Should I get a MiniDV or Digital camcorder?
Posted on Sep 03, 2009 under Digital news and reports |I wanna use it for making my own short films, but I’m not loaded so I wouldn’t want to spend any more than £400 or $646. I have Adobe Premiere Pro and I want to be able to capture my footage onto that program. I know MiniDV tapes shoot in the right format for that, but if I were to shoot on an SD card for example, would the format of my video (e.g. avi, mpeg) be compatible. And if not, can I simply convert the video format to make it compatible.
Adobe Premiere Pro doesn’t like files like avi’s as I can’t edit it frame by frame if I don’t have a mov file format.
So basically this is want I wanna know:
- What video format does a camcorder capture on a SD card?
- If not mov or vob, can you convert it?
Also, if you want to, if you know of a really good value for money camcorder, either MiniDV or digital, could you let me know of it.
Oh, and also can you capture footage off these camcorders via something other than a firewire. If not, is there a firewire to usb adapter on the market?
Thanks for your time, 10 points are available.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 am
DV camcorders use firewire only for video transfer.
If you use an SD or hard disc camera then you really need to be running the latest operating system to support the codecs, check your computer spec and compare it to the recommended specs on the camcorder box or manual before you buy.
You can get a free converter called MPEGstreamclip from http://www.squared5.com, but note the previous point above.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 am
Paul R is correct… some additional clarification…
The DV in "MiniDV" = Digital Video. The video captured on miniDV tape by miniDV tape based camcorders is as digital as the digital video captured by a consumer camcorder using flash memory, hard disc drive or even DVD. The stored data on any of that media is a series of zeroes and ones that represent the image you can transfer to a computer or playback on a TV. The difference - as you have noted - is the file format used. As well, the amount of compression applied to that video data and the codec used to encode that data… to which you alluded.
Typically, pocket camcorders that use built-in flash memory save to mpg (standard definition) or mov (high definition) files.
Entry through high-end consumer camcorders using SD (or SDHC) memory cards, built-in flash memory or Memory Stick media save to mpg, mod (standard definition) or tod or MTS (high definition) files. Same with consumer hard disc drive camcorders.
Consumer grade DVD based camcorders that store to VOB files should be avoided - they are the most compressed files and video quality is not good. The video captured with these was never meant to be edited or otherwise transcoded for computer use or uploading. The MTS files captured by the AVCHD based DVD camcorders can be treated the same way the MTS files are treated by consumer flash memory or hard disc drive camcorders that use very highly compressed AVCHD high definition files (except the computer DVD drive is used for file transfer rather than USB connection).
All camcorders that use miniDV tape save to the same files types. DV for standard definition video and HDV for high definition video. There are some variances on the higher end with the Sony and Panasonic proprietary HDCAM and DVCPRO formats, but we won’t go there…
In order to capture "best available quality" source video - and audio, you should have a few requirements of the camcorder:
1) Big lenses and big imaging chips allow for better low-light video capture performance (when compared to camcorders with small lenses and small imaging chips.
2) Least amount of compression applied to the digital video stream. DV/HDV apply the least compression when compared to the other available storage media.
3) Mic jack + manual audio control or other method to capture audio (like a field recorder from Zoom, Edirol, M-Audio, Tascam among many others).
Camcorders in the different categories/price groupings have about the same capbilities. In "round numbers":
Up to $250: pocket camcorders
Up to $500: entry level consumer cams (manual controls buried in the menu - not external)
Up to about $1,200: high end consumer (1/8" mic jack; *maybe* manual audio control)
Up to about $2,500: "prosumer" (manual controls migrate to the outside of the camcorder)
Higher: pro-grade (with XLR audio connectors among other features)
There is no "hard line" between the categories and there is some overlap depending on the manufacturer, but these are close.
MiniDV tape continues to provide the least $/gig storage for long term. The archive process flow for flash memory and hard disc drive continues to be elusive (and more expensive than miniDV tape).
MPEG StreamClip can indeed do a great job at video file conversion. For flash memory and HDD camcorders, copy the files to the computer over USB, convert them with MPEG StreamClip, then drag the converted files to the video editor’s log/capture area.
For miniDV tape based camcorders, firewire is the import connection. USB will not work. USB-to-firewire cable/adapter/converter things will not work. You did not tell us which computer hardware you are using - so we don’t know if your computer has a 1394 port or if not, whether it has any available expansion (PCI for desktops; PCMCIA or ExpressCard for laptops) slots to add one.
Camcorders to investigate:
Canon FS series for flash memory; ZR series (might be "MV" series across the pond) for miniDV tape. These have a mic jack - but no manual audio control.
If you can increase your budget, Canon HF series for flash memory high definition AVCHD (not recommended) or HV40 (miniDV tape, DV/HDV - and recommended - the HV40 is the least expensive camcorder available with a mic jack and manual audio control).
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 am
Go for a digital one & I recommend one of the JVC Everio series, I’ve had mine for over 5 yrs & it has never given me any problems. they record in MPEG format so you don’t have to convert them so you won’t have any trouble editing them .
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