The Headachs of Switching to High Def camcorders and MTS files

[yadoc]

I have battled for a long time with the issue of going to the more convenient HD video recorders (cameras or camcorder). Till recently, I had a sony HC96. I would record a full hour on tape, download in AVI to my computer, pass it through DV date stamp then burn to a DVD. So I had a DVD with dates on the scenes etc.... but I had to carry a camcorder, and a digital camera and tapes ........so finally, I tried video with the new Panasonic sz3 using the MTS files.

Every start and stop is a file. So in a birthday for example, I may end up with 25 files for that one occasion. The conversion question is the following :

1. After some reading, I got Vegas Studio Platinum which reads MTS files and would allow me to render each bunch of files from the same occasion into ONE. I just do not know which format to chose from the numerous formats available. I do not want to loose resolution or sound quality. At this point, I do not know if I will continue producing DVDs since things are moving towards more and more ease at playing files directly from portable drives to TV.
So which format to chose to play on high def TV

2. Would it be the same format that would allow putting the files on Blue Ray should I decide to do so later ?

3. What happens to the date ? I realize I can see it if I "right click" each file. But short of writing the date on some frames using a software, does it not seem strange that by upgrading to recording on a memory stick or SD card we now face the hassle of dozens of files AND lose the ability to stamp the date ??

4. Is it best to produce a Blue Ray out of a whole bunch of files (e.g. using Nero) and place it on the hard drive for now ( till I have the ability to burn a blue ray) ?

5. Can I stamp the date using Nero ?

6. How do y'all handle your files upon recording an occasion on a high def removable media

7. A marginal question : which is the best and smallest digital camcorder in terms of LOW LIGHT CAPABILITY ?

Thanks for any input

[aedipuss]

1) some tvs will play the files right off the sd card. keep the original 1280x720 files no matter what you end up converting to.

2) use multiAVCHD to create blu-ray playable br or dvd discs.

3)no date. you're not in tape land anymore. see if the cam will add the date/time to the filename if possible.

4) see #2

5) no

6) copy to computer's hard drive and edit.

7) ? dunno try researching camcorder articles online?

[Soopafresh]

7) Canon 5D MKII http://www.vimeo.com/5152602

[vhelp]

@ soopafresh, the guy said to feel free to download the video, but I don't see any d/l link..i never see them on vimeo unless I have to be registered. If I wait-n-play over dialup i'll loose more hdd (swap) space, do you know what I'm doing wrong/missing ? thanks..

EDIT: ok, I just found out why..I have to join. At this point in time, being on dialup, no. Sorry to of been a bother here..at least I now know why I can't d/l videos from vimeo

-vhelp 5276

:P *~*!*~*!~* HaPpY HoLiDaYs *~*!*~*!~*

[aedipuss]

7) Canon 5D MKII http://www.vimeo.com/5152602

hehe - maybe if you have the proper glass... 50mm f1.2... i still don't consider them a camcorder, a still cam that can make video... from what i've seen of that type of effort it's second rate. horrendous rolling shutter distortion.

[Soopafresh]

7) Canon 5D MKII http://www.vimeo.com/5152602

hehe - maybe if you have the proper glass... 50mm f1.2... i still don't consider them a camcorder, a still cam that can make video... from what i've seen of that type of effort it's second rate. horrendous rolling shutter distortion.

Valid argument on the rolling shutter problem for sure. I wonder if their newer 7D is better in that regard. The overall design is definitely going in the right direction - the ability to attach 35mm lenses without light loss or viewfinder flipping.

[edDV]

Who wants to carry a big 5D MKII plus lenses plus tripod. We are talking an extra suitcase here.
True you can store about three SD flash containers to one MiniDV tape

[aedipuss]

Valid argument on the rolling shutter problem for sure. I wonder if their newer 7D is better in that regard.

the problem is the type of chip. each pixel of a cmos chip is read individually from left to right, top row to bottom row, just like reading a written page. the bigger the chip the more time elapses between reading the first pixel and the last and the worse the distortion of movement becomes.

[edDV]

I've heard the 7D is worse for video than the 5D. More pixels on same size sensor (same lenses) means less light per pixel. This affects video low light capability causing more compression artifacts.

[Soopafresh]

Rolling shutter comparison of Nikon D90 to Canon 5D to Panasonic GH1 to Canon 7D

http://vimeo.com/6894404