are all DV cams equal when it comes to capturing ?

jamcas wrote on 8/18/2003, 11:20 PM
Are all DV cams equal when it comes to capturing ?

Im looking at buying a DV cam the two things I want it for are

a) To make some home movies
b) Convert from analog to digital using a pass thru option and firewire

my question is are all DV cams the same when it comes to converting analog to digital ?

are there any cameras that do PAL as well as NTSC analog to DV ?

Are DV cams better to use than something like a box from canopus ?
is there much difference in quality ?

what is the best camera to use ?

cheers
JC

Comments

farss wrote on 8/18/2003, 11:40 PM
>>Are all DV cams equal when it comes to capturing ?
>>my question is are all DV cams the same when it comes to converting analog to digital ?
Yes, as far as I know. The A/D and D/A is pretty much the same in all of them, its the CCDs and lenses that make the difference and if you're doing passthrough conversion that's irrelevant.

>>are there any cameras that do PAL as well as NTSC analog to DV ?
No, wish there were.

>>Are DV cams better to use than something like a box from canopus ?
>>is there much difference in quality ?

About the same EXCEPT the Canpous box will handle NTSC and PAL, cameras wont.

>>what is the best camera to use ?

Definately the Viper, if you can afford the camera they'll probably throw in a truck to move it :)

Seriously that's an impossible question to answer, I'd say they're all so good these days price alone is probably a reasonable guide to what you'll get, read some reviews, if they say its great it might be, if they say its a dog it probably is. When you've found one that you like because it matches your favourite jacket or whetever then I'd ask in a forum like this is anyones got one and had issues with it.

If you're just looking for a camera mostly to do A/v then consider the D8 ones, they're worth it because you've then also got a way to play Hi8 and Super8 tapes. Just be careful, I think Sony have pulled the A/D functionality out of the cheapest ones.
jamcas wrote on 8/18/2003, 11:44 PM
thanks for the fast response !
donp wrote on 8/19/2003, 12:10 PM
jamcas, the Sony D8 TRV-350 camera has AV-DV passthrough and plays Hi8 and has Memory Stick capability. The only detraction is in low light (almost dark) it could do better. I think it is a 3 CCD variaty But I would have to check my manual to be certain.
Can out put analog and USB and i-Link (IEEE-1394) and input USB and i-Link. It has been a good performer for my needs. Price is good too, approximately $400.
Erk wrote on 8/20/2003, 1:20 PM
donp,

You won't get a 3 CCD camera for $400. Its gotta be a one-chipper, similar to my TRV-720 (older generation). But I'd second your remark about these digital camcorders in low light; they turn into a pixelated mess pretty quickly. But give'm enough light and they do wonders for a hobbyist like myself.

G
farss wrote on 8/20/2003, 4:43 PM
Unfortunately all things D8 are single CCD, come on Sony time to build a pro D8 camera.
donp wrote on 8/20/2003, 5:12 PM
Your right on the CCD thing I checked and it is single CCD as I said in my other post I wasn't sure. I do think think this a good camera for hobby/wedding/etc. work.

>a) To make some home movies
b) Convert from analog to digital using a pass thru option and firewire

The trv-350 does that.

>my question is are all DV cams the same when it comes to converting analog to digital ?

In just that application I think yes.

>Are DV cams better to use than something like a box from canopus ?
is there much difference in quality ?

Quality in is quality out. With Analog to DV passthrough the Camera can act as as a break out box (BoB) between you VCR say and your PC firewire card, but some folks don't like all that ware and tear on the camera.

If you want something that out puts both Analog and Pal then you would need the Canopus ADVC-100 or 500 I think but you should check their web site to be sure.




johnmeyer wrote on 8/20/2003, 11:56 PM
Jamcas' original question is very intriguing. The quality of compression from one codec to the next can be quite different. For instance, in the early days of JPEG, Optibase, Xing, and others competed not only on the ability of their algorithms and hardware to compress quickly, but also on the quality of their compression. In addition, this forum -- and most other similar forums -- are chock full of discussions about the quality of various MPEG encoding schemes.

All that said, I have never heard or read anything that tends to favor Sony vs. Canon vs. Panasonic when it comes to their ability to do a better or worse job of encoding video presented at the analog input port.
jamcas wrote on 8/21/2003, 12:14 AM
Hi Guys,

Thanks for your replies. Right now i just borrowed a D8 sony cam and it seems to capture ok (analog (PAL) VCR to CAM pass thru to firewire) the only thing that it wont do is NTSC analog to DV.

I wasnt sure if there would be a big difference in capture (conversion) quality between different camera models


Cheers
JC
seeker wrote on 8/21/2003, 12:23 AM
Farss,

"...come on Sony time to build a pro D8 camera."

Not very likely. I think Sony is backing away from the Digital8 format. When we bought our TRV-DCR510 a few years ago there were many models of Digital8 to pick from. Now I think there are about two, both of them rather "low end".

-- Seeker --
farss wrote on 8/21/2003, 8:27 AM
Seeker,
I think you're right although much to my surprise they build a D8 VCR.
Big problem is there are so many cheap DV cameras and miniDV stock is now cheaper than D8.
I just don't like those twitchy little minDV cassettes and the equally fragile DV transports. My D8 camera still work faultlessly despite getting a lot of sand in it in central China, covered in mud shooting a rally and doing thousands of hours of A/D conversion. The head cleaning tape I bought with the camera is still in its shrink wrap.
And the camera was a factory second to start with!
jamcas wrote on 8/21/2003, 9:07 AM
is 60 mins in SP mode the most you can get on these small tapes nowadays ?
jamcas wrote on 8/21/2003, 9:08 AM
my dad has one of those huge 'takes a VHS tape' early camcorders, kinda like carrying a battery powered VCR on your shoulders. the tape would outlast the battery