Camcorder question

Anne C · 28-03-2008, 20:56

Using my wife's name here ( awaiting clearance for mine "Robthevampire").
Basicley going to buy a Digital Camcorder next week and would like some advice on the merit's of Mini dv/DVD or Hd
the two I have sort of looked at are the "Hitachi DZHS300E HDD/DVD Hybrid Camcorder." and the " Sony DCR-DVD306E". Iwould like if poss to keep my budget under £350.

Thanks for you're time

Robbie

niall campbell · 29-03-2008, 10:08

if you have a DVD recorder machine then just get a hard drive camcorder

Orbitalzone · 29-03-2008, 12:13

I'd consider the hard drive version and then probably miniDV then DVD - in that order,

Robthevampire · 30-03-2008, 16:56

Thanks guys. H.D was the way I was thinking but I read in Which magazine that they sometimes lose out in picture quality due to the exspence of the technology, and are not always "value for money" whatever that means?

Robbie

Orbitalzone · 30-03-2008, 19:06

Just to clarify, do you mean Hard disk drive (HDD) or High Definition (HD) - both types exist and to complicate, some HD use miniDV tapes and some HDD are SD (standard definition, not High Definition)

lol

Personally I'd only get an HDD camcorder now, but am not sure if I'd get an HD HDD as I don't record much home video and you also need a High Definition TV, a powerful PC to edit the footage and ideally a Bluray Recorder.

Robthevampire · 30-03-2008, 19:14

Sorry ment Hard Disc Drive.

Cheers
Robbie

Orbitalzone · 30-03-2008, 22:12

I've always found useful advice on camcorders over at the SimplyDV forum and website...

http://www.simplydv.co.uk/index.html

might be worth getting some info there from actual users, obviously some DS members may be able to give some advice on HDD cams.... I've only used miniDV.

I believe that HDD cams use MPEG2 rather than DV-AVI (as used by miniDV) - this can be edited with reasonable ease on a PC/Mac or straight into a DVD recorder.

JBlink · 31-03-2008, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orbitalzone

Personally I'd only get an HDD camcorder now, but am not sure if I'd get an HD HDD as I don't record much home video and you also need a High Definition TV, a powerful PC to edit the footage and ideally a Bluray Recorder.

Agreed - I am in the same position. I would love to get an HD HDD camera but the problem is the cost / time to archive. Mind you, when I first got a digital video camera a firewire interface card to fit to my PC was................£600!

28-03-2008, 20:56	#1
Anne C Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 925	Camcorder question Using my wife's name here ( awaiting clearance for mine "Robthevampire"). Basicley going to buy a Digital Camcorder next week and would like some advice on the merit's of Mini dv/DVD or Hd the two I have sort of looked at are the "Hitachi DZHS300E HDD/DVD Hybrid Camcorder." and the " Sony DCR-DVD306E". Iwould like if poss to keep my budget under £350. Thanks for you're time Robbie

29-03-2008, 10:08	#2
niall campbell Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Aberfeldy Posts: 7,035	if you have a DVD recorder machine then just get a hard drive camcorder

29-03-2008, 12:13	#3
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	I'd consider the hard drive version and then probably miniDV then DVD - in that order,

30-03-2008, 16:56	#4
Robthevampire Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sussex Posts: 7	Thanks guys. H.D was the way I was thinking but I read in Which magazine that they sometimes lose out in picture quality due to the exspence of the technology, and are not always "value for money" whatever that means? Robbie

30-03-2008, 19:06	#5
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	Just to clarify, do you mean Hard disk drive (HDD) or High Definition (HD) - both types exist and to complicate, some HD use miniDV tapes and some HDD are SD (standard definition, not High Definition) lol Personally I'd only get an HDD camcorder now, but am not sure if I'd get an HD HDD as I don't record much home video and you also need a High Definition TV, a powerful PC to edit the footage and ideally a Bluray Recorder.

30-03-2008, 19:14	#6
Robthevampire Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sussex Posts: 7	Sorry ment Hard Disc Drive. Cheers Robbie

30-03-2008, 22:12	#7
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	I've always found useful advice on camcorders over at the SimplyDV forum and website... http://www.simplydv.co.uk/index.html might be worth getting some info there from actual users, obviously some DS members may be able to give some advice on HDD cams.... I've only used miniDV. I believe that HDD cams use MPEG2 rather than DV-AVI (as used by miniDV) - this can be edited with reasonable ease on a PC/Mac or straight into a DVD recorder.

31-03-2008, 18:50	#8
JBlink Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 2,926	Quote: Originally Posted by Orbitalzone Personally I'd only get an HDD camcorder now, but am not sure if I'd get an HD HDD as I don't record much home video and you also need a High Definition TV, a powerful PC to edit the footage and ideally a Bluray Recorder. Agreed - I am in the same position. I would love to get an HD HDD camera but the problem is the cost / time to archive. Mind you, when I first got a digital video camera a firewire interface card to fit to my PC was................£600!

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Camcorder question