DVD Camcorders

rec.video

27 Nov 2006 9:52 PM

mjgaskell@netscape.net

I would like to buy a DVD camcorder but am concerned that the DVDs may
be incompatible with different types of equipment I have or may have in
the future. For instance, I need it to be compatible with my computer,
with my DVD player, with friend's DVD players, with portable DVD
players, and with future equipment I might purchase. For recording, I
want to use rewritable media.

Ultimately, I want to copy everything I record on the DVD to my
computer hard drive and then burn a DVD from there. If I'm on
vacation, however, before I get home to my computer, I would like to
view the DVD on a friend's DVD player or a portable DVD player.

Also, somebody told me that it was difficult to get movies from a DVD
camcorder into my computer. He said it was "very tricky." He said I
would be better off buying a hard drive camcorder because it was
already digital. I don't understand.

I don't plan to edit my recording except maybe to add music or voice
over the top.

I just would like somebody's advice on whether DVD camcorders really
are a good deal and will work with all the stuff I have now or in the
future. I hope there's an easy answer to my question.

Thanks, Jeannine

29 Nov 2006 2:36 AM

AnthonyR

<mjgask***@netscape.net> wrote in message
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news:1164664351.726816.186860@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I would like to buy a DVD camcorder but am concerned that the DVDs may
> be incompatible with different types of equipment I have or may have in
> the future. For instance, I need it to be compatible with my computer,
> with my DVD player, with friend's DVD players, with portable DVD
> players, and with future equipment I might purchase. For recording, I
> want to use rewritable media.
>
> Ultimately, I want to copy everything I record on the DVD to my
> computer hard drive and then burn a DVD from there. If I'm on
> vacation, however, before I get home to my computer, I would like to
> view the DVD on a friend's DVD player or a portable DVD player.
>
> Also, somebody told me that it was difficult to get movies from a DVD
> camcorder into my computer. He said it was "very tricky." He said I
> would be better off buying a hard drive camcorder because it was
> already digital. I don't understand.
>
> I don't plan to edit my recording except maybe to add music or voice
> over the top.
>
> I just would like somebody's advice on whether DVD camcorders really
> are a good deal and will work with all the stuff I have now or in the
> future. I hope there's an easy answer to my question.
>
> Thanks, Jeannine
>

Hi Jeannine,
We all want things to be compatible but unfortunately the answer is, things
aren't more than we would like to hear.
With that said, the dvd's you will burn directly on a dvd camcorder are
smaller in size and even so should be compatible with most dvd
players. But the format used is not the standard dvd-video, it's a vr
(rewritable one) so you might have a few glitches doing all the stuff you
said.

For ease and convenience, I might suggest for your needs a camcorder with a
hard drive inside would be best, in that you can you can
transfer the files to a pc much more easily than if they were on a dvd, then
do a quick arrangement, add title, music etc... then quickly burn off a
standard dvd-video format dvd disc. Those dvd's will probably play almost
anywhere much more than the vr type mini dvd's made directly on a camcorder.
Burners are so cheap now for standard dvd-r's, you won't need to use
re-writable dvd's at all, which is good since they aren't as compatible as
the write once format. DVD-R or DVD+R (either type) are more compatible and
play in more machines than the rewritable type of either format.

I hope this makes sense to you in some way, maybe others can elaborate also.
Your friend sounds like he's on the right track with ease of workflow idea.

AnthonyR.

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29 Nov 2006 4:43 PM

Tzortzakakis Dimitrios

? <mjgask***@netscape.net> ?????? ??? ??????
Show quoteHide quote

news:1164664351.726816.186860@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I would like to buy a DVD camcorder but am concerned that the DVDs may
> be incompatible with different types of equipment I have or may have in
> the future. For instance, I need it to be compatible with my computer,
> with my DVD player, with friend's DVD players, with portable DVD
> players, and with future equipment I might purchase. For recording, I
> want to use rewritable media.
>
> Ultimately, I want to copy everything I record on the DVD to my
> computer hard drive and then burn a DVD from there. If I'm on
> vacation, however, before I get home to my computer, I would like to
> view the DVD on a friend's DVD player or a portable DVD player.
>
> Also, somebody told me that it was difficult to get movies from a DVD
> camcorder into my computer. He said it was "very tricky." He said I
> would be better off buying a hard drive camcorder because it was
> already digital. I don't understand.
>
> I don't plan to edit my recording except maybe to add music or voice
> over the top.
>
> I just would like somebody's advice on whether DVD camcorders really
> are a good deal and will work with all the stuff I have now or in the
> future. I hope there's an easy answer to my question.
>

Hi,
in terms of quality the best results are achieved with a mini dv camcorder,
input to computer via firewire, and burning a dvd-r(or+r) on the computer.If
you go to the higher end camcorders, you can record without a tape on a
memory card up to a couple of hours.Furthermore, the mini dv format is not
compressed temporally (DV-25) and so is better than mpeg-4 lossy compression
that is done by DVD camcorders.(There is nothing wrong with MPEG 4, it just
can't be done properly on a single pass on a camcorder, while on your
computer multiple analytic passes are done).The problem with hard disk
camcorders is that they also use temporal compression (I think) and when the
hard disk is full you can do nothing...On the other hand, I bought 3 60 min
sony mini dv tapes for 9 euros, and I found even a tdk 80 min for 6.90
euros.

--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering
mechanized infantry reservist
dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr

29 Nov 2006 8:44 PM

AnthonyR

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"Tzortzakakis Dimitrios" <nowh***@noone.com> wrote in message
news:ekkdei$79v$1@mouse.otenet.gr...
>
> ? <mjgask***@netscape.net> ?????? ??? ??????
> news:1164664351.726816.186860@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> I would like to buy a DVD camcorder but am concerned that the DVDs may
>> be incompatible with different types of equipment I have or may have in
>> the future. For instance, I need it to be compatible with my computer,
>> with my DVD player, with friend's DVD players, with portable DVD
>> players, and with future equipment I might purchase. For recording, I
>> want to use rewritable media.
>>
>> Ultimately, I want to copy everything I record on the DVD to my
>> computer hard drive and then burn a DVD from there. If I'm on
>> vacation, however, before I get home to my computer, I would like to
>> view the DVD on a friend's DVD player or a portable DVD player.
>>
>> Also, somebody told me that it was difficult to get movies from a DVD
>> camcorder into my computer. He said it was "very tricky." He said I
>> would be better off buying a hard drive camcorder because it was
>> already digital. I don't understand.
>>
>> I don't plan to edit my recording except maybe to add music or voice
>> over the top.
>>
>> I just would like somebody's advice on whether DVD camcorders really
>> are a good deal and will work with all the stuff I have now or in the
>> future. I hope there's an easy answer to my question.
>>
>
> Hi,
> in terms of quality the best results are achieved with a mini dv
> camcorder,
> input to computer via firewire, and burning a dvd-r(or+r) on the
> computer.If
> you go to the higher end camcorders, you can record without a tape on a
> memory card up to a couple of hours.Furthermore, the mini dv format is not
> compressed temporally (DV-25) and so is better than mpeg-4 lossy
> compression
> that is done by DVD camcorders.(There is nothing wrong with MPEG 4, it
> just
> can't be done properly on a single pass on a camcorder, while on your
> computer multiple analytic passes are done).The problem with hard disk
> camcorders is that they also use temporal compression (I think) and when
> the
> hard disk is full you can do nothing...On the other hand, I bought 3 60
> min
> sony mini dv tapes for 9 euros, and I found even a tdk 80 min for 6.90
> euros.
>
>
> --
> Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
> major in electrical engineering
> mechanized infantry reservist
> dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr
>
>

Dimitrios,

I agree with you about miniDV having the better quality over the dvd or Hard
drive camcorders but also remember each has it's benefits and pluses and
minuses, so it depends what the person needs best. No one should dismiss the
value of a camcorder just because the video is a little more compressed
etc..
I'll give you an example, the incident here in the USA recently with Michael
Richards making racist comments on a comedy stage, it was captured on a cell
phone and put on youtube, and views thousands of times, even shown on the
news at that quality. A cell phone! Why? cause it is portable and easy to
use in a pinch.

The same thing with a camcorder with built in hard drive also, you can carry
it on a vacation let's say, with no need to look for and change tapes every
hour, carry them around, worry if a fresh one is inside or not, or if a
blank miniDVD is in the camera. it can hold hours and hours and chances are
you'll just use it more if it's more convenient, so in the long run, you
have lots of vacation pictures, maybe at a little more compression but
better than less pictures at lower compression.
See my point? Every thing needs to be thought of for it's pluses and
minuses.
But I own a miniDV camcorder myself and agree with you, I am seriously
thinking of getting a hard drive camcorder however for the convenience since
I find myself using my dv camera less and less because of laziness. :0

AnthonyR

(yiasou Patrioti!)

1 Dec 2006 5:44 PM

Tzortzakakis Dimitrios

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Ï "AnthonyR" <nospam@nospam.com> Ýãñáøå óôï ìÞíõìá
news:7jmbh.38940$Fw5.37894@news-wrt-01.rdc-nyc.rr.com...
>
> "Tzortzakakis Dimitrios" <nowh***@noone.com> wrote in message
> news:ekkdei$79v$1@mouse.otenet.gr...
> >
> > ? <mjgask***@netscape.net> ?????? ??? ??????
> > news:1164664351.726816.186860@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >> I would like to buy a DVD camcorder but am concerned that the DVDs may
> >> be incompatible with different types of equipment I have or may have in
> >> the future. For instance, I need it to be compatible with my computer,
> >> with my DVD player, with friend's DVD players, with portable DVD
> >> players, and with future equipment I might purchase. For recording, I
> >> want to use rewritable media.
> >>
> >> Ultimately, I want to copy everything I record on the DVD to my
> >> computer hard drive and then burn a DVD from there. If I'm on
> >> vacation, however, before I get home to my computer, I would like to
> >> view the DVD on a friend's DVD player or a portable DVD player.
> >>
> >> Also, somebody told me that it was difficult to get movies from a DVD
> >> camcorder into my computer. He said it was "very tricky." He said I
> >> would be better off buying a hard drive camcorder because it was
> >> already digital. I don't understand.
> >>
> >> I don't plan to edit my recording except maybe to add music or voice
> >> over the top.
> >>
> >> I just would like somebody's advice on whether DVD camcorders really
> >> are a good deal and will work with all the stuff I have now or in the
> >> future. I hope there's an easy answer to my question.
> >>
> >
> > Hi,
> > in terms of quality the best results are achieved with a mini dv
> > camcorder,
> > input to computer via firewire, and burning a dvd-r(or+r) on the
> > computer.If
> > you go to the higher end camcorders, you can record without a tape on a
> > memory card up to a couple of hours.Furthermore, the mini dv format is
not
> > compressed temporally (DV-25) and so is better than mpeg-4 lossy
> > compression
> > that is done by DVD camcorders.(There is nothing wrong with MPEG 4, it
> > just
> > can't be done properly on a single pass on a camcorder, while on your
> > computer multiple analytic passes are done).The problem with hard disk
> > camcorders is that they also use temporal compression (I think) and when
> > the
> > hard disk is full you can do nothing...On the other hand, I bought 3 60
> > min
> > sony mini dv tapes for 9 euros, and I found even a tdk 80 min for 6.90
> > euros.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
> > major in electrical engineering
> > mechanized infantry reservist
> > dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr
> >
> >
>
> Dimitrios,
>
> I agree with you about miniDV having the better quality over the dvd or
Hard
> drive camcorders but also remember each has it's benefits and pluses and
> minuses, so it depends what the person needs best. No one should dismiss
the
> value of a camcorder just because the video is a little more compressed
> etc..
> I'll give you an example, the incident here in the USA recently with
Michael
> Richards making racist comments on a comedy stage, it was captured on a
cell
> phone and put on youtube, and views thousands of times, even shown on the
> news at that quality. A cell phone! Why? cause it is portable and easy to
> use in a pinch.
>
> The same thing with a camcorder with built in hard drive also, you can
carry
> it on a vacation let's say, with no need to look for and change tapes
every
> hour, carry them around, worry if a fresh one is inside or not, or if a
> blank miniDVD is in the camera. it can hold hours and hours and chances
are
> you'll just use it more if it's more convenient, so in the long run, you
> have lots of vacation pictures, maybe at a little more compression but
> better than less pictures at lower compression.
> See my point? Every thing needs to be thought of for it's pluses and
> minuses.
> But I own a miniDV camcorder myself and agree with you, I am seriously
> thinking of getting a hard drive camcorder however for the convenience
since
> I find myself using my dv camera less and less because of laziness. :0
>

Yia soy kai esena,
but a mini dv camcorder isn't that big!Mine weighs less than a kilo, and a
mini dv cassete is small for the GBs it can hold.You have a point,
however.Chances are high that you'll have your mobile with you and shoot
some video.With a camcorder, you have to organise the shooting, charge its
battery, take a blank cassete with you, set up a tripod (maybe) and be
noticed shooting, of course!So, you're right.But,in modern first-world
countries, people are free to buy whatever they like and is available on the
market, as long as they have an honest job (and are not breaking any
laws).But,on the other hand, a handy with a camera and video cost almost as
one simple,B&W screen,just-phone handy and a cheap camcorder.Mine is a
contract phone, and normally costs 75 euros (Nokia 1100).Is very robust and
has long battery life.I have a digital Kodak CX 7300 (100 euros) which can
also take bad videos and a sony camcorder that can also take bad still
pictures.Of course, to carry mobile phone, which I always do, camcorder and
still camera with all their bells and whistles, extra batteries, etc...Would
be quite a hassle, while a handy has all-in-one.Michael Richards will surely
regret letting in people with photo handys in his show!(Sometimes you can
get banned in restrooms).On the other hand, we had repeated incidents here
in Greece, with high-school children shooting their classmates in the
bathroom naked etc. and once they even took a video of a rape!Although edgy,
and of course almost anything can be misused.But, really, mini dv camcorders
aren't really big, just using them needs organising.

--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering
mechanized infantry reservist
dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr