AVCHD vs. Blu-ray

[coody]

What is the difference between the AVCHD and Blu-ray disc?

[poisondeathray]

You have to distinguish between the actual content, and the media

AVCHD spec content can be authored on DVD5/9 or BD25/50 media

Blu-ray spec content can only be on BD25/50 media , because the DVD5/9 media cannot hold the higher bitrates that blu-ray typically uses - the transfer rates of DVD media are too low for the high bitrates of typical blu-ray content

Blu-ray content conforms to a higher spec than AVCHD spec, and allows for higher bitrates . So theoretically you can have better quality with blu-ray. AVCHD is a limited subset of blu-ray. So anything with AVCHD specs you can put on blu-ray media, but the reverse isn't true

Blu-ray spec allows for other HD audio types , including DTS-MA, TrueHD , while AVCHD spec does not allow for that (only LPCM and AC3).

Difference in media would be running time (capacity) - obviously 25 and 50GB is bigger than 5 or 9 GB , and transfer rates (BD media has much higher than DVD)

[edDV]

They added the AVCHD format structure primarily to accommodate home HD camcorders (AVCHD or HDV) requiring only a DVDR burner. Not all Blu-Ray players support the AVCHD structure and those that do vary in the maximum bit rate they will play. Play time is inversely related to bit rate used.

[coody]

Can the AVCHD disc be read by the red ray lens or only the blue ray lens can read the AVCHD disc?

[edDV]

Can the AVCHD disc be read by the red ray lens or only the blue ray lens can read the AVCHD disc?

If the disc media is DVDR, a red laser is used.

If the disc media is BD/BE, a blue laser is used.

[poisondeathray]

But to playback, you need a blu-ray player or PS3 . A "regular" DVD player only outputs SD signal