DVD Camcorders

[Ensign]

I hope this is the right forum

My Hi8 camcorder has is dead

So It looking at replacements I came across the DVD camcorders by Panasonic and SONY.

After reading the reviews (and the hype) I still have one question.

Do these make a DVD or just record in the MPEG 2 format?

I mean, if (like most of us at this site) are going to edit what we recorded, it makes sense that the result will be in a format ready to edit.

[Cunhambebe]

I didn't understand very well your post, but I'll try to answer. I have seen SONY DVD Camcorder. Want my opinion? I prefer normal mini dvd cams and not DVD cams since I GUESS (I MEAN I AM NOT SURE) THESE cams can only record in MPEG2/VOB. Get a mini DV cam, capture the recorded video with Vegas or any other appl. as AVI. It's much better for a serious editing. Now, you are going to ask me...What about editing with MPEG2/VOB files? The answer is yes, it's possible to edit both files, but here, you'll have to find the right place to edit the file since it is already a compressed file. What about professional results? It can work too, but as far as I know most pros capture and edit as AVI and later print the result to tape.

[Ensign]

The reason I asked the question was that I thought the DVD (SONY-PANASONIC-HITACHI) camcorders recoded MPEG2 right onto a DVD-R/ DVD-RW/DVD RAM disk

And as such it would "save a step" in transfering the video to a computer (you know - Just insert the disk - don't bother with capture)

But, I was wrong, these DVD camcorders make a DVD (and all the necessary files to play it) disk. Just as one would do on a computer if one was making a DVD.

So, now after learing (and handling) the truth

I'll go with Mini DV

That is until its replacement is developed

[gshelley61]

DVD camcorders do record in MPEG2 video, which saves you the step of encoding AVI to MPEG2. You can frame-accurately edit MPEG2 video without re-encoding using Womble MPEG-VCR or MPEG Video Wizard.

If you need to do more advanced editing using fancier transitions or think you may want to clean/filter your video, you'll need to start with AVI files. MiniDV and Digital8 camcorders both use the DV recording format, which streams into your computer via firewire and gets captured as AVI.

BTW, the nicer Sony Digital8 camcorders will also play back your older Hi8 and standard 8mm videotapes - a real convenient feature.

[Ensign]

DVD camcorders do record in MPEG2 video

Well, I assume that :P

My worry was that in reading reviews on DVD camcorders I read that it can take up to 11 minutes to "finalized" the disk.

And in doing so not only would space be waisted on them disk for files that while needed to make it play as a DVD. Are not necessary for a computer to read the MPEG2 files directly. But, like a VCD, it would covert them into something like DAT files

Sony Digital8 camcorders will also play back your older Hi8 and standard 8mm videotapes

What would really be nicer is that the Digital8 can also record in the 8mm format. I have a 8mm deck, and it would be a shame to loose it in a change to DV.

But, I guess time marches on