tod