OK so I have decided that I want to buy a Hard Drive camcorder as I like the
convenience of not having to mess around with analogue tapes.

After reading various reviews and info, most seem to agree that although the
current crop of entry level Hard Drive cameras give good image quality, they
don't quite match up to MiniDV tape equivalents (though I am happy to be
proved wrong!). This got me to thinking about he new crop of High
Definition Hard Drive camcorders, and my question.

If I buy a High Def camcorder, even though I have yet to purchase a Hi Def
TV, can I still create 'standard definition' videos from them. In my newbie
mind I'm thinking, "right, if standard def HD camcorders are not quite up to
the quality of MiniDV then surely High Def HD camcorders are, therefore if I
record with a High Def HD recorder, the image quality will be as good if not
better, even though I would have to save them out as standard definition
video". I guess what I'm saying is that will I get any advantage from buy
High Definition camcorder (such as the upcoming Sony HDR-HC5E) even though I
currently only own a standard widescreen TV?

Mike.

After reading various reviews and info, most seem to agree that although
the current crop of entry level Hard Drive cameras give good image
quality, they don't quite match up to MiniDV tape equivalents (though I am
happy to be proved wrong!).

As far as I'm aware, they record in MPEG format so that you can get a good
deal of footage onto the HDD. MPEG is not ideal for editing, especially if
you have to recompress the file when the edit is finished. As long as you
shoot at a fairly high quality setting (2GB or more per hour) you shouldn't
notice any difference between DV and HDD during playback.


If I buy a High Def camcorder, even though I have yet to purchase a Hi Def
TV, can I still create 'standard definition' videos from them.

Yes.


I guess what I'm saying is that will I get any advantage from buy High
Definition camcorder (such as the upcoming Sony HDR-HC5E) even though I
currently only own a standard widescreen TV?

I think so, but I'm only basing that assertion on common sense, not any
practical experience. Image quality only works downwards - you can't add
image quality during the edit. It seems to me that if you start off with the
highest quality footage, maintain that quality during the edit, and only
sample down to SD at the last stage, your finished DVD will be far better
looking than if you start at SD quality and work from there.

"Kannon Fodder" wrote in message
...
OK so I have decided that I want to buy a Hard Drive camcorder as I
like the convenience of not having to mess around with analogue
tapes.

You mean digital linier tapes, the data is digital but the means of
access is linier, IYSWIM....


After reading various reviews and info, most seem to agree that
although the current crop of entry level Hard Drive cameras give
good image quality, they don't quite match up to MiniDV tape
equivalents (though I am happy to be proved wrong!). This got me to
thinking about he new crop of High Definition Hard Drive camcorders,
and my question.

On top of what Mr Hardy has already pointed out, remember that you are
storing all your eggs in one fragile basket here, if a HDD-camcorder
goes AWOL you may well lose access to what is on the HDD, as long as
the tape can be ejected (or otherwise retrieved) on a tape based DV
camcorder you stand a good chance of being able to use another DV
camcorder or tape deck to access the footage.


If I buy a High Def camcorder, even though I have yet to purchase a
Hi Def TV, can I still create 'standard definition' videos from
them. In my newbie mind I'm thinking, "right, if standard def HD
camcorders are not quite up to the quality of MiniDV then surely
High Def HD camcorders are, therefore if I record with a High Def HD
recorder, the image quality will be as good if not better, even
though I would have to save them out as standard definition video".

Please, can you use the correct terminology, at first reading the
above might as well have been in Double-Dutch, until the penny
dropped - HD = High Definition, HDD = Hard (Disk) Drive - what you
wrote above read as "...if standard def H(igh) D(efinition) camcorders
are not quite up to the quality of MiniDV then surely High Def H(igh)
D(efinition) camcorders are..."!!

I guess what I'm saying is that will I get any advantage from buy
High Definition camcorder (such as the upcoming Sony HDR-HC5E) even
though I currently only own a standard widescreen TV?


Depends were and how you down convert, if it's done in the camera [1]
you might be no better off than if you used a SD DV camcorder, if you
down convert in post production (edit or DVD authoring) you will have
more control.

[1] AIUI most, if not all, domestic HD camcorders can output SD either
by the IEEE1394 port or analogue composite.

On 7 Feb, 20:48, ":Jerry:" wrote:
"Kannon Fodder" wrote in message

...

OK so I have decided that I want to buy a Hard Drive camcorder as I
like the convenience of not having to mess around with analogue
tapes.

You mean digital linier tapes, the data is digital but the means of
access is linier, IYSWIM....



After reading various reviews and info, most seem to agree that
although the current crop of entry level Hard Drive cameras give
good image quality, they don't quite match up to MiniDV tape
equivalents (though I am happy to be proved wrong!). This got me to
thinking about he new crop of High Definition Hard Drive camcorders,
and my question.

On top of what Mr Hardy has already pointed out, remember that you are
storing all your eggs in one fragile basket here, if a HDD-camcorder
goes AWOL you may well lose access to what is on the HDD, as long as
the tape can be ejected (or otherwise retrieved) on a tape based DV
camcorder you stand a good chance of being able to use another DV
camcorder or tape deck to access the footage.



If I buy a High Def camcorder, even though I have yet to purchase a
Hi Def TV, can I still create 'standard definition' videos from
them. In my newbie mind I'm thinking, "right, if standard def HD
camcorders are not quite up to the quality of MiniDV then surely
High Def HD camcorders are, therefore if I record with a High Def HD
recorder, the image quality will be as good if not better, even
though I would have to save them out as standard definition video".

Please, can you use the correct terminology, at first reading the
above might as well have been in Double-Dutch, until the penny
dropped - HD = High Definition, HDD = Hard (Disk) Drive - what you
wrote above read as "...if standard def H(igh) D(efinition) camcorders
are not quite up to the quality of MiniDV then surely High Def H(igh)
D(efinition) camcorders are..."!!

What bit about being a Newbie did you not understand Jerry. If you
weren't so hung up on terminology then maybe you'd have understood
what the OP meant. Made perfect sense to me.

Doc

I guess what I'm saying is that will I get any advantage from buy

High Definition camcorder (such as the upcoming Sony HDR-HC5E) even
though I currently only own a standard widescreen TV?

Depends were and how you down convert, if it's done in the camera [1]
you might be no better off than if you used a SD DV camcorder, if you
down convert in post production (edit or DVD authoring) you will have
more control.

[1] AIUI most, if not all, domestic HD camcorders can output SD either
by the IEEE1394 port or analogue composite.

"Dr Hfuhruhurr" wrote in message
oups.com...
snip

Another worthless troll re-appears...

On 8 Feb, 13:53, ":Jerry:" wrote:
"Dr Hfuhruhurr" wrote in message

oups.com...
snip

Another worthless troll re-appears...

Care to define Troll? In your own words please?

Doc