How can I improve my video quality from my SD Camcorder

[pctech@apc4me.net]

I just purchased a Sony DCR-SX41 Cam and shot some video. Using the packaged software PMB I uploaded the video on to my computer from the memorystick and I am thinking that the quality should be better. I have the camerea on HQ. Someone told me that I need to add Codecs to Windows Movie Maker and that would improve it so I got the latest Codec Pack. But really don't know how to use it as I imported the clip into movie Maker and didn't see much of a change. What should I do???

[JohnnyMalaria]

Are you looking at the video in Windows Movie Maker (WMM)? If so, it won't look as good as it might since WMM is displaying a preview and lowers the resolution to make things more snappy. How does the video look if you use a separate media player (Windows Media Player, for example).

[minidv2dvd]

one post is all you should have made on the same subject.

a mod will probably have to close one.

[pctech@apc4me.net]

It is about the same to my eys Kind of choppy. The image size of the file is 720x480 with a Video Codec MPEG-2 and audio is Dolby Digital with 2 channels. Am I expecting to much or does the info tell you anything?

[jagabo]

Post a small sample and others will tell you if it looks ok or if you have a playback problem.

[pctech@apc4me.net]

Here is a small clip of something I shot ysterday

20090329122833.mpg

[JohnnyMalaria]

I get a missing page error (404) when I try your link.

Oh - and you mention that the video is MPEG2. I didn't think WMM on XP supported that:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308464

Try VLC to see how it plays.

[jagabo]

I suspect your MPG file was too big. There's a ~6 MB limit on uploads. If you can't get what you want in 6 MB try http://www.megaupload.com/

[edDV]

It is about the same to my eys Kind of choppy. The image size of the file is 720x480 with a Video Codec MPEG-2 and audio is Dolby Digital with 2 channels. Am I expecting to much or does the info tell you anything?

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&stor...52921665738327
I missed this un-named Sony format. MPeg2 170min for a 16GB Memory Stick card in HQ mode means a data rate around 9Mb/s so that shouldn't be too bad for SD video. Same as max DVD. The quality is then limited by the lens, sensor and processing in the camcorder. You can't change any of that.

So, did you shoot in HQ mode?

[pctech@apc4me.net]

Here is the same clip trimmed less than 6mb

baylee%20trimed.mpg

[jagabo]

At first glimpse it didn't look bad. Are you concerned about the comb artifacts?

The luma level is too high -- typical of DV camcorders (blacks aren't really black and whites get blown out). It has a slight blue cast too.