Views on MPEG2 camcorders?

[ArthurDaley]

From what I gather the new splurge into hard drive camcorders is not worth it because the direct encoding to MPEG2 is a long shot off DV quality. Opinions?

[jkleslie]

I've had both DVD and HDD cameras and neither came close to my DV tape Elura 100.

[ron spencer]

HDD camcorders are a waste of time....one BIG reason....you can't replace the hard drive yourself. Also, DV is 25 mbps...DVD is 9 max, so less quality, and less video editing with MPEG-2. If you are a video buff DV is best. If in a rush and don't like encoding to mpeg 2, which is most people, them mpeg 2 is fine. for me DV

[ArthurDaley]

Hmmm seems better to stick with DV shame since I've had my Digital 8 for around 5 years and fancied an upgrade and everything seems to be h/drive driven now to MPEG2.

I just hate the fact that no compression is being used, it seems really dumb (DV that is) and eats hard drive space.

[jlietz]

DV is compressed, around 5:1 I think.

[stantheman1976]

The appeal of DV is that it is very easy to edit without fear of losing sync. You can change your footage however you please and then compress it down to another format. Footage shot in a HDD or DVD camera begins life in an already compressed format. So it is more diffcult to edit and if the footage gets re-encoded it will lose even more quality.

For people who know nothing about video editing and just want to watch footage straight from the camera they are ok, but you then deal with the issue of long term storage. DV tapes are going to last much longer than a 3" DVD or footage recorded onto a normal DVD. The whole process of burning DVD and CD is not as reliable and recording onto a tape medium.

[jimbucc]

Having dealt with DVD that a customer wanted edited I can tell you that I would never get or recommend such a camera. The video is hard to work with since my editor doesn't like the VOBs it makes. Plus the discs can be unreliable.
Most people who buy the DVD cams just want to shoot and play.

Recommending a HD cam to someone is something else I wouldn't do since they would have to get the video off the camcorder to use the camcorder again - there is no final product as with DVD or tape.
At least with tape you get full frame video that is easy to edit.
If the HDD Cam video was DV then I can see a benefit.

JB

[dun4cheap]

My Canon HV10 which is HDV records in mpeg2 at 25mbits, the clarity is pretty damn good. I have compared it to my Standard Optura 20 and an Optura 600 and with its 1920x1080 cmos sensor and the fact that the HDV standard is 1440x1080i I think it produces a great picture. Even when exporting to SD or HD.

[edDV]

HDV is also MPeg2 and presents challenges for editing but use of digital intermediate technology can restore frame accuracy and scrub speed for editing.

DV and HDV camcorders can use hard disc external recorders that work in normal DV and HDV native formats. You can record hours on these and they can clip to your belt.
http://www.videoguys.com/FireStore.html
http://www.focusinfo.com/solutions/catalog.asp?id=3

Sony has a Pro XDCAM Bluray DVD recording line that will be popular for news editing because if solves the need for a interchangable cassettes that can be tracked by barcodes. It records in IMX or IMX HD which is an editable form of MPEG2. All this technology eventually shows up in the consumer models.

[greymalkin]

me likey ...

...Dear Santa Clause,

[SingSing]

With twin wip antenna at the back of the Sony XDCAM, isn't tha cam setup for live procast, instead of record ?

[edDV]

With twin wip antenna at the back of the Sony XDCAM, isn't tha cam setup for live procast, instead of record ?

The RF bay takes various modules. RF can be used for bi-directional audio, intercom (IFB), genlock for synching cams for multicam edit, or for feeding live video. Live video can be high quality for broadcast or preview quality so the director can see the shot. This includes the news director watching from the TV station over telco wireless or full bandwidth microwave.

"Footage" can be sent live with proper links or slow streamed over telco. A compressed version can be sent first so editing can be started while the full resolution version is in the pipe.