Comparing home-made DVD movie to DVD movie from DVD cam

[dvnow]

If one compare the video (“avi” file downloaded to a computer) from a good miniDV camcorder like Panasonic PV-GS400, to the video (DVD movie) of good DVD camcorder like Sony DCR-DVD403, everybody will vote for the avi file (25Mbps) and not for the DVD movie (5-8Mbps). My question is: If you encode this avi file from the PV-GS400 with good encoder like TMPGEnc (with best possible settings 8Mbps), burn to DVD-R, then compare to the DVD movie from DCR-DVD403 who wins????

[wwjd]

For me the issue is not which is better but which provides the most flexibility.

For editing, DV avi wins hands down. For archival purposes I prefer miniDV because it is only slightly tainted by video compression. This means that I can encode to what ever, with what ever at a later date from a high quality source.

As an example, DVD recorders keep getting better and better in terms of recording quality. If a year from now one comes along that is stellar then I can run my high quality DV avi from miniDV into it and get better results than if I run the same file converted to mpg2 DVD, into it.

It seems to me that it makes sense to always try to get the highest quality source, what you do with it later is up to you.

[daamon]

Hi dvnow,

I've been making DVDs from DV AVI for a while now and while DV AVI is actually better coz it's less compressed, I'm extremely pleased with the end DVDs that I get (when viewed on normal / widescreen TVs).

It's a case of refining your approach and settings until you get to the point that you are more than happy with what you're getting.

Sure, it's not gonna be "Hollywood" quality - but then I'm not throwing "Hollywood" budgets at my work.

There are a number of things that are also very influential to the end DVD quality, even before you start encoding:

1) Use a tripod. The steadier the shot, the less movement there'll be in each frame, and so the less difference needing to be taken into account during encoding.

2) If you have to pan / tilt - do so slowly and steadily. The same reason as above applies here too. Again, this is where a good tripod comes in.

3) Understand lighting etc. Auto exposure is great coz you don't have to play with it, but it also means your footage can flick from over to under exposed and back again - all challenging stuff for an encoder.

4) Be aware of objects in the foreground - especially when you're using auto-focus. If you're following a subject and something in the foreground comes into shot, the auto-focus will adjust to make sure the intruding object is in focus. Not only does this ruin your shot, but is also another challenge for encoders.

Hope that helps. Good luck...

[Richard_G]

Good answers but I think both of you missed the question. Which will give better quality, a tape shot on a decent quality 3 CCD miniDV camcorder which is then encoded to mpeg, or an mpeg created in a DVD camcorder.

I've not tried (as I don;t have a DVD camcorder to play with), but I would think the encoded miniDV would come out best. The DVD camcorder has to encode to mpeg on the fly so much be using a fairly low constant bitrate. Encoding your, far superior quality, DV avi file later means that you will be able to use a variable bitrate so sections that need a higher rate get them while other bits don't.

[wwjd]

I can not really answer your question as stated because I have no experience with DVD Camcorders. I recently bought the PV GS250 and did not consider DVD and or HDD camcorders because I had seen numerous reviews that were negative in regards to the quality of the encoding but more importantly to me was the lack of flexibility of a DVD or a HDD camcorder.

My opinion is that you should be able to achieve as good or better quality by doing the encoding yourself, however that requires knowledge and experience.

One other way to look at it, and I was trying to make this point, is that DV avi is about the 'Best' quality you can get so why not archive the "Best" instead of something that is only close to the "Best".

Do not let yourself think only in the short term when it comes to video. You may want to do something with that video at a later date and will invariably be thinking; 'man I wish I had better source material'.

[daamon]

I've not tried (as I don;t have a DVD camcorder to play with), but I would think the encoded miniDV would come out best. The DVD camcorder has to encode to mpeg on the fly so much be using a fairly low constant bitrate. Encoding your, far superior quality, DV avi file later means that you will be able to use a variable bitrate so sections that need a higher rate get them while other bits don't.

I don't have a DVD camcorder, but agree with Richard_G's theory and conclusion.

[dvnow]

One other way to look at it, and I was trying to make this point, is that DV avi is about the 'Best' quality you can get so why not archive the "Best" instead of something that is only close to the "Best".

Do not let yourself think only in the short term when it comes to video. You may want to do something with that video at a later date and will invariably be thinking; 'man I wish I had better source material'.

....... I'm not going to erase my MiniDV tapes, but is more save to play the movies on DVD-R, until the Blue-Ray become less expensive!

[mikesbytes]

Which will give better quality, a tape shot on a decent quality 3 CCD miniDV camcorder which is then encoded to mpeg, or an mpeg created in a DVD camcorder.

I would first ask the question, which camcorder has better optics and electronics, before concerning as to the path to DVD.

[wwjd]

mikesbytes wrote:

I would first ask the question, which camcorder has better optics and electronics, before concerning as to the path to DVD.

I agree but in this instance dvnow used the PV-GS400, which in my opinion and that of many others is a very good camera in terms of video quality and color balance.

By the way dvnow what is the motovation behind your question? For example are you trying to decide between a miniDV or a DVD camcorder or it is a debate between fellow video geeks?

[troyvcd1]

Wow that is a really good question. Remember that the video that goes straight to dvd is the best it is going to get and editing is harder. The avi from a tape camcorder can be tweeked with different encoders and filters to your taste. This question surely will not be answered because people who buy tape camcorders would not buy a dvd camcorder. I too would like to know this. Maybe someone with a dvd camcorder could see a dvd from a tape camcorder and respond.

[Richard_G]

Looking at the spec for the Sony DVD camcorders, they quote 30 minutes recording on a 1.4 GB miniDVD disc. That works out (using the wonderful VideoHelp bitrate calculator) to a bitrate of 5998 kbs.

I think that should answer the question. Or put it another way, would you be satisfied with the quality of a video shot with a good quality minDV camcorder which was then turned into an mpeg file using 5998 kbs CBR encoding? I wouldn't!

Troyvcd1 makes a point that I made some time ago. The people that buy DVD camcorders do so because taking a disc out of the camcorder and putting it in their DVD player is far easier than getting involved in lots of cables to connect the camcorder to their TV. Anyone interested in serious video wouldn't, or shouldn't, even consider one.

[dvnow]

Looking at the spec for the Sony DVD camcorders, they quote 30 minutes recording on a 1.4 GB miniDVD disc. That works out (using the wonderful VideoHelp bitrate calculator) to a bitrate of 5998 kbs.

I think that should answer the question. Or put it another way, would you be satisfied with the quality of a video shot with a good quality minDV camcorder which was then turned into an mpeg file using 5998 kbs CBR encoding? I wouldn't!

Troyvcd1 makes a point that I made some time ago. The people that buy DVD camcorders do so because taking a disc out of the camcorder and putting it in their DVD player is far easier than getting involved in lots of cables to connect the camcorder to their TV. Anyone interested in serious video wouldn't, or shouldn't, even consider one.

... well, that is my opinion also! But I was hoping to see a practical test.