DV Capture with a CAM

jamcas wrote on 11/25/2003, 12:41 AM

Hi,

I was checking out some camcorders from sony and see they are starting to bring out 3CCD cameras, anyway they are out of my budget....

The question I would like to ask is what component of a camcorder does the A2D conversion when I want to capture a VHS via my camcorder into VV.
is it the CCD imager ?

if so then i would get better results with a 1MP CCD cam than a 680K CCD cam ?

and therefore a 3CCD imager camcorder would do a better conversion ?

cheers
Jc

Comments

farss wrote on 11/25/2003, 1:09 AM

The CCD will make absolutely no difference to the A/D conversion.

Check though to see if the camera has a Time Base Corrector and Digital Noise Reduction. From what I've just seen the last thing can make a big difference. You may find you only get that in D8 cameras as they also play Hi8 analogue tapes which need the TBC and DNR to cleanup the signal.

Unfortunately the rest of the D8 cameras aren't that flash which is a real pity as I like the 8mm tape size.

jamcas wrote on 11/25/2003, 1:18 AM

thanks farss, (im looking at a sonymini DV cams)

Do you know if there is a very noticeable difference between something filmed on a 680K CCD and a 1MP CCD ? and then the difference with a 3CCD ?

Ive been to a few stores but every store has a the same lame setup
50 camcorders on tripods chained with security gear and sometimes a model treain set to focus on. I want to tape something on a 680K CCD and a 1MP CCD and see the difference on a TV not on a little LCD.

Jc

RBartlett wrote on 11/25/2003, 3:11 AM

The higher res CCD's pick up less light so can give you a worse video picture but a good still.

CCD is a sensor that is receives a real world signal and, through it being an electonic transducer, produces an analogue output. The digitisation might well be on the back end or even on the same component fabrication. Yet the CCD itself should be regarded as being an analogue component.

3-CCD (and 4-color) do tend to loose some light due to their more bulky requirement to involve a prism. However the larger pixels capture more light than if they were dimensionally like the 1MP or 1CCD camera types and the overall effect is better uniform response and something nicer for the digitiser and DV compressor (where you record onboard and don't use the analogue output). More light for the same lens/iris/"shutter" settings anyway.

3CCD is something to head towards as early as possible, IMHO. Although a good lens to go with it is probably worth mentioning.

3CCD doesn't guarantee the best picture in all conditions especially if the camera is a bit older. You should seriously consider trying a camera first, especially if it costs >US$1400, as you might then be able to hire it first.

jamcas wrote on 11/25/2003, 3:42 AM

thanks for your advice, i thought a higher res CCD would give a better video picture, dont really care about still because i have a separate DSC for that.

regards
jc

RBartlett wrote on 11/25/2003, 3:55 AM

It probably could if the characteristics of the CCD were as good as our eyes.

farss wrote on 11/25/2003, 6:02 AM

The high pixel count is driven by the marketing guys. More must be better, right?
Wrong!
For video in general for a given size CCD less pixels are better. The smaller the CCDs elements the less the latitude. To make it worse consummer cameras don't give you the ability to control gamma so you have an even harder time of it and unlike the pros with their expensive cameras you have less chance to control the lighting situation.

Problem is like so many things today it's hard to find something in our price range designed to do just what you want it for without paying for what you don't want. Want to spend a bit more on the camera sir? Look this ones got Bluetooth and this ones got 1001 built in digital effects.

I did have a Panasonic camcorder in my hands a few days ago and it did seem to be built with the idea of being a good camera rather than a Swiss army knife. had a good size piece of glass on the front and usefull features like guide frame and zebra. Sorry didn't notice the model number but at least you know the brand.