MiniDV vs memory card camcorders - what's the difference?

[OM2]

I've always thought: Mini DV camcorders MUST be better than memory card ones

But is this the true?

Reason why I thought this: MiniDV camcorders are bigger
Erm... well... that was about it!

I couldn't beleive that a camcorder just a bit bigger than the size a pack of ciggarettes could ever match a mini dv camcorder???

Now: I've been reading up a lot about the Canon F100 - I'm just aobut to buy...
But then I thought: if this one is as good as mini DV, then how about other ones that are even smaller and skinnier and lighter???

Any feedback would be great!

Thanks


OM

[minidv2dvd]

what's a canon f100? no such beast here in the u.s.

[filmboss80]

Yes, there is such a thing as a Canon F100 in the US. It's a toner cartridge. I don't think it will make very good videos.

http://www.jr.com/canon/pe/CAN_F100/

[Braindrain]

HF100? HFS100?

[filmboss80]

OM2, if you mean the HF100, then that's an AVCHD camcorder. Have fun trying to edit that footage on the system you described in your "Computer Details" profile. As I recently said in a different thread, I've had memory cards crap out within a few months, while miniDV tapes have lasted years.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/mini-dv-is-the-king-t367823.html

[pepegot1]

Stay with MinDV tapes.

[OM2]

guys: thanks for the replies

i meant a canon fs100

memory card problems?
damn: i thought this was the answer to all my problems!
never get stuck for tapes again!!!

i know this must be a dumb thing to say, but have you tried buying a good make memory card with lifetime warranty?
but: i assume your experience says that memory cards still fail?
let me know though what your experiences are!

[minidv2dvd]

i've had a few sd cards and usb memory sticks die, and it was never the warranty coverage that flipped me out, it was the lost and unrecoverable files......

[OM2]

OM2, if you mean the HF100, then that's an AVCHD camcorder. Have fun trying to edit that footage on the system you described in your "Computer Details" profile. As I recently said in a different thread, I've had memory cards crap out within a few months, while miniDV tapes have lasted years.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/mini-dv-is-the-king-t367823.html

oh...?
erm: what's wrong with avchd?
aren't there *any* programs that can edit easily and the same as any normal video?

[OM2]

i've had a few sd cards and usb memory sticks die, and it was never the warranty coverage that flipped me out, it was the lost and unrecoverable files......

aaah! damn! you've now spoilt all my plans!
not too sure what to go for now

[Braindrain]

Bottom line, it's how you handle your media. If you transfer to PC immediately and backup using your own process, it's fine.

Just bought a AVCHD camcorder and transfer the files to my netbook immediately to free up room (if I'm travelling). When I get home, I just transfer to my desktop and process from there.

To me, no biggie.

PS: I've had flash mem cards that have lasted years.

[OM2]

brain: thanks
i was going to buy a memory card camcorder anyway - but i was beginning to feel bad after reading some of the comments!

can you comment on the original question?
are the *really* small camcorders any good??
i always assumed they were inferior because they were smaller in size!
thanks

[zoobie]

I've never had a tape die...

[Braindrain]

can you comment on the original question?
are the *really* small camcorders any good??
i always assumed they were inferior because they were smaller in size!
thanks

You have to go beyond just size. Things like effective pixel count and sensor size. I did consider the FS100 at one point. As an SD camcorder, it's not bad.

Having said that, the world of SD isn't really improving so there probably isn't too much of a discernible difference in quality difference. The FS100 isn't "really" small. I think the Panasonic SD9 fits into that category.

However, if you have a HD tv, any SD camcorder footage is going to look pretty nasty.

I've never had a tape die...

And I've never had a flash mem card die on me. I'm talking about normal consumer use here and quality flash cards - not that eBay fake stuff. On the other hand, I have had DV tapes get chewed up.

Potato... Po-tah-to...

[OM2]

However, if you have a HD tv, any SD camcorder footage is going to look pretty nasty.

hmmm???
what? why? maybe i should just stick to mini after all?

[LOWTECH]

I have a mini dv, but recently used my Canon Powershot A590is Digital Camera with movie 30fps mode to film my holiday.

With 2 8GB SD cards I shot one and a half hours of video and 700 8mp photos. I produced a movie mixture of photos and video of 1 hour in length. The quality was very good and so easy to just carry so small a camera around in a shirt pocket.

I have shot many hours of home videos over the past 15 years, have used bulky cameras that dictate your holiday carrying it around, to mini dv tapes which I still use for special times. Never had a failure with tapes or SD cards.

SD cards can have a small loss of quality but I find exceptable quality is obtained and converted after editing to DVD. My Canon Digital camera of course has some limitations Zoom etc. But knowing its limits a good holiday video DVD can be produced, and so much easier and quicker to transfer into my computer for editing.

[Braindrain]

hmmm???
what? why? maybe i should just stick to mini after all?

Only if the miniDV camcorder records to HDV. In that case, we're talking a totally different league than the FS100.

Probably more like the HF20/200 or HFS10/100, then.

[OM2]

lowtech: a lot of good info
i feel dizzy now... i keep going back and forth
maybe i should go for a memory card recorder after all
hmmm.....

[Braindrain]

SD cards can have a small loss of quality but I find exceptable quality is obtained and converted after editing to DVD.

Not sure you can really compare shooting video with a camera compared to a camcorder.

In the past, I'd agree with your assessment. In fact, that was the whole reason why I held off buying an AVCHD camcorder for years. However, with camcorderinfo's latest review on the new Canon AVCHD cams, they claim a video quality on par with the HV30.

[mrswla]

can you comment on the original question?
are the *really* small camcorders any good??
i always assumed they were inferior because they were smaller in size!
thanks

Ever see a professional videographer with a video camera the size of a deck of cards?

No.

Not saying that you are going to try to produce professional videos but just stating that these *small* cameras definitely have limitations.

[OM2]

hmmm yes
very good point

having said that... i've seen camcorder guys recording weddings with *enormous* professional looking camcorders - and then seeing the appaling video recording footage in the end wedding film!
(not a contradiction to what u said... i thought i'd meniton as it came into my head!)

[mrswla]

... i've seen camcorder guys recording weddings with *enormous* professional looking camcorders - and then seeing the appaling video recording footage in the end wedding film!
(not a contradiction to what u said... i thought i'd meniton as it came into my head!)

Not the fault of the equipment, fault of the idiotatic person using the equipment.

Some people try to get in the field of videography and think just because they spent $5,000+ on gear, they should be able to produce wonderfull videos. Always see their portfolios before hiring them.

[OM2]

lol

[edDV]

I sent you a camcorderinfo.com review of that camcorder in the other thread and they weren't impressed.

It is SD MPeg2 and records to SD cards.

Can you better describe your needs and current software.

[Cornucopia]

What medium it's stored on and how it's compressed/saved is only part of the picture (pardon the pun).

There's optics, imager & processing. User-functionality. There's uploading/capturing and editing (and archiving).

As an example, I guarantee you that a Canon GL will give you:
+ Clearer, less noisy image with greater inherent sensitivity
+ Much more shooting features & options
+ Simpler editing workflow on much less powerful machines
+ Richer colors (if you set it right)
- Heavier, bulkier carrying (get used to it or use a tripod, or both)
- Tape has the possibility of getting mangled (but is it more likely to fail?), but
+ It is very good at self-archiving (if your material is good, you're going to have to back it up SOMEHWERE)
- It's SD (whereas ALL AVCHD is HD)

See, there's lots to consider...

Scott

[OM2]

I sent you a camcorderinfo.com review of that camcorder in the other thread and they weren't impressed.

It is SD MPeg2 and records to SD cards.

Can you better describe your needs and current software.

yes... i did actually read up on that link
and stubbonly i was still going to buy the canon fs100
given the advice u've all give - i think i will stay away now!

Cornucopia: thats really good advice

i asked someone who i know personally said: ALL HD, memory card and DVD camera's ALL have some sort of compression
i knew that was the case with dvd camcorders, bu ti assumed for HD and memory card, u would get the SAME video as mini DV!

question: for really really professional camcorders, what format is the video recordings where you can have a hard drive add on?

[mrswla]

question: for really really professional camcorders, what format is the video recordings where you can have a hard drive add on?

Try this out.

[filmboss80]

What's your budget?

[tomj]

Check out this comparison of minidv and flash camcorders. Yes they all have compression, but they use different compression algorithms, and even within AVCHD, there are different levels of compression. Just get a camcorder which has a high level and profile within avchd.

[mrswla]

Check out this comparison of minidv and flash camcorders. Yes they all have compression, but they use different compression algorithms, and even within AVCHD, there are different levels of compression. Just get a camcorder which has a high level and profile within avchd.

And this article is written by who????