Captured image from MINIDV bad quality!

[nadiuuu]

Hi! I´m really a newbie I just got a camcorder the sony HC96 and I can´t work this out. When I see the video in the TV it´s great, but when I capture it on the PC it´s so small, and when I want to see it full screen it´s obviously awfull, very pixelated. What is that I´m doing wrong? How can I keep that great video quality that I have on TV on my pc, so I can edit it and make a DVD?? I hope you can help me, either give some tips or just a tutorial to read, I know this is basic but I´m really lost. I usually use pinnacle for editing/capturing, this time I also tryed the software that comes with the cam.
Thanks for your help!!

[aedipuss]

use windv and a firewire(ieee1394) cable to transfer the miniDV tape to your computer. it will be about 13GB per hour of tape. same quality as on the tape.

[jtoolman2000]

You are obvioussly capturing at a very smalal resolution and hiigh compression
Check your capture program and make sure you are capturing / Transfering at full res DV
which should be 13 gigs per hours as previously mentioned.

[jagabo]

You are probably capturing via the USB port. USB 1.1 (what your camera has) isn't fast enough to send the full DV stream. So you are getting a more compressed, scaled down video. You must use the ieee 1394 (aka Firewire or iLink) port to get full DV video.

[edDV]

The HC96 doesn't seem to be such a crappy camcorder as you make out from its reviews. Sorta better than average.

So, could it be an operator error? Naw, the customer with a wallet is always right.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-DCR-HC96-Camcorder-Review.htm

[Steve Stepoway]

The first thing to understand is that your computer screen has much higher resolution than the video, even if the video is captured at full resolution. The video at full resolution is 720 by 480 (if NTSC, 720 by 576 if you have PAL video, which you probably have). That's either a small window on your PC, or if expanded to full your PC screen, very pixellated. Not to worry, since it will look fine after transferred to DVD or back to tape to play on your TV. But do make certain that you are getting full resolution into your PC.

Steve

[nadiuuu]

OK, I will get that firewire cable tomorrow and see how it works! I let you know!
thanks a lot!

[jagabo]

Be sure your computer has a firewire port. If not, you'll have to buy a firewire card too. Decent ones run $10 to $20.

[nadiuuu]

Hi all! I bought the firewire cable and everything works great, so thanks all!!