Canon ZR800 mini dv

[crowheart]

Hopefully I am in the correct forum here. I am about to buy the above camcorder(cheap-200.00) and I have read that tape is better than the dvd cams. I need to install a firewire port in my computer because it is not supported by my old machine. What I really need to know is about putting the files on my pc and converting them to dvd. How much quality will I lose doing this? Would it be better if I just bought the dvd camcorder since I am converting them to dvd anyway?The price difference is about 150.00 dollars though. I have VSO's convertx to dvd would that product do the job of producing acceptable quality dvd's? Any help would be appreciated.

Peace...

[redwudz]

If you want to edit the video, DV is one of the best formats to edit with. You would lose the least quality by using a software MPEG-2 encoder to convert DV to DVD compatible video. DVD camcorders are convenient, but you are stuck with the quality level of their output. And editing MPEG-2 is more difficult.

ConvertX is OK for a quick DV>DVD conversion, but a standalone MPEG-2 encoder is much more versatile and will give you better quality.

And there are freeware programs for all of this. WinDV to transfer to the computer, VirtualDub to edit (Install a DV codec), HC encoder, FAVC or similar to encode to MPEG-2, GUI for dvdauthor to author, ImgBurn to burn to DVD. And there are other freeware and payware choices.

[mats.hogberg]

A great deal of the video quality is also determined by how the camera is handeled. Fast pans, shaky movements & cetera doesn't translate well to mpg compression (which basically relies on the fact that very little has (ought to) changed between 2 frames). Using tripod or some kind of stabilizer, together with some basic video know-how will give you video that can be compressed better to mpg.

/Mats

[vcdlover]

Like being said above, DV is the best format if you want to edit the footage. I used to own a miniDVD and Digital8 and those were a nightmare to edit. I now have a GL2 and XL2 and lots of accessories. Vegas 6 is my favorite editor along with VASST plug-in. TMPEG Plus is my main encoder and Ulead DVDWorkshop is my author. I burn the video with Nero using TY WaterShield blank and Pioneer 112D... Enjoy your project...

vcdlover

[harley2ride]

Hopefully I am in the correct forum here. I am about to buy the above camcorder(cheap-200.00) and I have read that tape is better than the dvd cams. I need to install a firewire port in my computer because it is not supported by my old machine. What I really need to know is about putting the files on my pc and converting them to dvd. How much quality will I lose doing this? Would it be better if I just bought the dvd camcorder since I am converting them to dvd anyway?The price difference is about 150.00 dollars though. I have VSO's convertx to dvd would that product do the job of producing acceptable quality dvd's? Any help would be appreciated.

Peace...

To sum it all up.
1. Add a firewire card to your computer.
2. Convertx2dvd is a pretty good program
3. Z800 is a decent camcorder...

Capture your video via fireware, as DV-AVI, make any changes you want (Menu's, effects), encode to mpeg2 at 8000 - 9000 bits (or best quality), make sure you burn to a decent quality media such as verbatim or taiyo yuden...

[lordsmurf]

Canon ZR series is a really nice line of consumer DV cameras. Good choice.

All-in-one type software, like Convertx2dvd, will not yield high quality, no.

Better to use some like Adobe Premiere Elements, which will edit, encode and author for a DV workflow. Although it does a few tasks, due to it's DV-only environment, it's not your standard "insert anything" type of all-in-one to which I refer as being low quality.

[crowheart]

Thanks for all of the suggestions and help. Happy Holidays to all....


Peace

[harley2ride]

I had just purchased a Canon ZR800 for my pregnant daughter, and gave it to her on Christmas eve. She opened it, charged it up, and read the manual on how to use it. Christmas morning at 3am, she called me and told me she was in labor and that she wanted me to film the birth with her new camcorder. I have a Panasonic PVGS70, but she insisted I use hers. Much to my surprise, the camcorder was extremely easy to figure out and use. On the camcorder itself, the video playback is very good. Can't wait to pull it off to my pc, and create a nice dvd video for her and the family. I will extract via firewire and capture with my Vegas 5. Edit with Vegas 5, and encode and burn via Vegas 5. It might be older software, but it does a great job for me... I will also redo all those same steps in Ulead Studio 11 Plus, and see if I notice any difference on the final result. I just got Studio 11, along with Windvd, and Corel PaintShop Pro XL for $19.00 after rebate, so I might as well see what they will do.

[MJA]

I had just purchased a Canon ZR800 for my pregnant daughter, and gave it to her on Christmas eve. She opened it, charged it up, and read the manual on how to use it. Christmas morning at 3am, she called me and told me she was in labor and that she wanted me to film the birth with her new camcorder. I have a Panasonic PVGS70, but she insisted I use hers. Much to my surprise, the camcorder was extremely easy to figure out and use. On the camcorder itself, the video playback is very good. Can't wait to pull it off to my pc, and create a nice dvd video for her and the family. I will extract via firewire and capture with my Vegas 5. Edit with Vegas 5, and encode and burn via Vegas 5. It might be older software, but it does a great job for me... I will also redo all those same steps in Ulead Studio 11 Plus, and see if I notice any difference on the final result. I just got Studio 11, along with Windvd, and Corel PaintShop Pro XL for $19.00 after rebate, so I might as well see what they will do.

noticed anything about motor noise?I own the optura 60 no complain

[redwudz]

harley2ride, congratulations. Hope it went well. Born on Christmas day, tough birthdays for the future.

I've been tempted to pick up a ZR800 as it seems about right for me.

And I would only recommend ConvertX or similar one-click applications for a quick conversion to DVD. A proper editor, encoder and authoring program is always the best way to go, IMO.