Disapointed with Quality of Mini Dv HELP!

[NEW2DV]

Im New, and Im sure its my lack of experience with Video thats causing all my disapointment, anyways I bought a Mini-DV camera its a JVC GR-dx95U, its a really small camera. I took some video on the mini-dv tapes and connected it up to my computer using firewire and the picture looks gritty and not that sharp at all. I figured it was the computer screen, so I connected it up to my VCR (analog Connection) and played it through my VCR to my TV, My TV doesn't have an "S" cable so I know im not getting all the quality there either, I thought that mini dv would be just as clear as my DVD's that are also connected up analog to my TV. So can someone tell me how to get DVD quality out of this little camera or is it just impossible? My old VHS-C tapes look much clearer then the mini-dv, tell me where I've gone wrong. Thanks!

[thing914]

Just a guess but were you shooting indoors or in low light? These cameras had very small ccd's and the low light recording ability isn't as good (speaking generally) as the older camcorders.

[powaking]

I have a Sony TRV22 and I agree, you need light, lots of it, to get crystal clear video. I recently went on a trip and I definitly noticed the difference in outdoor shooting compared to indoor shooting.

Try again with outdoor shooting atleast just to see the difference. It really does make a difference. The people I have showed the video to have commented highly on the PQ of the minidv.

[NEW2DV]

The quality is definetly better in natural light outside, but still isn't dvd quality, am I expecting too much from mini-dv?

[Tommyknocker]

If it is not even VHS-C quality, I would take it back and let the store explain that one to you. Even my Sony D8 looks better, and it is not supposed to look as good as miniDV, I hear.

[thing914]

Another thing to check is carefully read the manual about all the exposure settings, a lot of these now have specialized exposure setting for things like sports, indoors, backlighting, etc. It is possible you have one of these set for the wrong situation.

Also if the camera has it try using the manual focus to make sure you have it sharply focused. Zoom in to the max optical zoom (shut off or do not use the digital zoom) then manually focus on an object to film. Then zoom back to your normal setting and film. See if that helps. If still bad then go with the other suggestion to take back and let the store check it out.

[vhelp]

most likely, your cam is just like the rest of us's.. Interlace.
* That's the main area that hits quality a lot.
* And the 2nd quality hit is the lack of a tripod.
* And, the 3rd is the lack of "professional" operator behind the cam.

These are hard to turn into "DVD like" quality. In fact, I would say that no
home-budget cam can produce DVD quality.. if we are referencing it to that
of DVD movies.. as there is no compitition to Cinema cameras AND the
profesionals behind them who operate them, compared to US amertures
who no little or nothing about shooting video footage in the professional ranks.
..including myself

Anyways.., yeah, your dv footage will more than likely not come out like
DVD quality as long as you hold your cam or take footage w/ the cam in
your hand. Lets face it, you just won't !!

I think that a lot of people (as I once did) believe that the "stabalizer"
will do all the magic. Wrong !!
Note the last two items above. These are what will govern best quality.

Try a tripod, and you'll be amazed at how much quality you'l get. But, if
you are just compling all your "older" footage, well.., there no amount of
DVD quality you'll get. Well, at least try one next time you start shooting
video

I shoot w/ a TRV-22, and wont shoot w/out a tripod (except for extrenuous
circustances)

Yeah, one of the first things you gotta (rather quickly) get over, is the logging
around and setting up he tripod. But, once you get over it, and figure out
a quicker way of setup, you're in business, and will alays shoot (qualiy'wise)
like a pro (when you encode the dv source, that is)
I keep one in my car, at work, and at home. I also keep a small 3" in my bag.
.
.
And, weather you footage around outside or inside or under low light (even
outside) you'll get good results

Yet another hit in quality is the lack of control during "panning" be it up/down
left/right. A good fluid-filled tripod will most likely do the trick in obtaining
highest quality (especially when panning)

Yeah, I'm here to change that if I can. You'll see.., sooner or later, peoples
will start using tripods - thanks for me

So, start thinking tripoding in your future video endeavors.

You can see a small sample clip I made w/ my TRV-22 here: VHELP's Sample clips...
and remember to read the note below on powerdvd useage.

Well, good luck.

From the desk of,
-vhelp 2060

[Tommyknocker]

All of these are very good tips, but we may be missing the forest for the trees. If he shoots the same way with his VHS-C camera as he does with his miniDV camera, and the VHS-C video is better than the miniDV, I seriously doubt if the answer is "operator error".

[tito13kfm]

Sounds like you are using the digital zoom.
I work for a camera store and we sell a canon with 400x digital zoom.. just for S&G I recorded some video and slowly zoomed in. The quality was unbarrable even at 10x digital zoom.. at 100x it looked like it was made up of about 14 pixels.. and at 400x.. well you get the picture.

Also.. as these camcorder have become smaller and smaller, the ability to hold them without camera shake is nearly impossible. The only camcorder's on the market that can be used hand held with decent quality are the one's with OPTICAL image stabilizers, and only in the hands of a well rested, non-smoking, non-coffee drinking surgeon.

[vhelp]

Sounds like you are using the digital zoom.

yes, I agree. Shooting footage w/ any ZOOMing will MAGNIFY those
hand shakes, and result in a unusually required high bitrate in your
final encodes. And, when you don't factor this into the equation (you missed
it) you can't figure out why the loss in quality or undesireable encode

That's why I drill Tripod, Tripod, Tripod, Tripod.. .. so many times at
the end of my responses, because it is soo important to have. ..get over it !!
Using one will be the only alternative to best results in your encoding.

Heck, did anyone see my sample clip. That was a low-light scene, shoot at
night, though there were field lights. The action was high.., oh, did I mention
that I had ZOOM on at maximum (10x) (note, NEVER use anything beyond
the lens's density ie, don't enable any "digital" in your zoom options) and
that was because it was mounted on a tripod. And, I am slowly become
better at panning my cam on the tripod as time goes on.. Anyways..
as I was saying.. but I didn't get excessive blocking nor unusually high bitrate
either. - - the secret you ask ?? Easy.. Tripod
Lookit the shot again. Did you notice any cam shaking (up/down/LF/RT)
at all, (other than my tripod's stickyness) ??

..more samples to follow

From the video workstation of,
-vhelp 2062

[DaWulf]

Look into using a decent monopod also. While not a good a a tripod, using one brought up my video quality by probably an order of magnitude.... lol

Plus when you are on the move it's a lot easier to manage and set up. Mine has 1 button to extend and I'm ready to shoot in about 3 seconds. I still prefer to use a tripod but can't always do so. The monopod fits in nicely in those situations.

Wulf

[geek rock]

only in the hands of a well rested, non-smoking, non-coffee drinking surgeon.

that made me chuckle

i've always been impressed with what i've seen of DV cameras. as others have said.. plenty of light, and a tripod.

[daznic]

Well, i bought a JVC DV Cam (GR DVL-157) also expecting much more than what i got.
Compared to my old Canon 8mm Camera the colours are not accurate or as vivid, it looks dull on a bright day, close ups are ok but pan across the beach to the sea & everyones faces are a blur !
It`s not just you, i think my JVC DV cam is Crap, i wish i`d bought a sony hi 8 instead.
To sum it up, An Analogue tape from my old Canon converted through my Canopus ADVC-50 to DV is nicer to watch than A tape straight out of my JVC Cam ( OK the DV cam is a bit sharper in picture, but light & colours are Crap - Sorry !)