Did some more testing with my Panasonic VDR-M30 DVD-R/DVD-RAM disc camcorder:

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11251&cata...fModel=VDR-M30

This has been a lot of fun.

Well, tonight I burned the some video I recorded last weekend.

I extracted the raw MPEG from the single-sided mini DVD-RAM disc and
then burned the video onto a regular-sized DVD-R disc.

Here are the properties of the Panasonic VDR-M30 DVD camcorder MPEG
when set to Xtra (highest quality):

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 704 x 480, 29.97 fps
Field Order B
(DVD-NTSC), 4 : 3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8800 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 LE worked like a charm burning the raw MPEGs
without any re-encoding.

I inserted the finished DVD-R into my GE 1106P-B DVD Player, which
feeds a large JVC 27" television set.

I was surprised by the vivid color this camcorder captures!

I did not expect such vivid color with a one chip camcorder.

In addition, the Panasonic MPEG encoder quality is quite impressive to
my eye...

...although on very brief segments where I trained the camcorder on a
fast moving boat in the river I could detect some extremely faint
artifacting...

...overall, I am surprised and very pleased by the quality.

Ulead MediaStudio Pro software - fortunately - can 'Smart Render' raw
MPEGs recorded by the Panasonic VDR-M30, thus preserving the quality
as much as possible when titles, transitions, and filters are added.

I cannot over-emphasize how much time is saved by a camcorder that can record high quality MPEG-2 video directly to DVD discs.

I went to Ultimate Electronics today and bought three more mini
DVD-RAM discs.

This time - I bought double-sided MINIs.

They were Maxell-branded DVD-RAM minis - the kind that can be removed from their cartridges (which is necessary to be able to insert them into the Panasonic VDR-M30's custom plastic insert).

Amazing technology!

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net