• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Video camera: Mini-DV or DVD?

F

FrustratedUser

Lifer
Been thinking about getting a camcorder, fairly cheap.

Which is better? I am not sure how the DV + firewire works. To me it looks like a nightmare when it comes to editing and making DVD from the movies. That's why the ones writing to DVD directly look great. I know the DV cameras are supposed have slightly better picture quality.

Any thoughts?
 
Mini-DV. Editing DVD can have more issues than from tape. From tape though, capture is real-time only (1:1 - you record 60 minutes, it takes 60 minutes to load.)

Some editors will edit VOB format now, but they just released. If they recode, you can lose quality (my NLE will do it without recode, but I doubt you have $500 laying around that you want pay for software - I need to get the $199 upgrade tonight).

BTW, I get better than DVD quality (MPEG-2) with DV and can encode at 6000-8500kbps with AC3 stereo or 5.1. That usually exceeds what a DVD camera can capture as far a quality. I can also code that to DivX, H264, or WMV-HD. Not true HD, but that can be used in theater quality video. The latest example I can think of is March of the Penguins. I know some of the footage was done with a Sony PD-170 (read the article about how they dealt with sub-zero temps and running the cameras.)
 
What would I need to work/edit with the DV camera? What format are the movies in when transfering from the camera?
Is it straightforward and easy to use/work with?
 
DV is definitely better if you want to edit your video on the PC. You can capture the video with either analog svideo/composite inputs and a compatible capture card, or you can capture via firewire. The cam will bring some capturing software, but in likelyhood not good editing software. Good editing software can cost anywhere from $50 to hundreds. I'd probably recomend entry level software as the expensive stuff is also pretty unforgiving to learn at first.

The advantage of Mini DVD is if you want to capture and just pop it in a DVD player with no editing at all. It can be edited later, but as mentioned above it's a bit more hassle to do so. This is more for the person that doesn't want to mess with the video on the PC too much.
 


Another vote for Mini-DV. Let them iron out all the kinks w/ DVD and buy one in a few years. You can get a mini-DV cam for about 200 bucks new or used on the FS forums and in stores. I believe mine transfers in AVI. Then you burn to MPeg-2. I also say it's a little overwhelming, but not as bad as you would think. YOu're going to want to transfer with firewire. Get a retail but entry level version of some video editing software. The program will take you from start-finish: transfer, edit, author, burn......... I use Intervideo's Windvd Creator 2. There are many other opinions out there though.

Take a deep breath, and then go here. and people here will help you out.
 
DV is the way to go. DVD is fine as a format to put a final product on, but you don't want to start out w/DVD quality. The program you use to capture the footage via FW will determine what codec is used (PCs usually use an AVI wrapper while Macs usually use an MOV wrapper).


Lethal
 
And to answer your other question, for DV, the format is DV-AVI. That runs about 13GB/hr of video.

For editing, there are many editors available from about $50-$150 from Pinnacle (Avid), Ulead, Sonic, Adobe, Sony, Magix, and others. Each has strengths and weaknesses. In general, you need better than Intel 1.6GHz with at least 512MB of memory to start. You also will want at least 40GB free space (you can add 200+GB for less than $100 these days).
 
Originally posted by: gsellis
Mini-DV. Editing DVD can have more issues than from tape. From tape though, capture is real-time only (1:1 - you record 60 minutes, it takes 60 minutes to load.)

Some editors will edit VOB format now, but they just released. If they recode, you can lose quality (my NLE will do it without recode, but I doubt you have $500 laying around that you want pay for software - I need to get the $199 upgrade tonight).

BTW, I get better than DVD quality (MPEG-2) with DV and can encode at 6000-8500kbps with AC3 stereo or 5.1. That usually exceeds what a DVD camera can capture as far a quality. I can also code that to DivX, H264, or WMV-HD. Not true HD, but that can be used in theater quality video. The latest example I can think of is March of the Penguins. I know some of the footage was done with a Sony PD-170 (read the article about how they dealt with sub-zero temps and running the cameras.)
Click to expand...
Nice!

 
Originally posted by: gsellis
And to answer your other question, for DV, the format is DV-AVI. That runs about 13GB/hr of video.

For editing, there are many editors available from about $50-$150 from Pinnacle (Avid), Ulead, Sonic, Adobe, Sony, Magix, and others. Each has strengths and weaknesses. In general, you need better than Intel 1.6GHz with at least 512MB of memory to start. You also will want at least 40GB free space (you can add 200+GB for less than $100 these days).
Click to expand...

Speed and space is no problem. Like others have said a DV camera is cheaper than a DVD too so I understand the pros and cons now. I was just worried it would be a hassle with Firewire but it sounds like there is actually more hassle with the DVD format in terms of quality and editing.

:thumbsup:
 
Another vote for MiniDV. Definitely easier to edit, LONGER RECORD TIME (120 minutes in LP mode on an 80 minute tape), more variety of product... plus you can burn it to DVD in real-time via a FireWire enabled set-top DVD recorder.
 
Yup Mini-DV FTW if you're editing at all. I think it would be awesome to see some of those DVD type camcorders with BluRay or HD DVD discs, that can record the same quality as standard DV onto a 20-30GB or so disc. Easy to edit, easy to copy to your comp, and more reliable for video back up IMO (treated with care as always) The JVC Hard Drive Camcorder intrigues me, but the OPtics on that unit look rather crappy. When there is a decent 3CCD Hard Disk Camera, I may look into that.
 
While I like the idea of a hard drive camcorder... the biggest problem is longterm storage of the video. After you delete the video from the camera's hard drive, it's gone forever! I have all my MiniDV tapes over the years.

MiniDV tapes

MiniDV is definately the way to go, if you wanna edit your video or keep it for an extended period of time.
 
Originally posted by: MScrip
While I like the idea of a hard drive camcorder... the biggest problem is longterm storage of the video. After you delete the video from the camera's hard drive, it's gone forever! I have all my MiniDV tapes over the years.

MiniDV tapes

MiniDV is definately the way to go, if you wanna edit your video or keep it for an extended period of time.
Click to expand...
The guys who like them are ENG (Electronic News Gathering) folks. They can dump the video to corporate storage. Time to start that news oriented storage business. 😉

 
Originally posted by: gsellis

The guys who like them are ENG (Electronic News Gathering) folks. They can dump the video to corporate storage. Time to start that news oriented storage business. 😉
Click to expand...

Yeah, I figured it would be the professional news people who love those types of cameras.

I just feel bad for the poor consumers who get suckered into the JVC hard drive camcorder at Best Buy, as the salesmen tells them, "this is the greatest camera ever... you don't even need tapes!"

Then the horror when they can't keep little Timmy's first birthday video forever. 🙂

It's almost as bad as people who purchase a digital camera, print their photos at home, then ERASE their memory card! The whole point of digital photography is to SAVE the pics to your computer!

Some people just never learn...
 
I am Glad I found this thread.

I just got a Mini DV cam and am having trouble getting it to copy to my PC without compression & looking like crap.

I have Win Media Encoder, Ulead Vid Studio 7 & CyberLink PowerProducer.

I really just want to get the video onto the PC so I can edit it, but all these apps want to resize & compress etc.

Can somebody please buy me a clue? 😉
 
How long can you record on MiniDV tapes? It says 60min but I guess there are various modes: HQ, SP, LP ..

Another question is what size do these "uncompressed" capture files are ? 13GB/hr for HQ or SP?

Thanks :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: crazydingo
How long can you record on MiniDV tapes? It says 60min but I guess there are various modes: HQ, SP, LP ..

Another question is what size do these "uncompressed" capture files are ? 13GB/hr for HQ or SP?
Click to expand...

A 60 minute tape in SP will result in a 13gb file. Never use LP. They make 80 minute tapes, but they usually cost twice as much. Just keep a few 60 minute tapes handy.

Originally posted by: Wiz

I just got a Mini DV cam and am having trouble getting it to copy to my PC without compression & looking like crap.
Click to expand...

Set up your video editing/capture program to capture to an AVI file or whatever they call "high quality" capture via firewire. Avoid MPEG or draft quality at capture. The 13gb/hour file will be the best you can get from your camcorder... in another words, a perfect digital transfer from tape to computer.

A good editing program, firewire transfer and plenty of hard drive space is all you need to edit and make nice DVDs of your videos.
 
Mini DV here also. I use Nero Vision Express via firewire for capturing and recording to DVD. It couldnt be any easier as far as I am concerned.
 
I used WinDV - a free app I found out about over on doom9.

I viewed my avi's afterwards, and there seems to be a little blockiness. Is this just normal, or am I doing something wrong?
Also, WinDV saved about 10 files seemingly random size for about 15 minutes of video - is this normal?

I will try the other app I found over there - DVIO & see if it does anything better / different.

These are very simple apps, all they do is write the avi file from the firewire.
I like that, I can do whatever with them afterwards.
They have a choice between avi type 1 & type 2. I chose type 2.
 
When you are looking at your AVIs afterwards... are you looking at them in Windows Media Player or something similar? DV is 720x480... so, if your media player is stretched or maximized, it will distort the video preview.

I'm not exactly sure about how WinDV does its thing... but from reading its website, it takes the timestamp from the DV tape and splits the capture into separate clips. Maybe that's what's going on. This feature is desirable so you don't have to search through one giant clip looking for a specific scene. So, if you had 10 scenes in your 15 minutes of video, it will make 10 clips.

You've already got ULead Video Studio 7. It's an all in one capture/edit/DVD solution. I've used similar products... Pinnacle Studio 8, to make DVDs with menus and all sorts of cool stuff.

You're on the right track.... welcome to the world of Digital Video!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top