Expert opinion, please

rajgopal wrote on 6/1/2006, 10:31 PM
I am little confused with the following Cnet review of Sony HDR-HC3 high def camera. So, HD footage can not be viewed as HD from DVD?

The camcorder can downconvert HD content to standard-definition during transfer, handy when the ultimate destination for your footage is a DVD. Sony doesn't include any software for transferring or editing footage. If you already have video-editing software, keep in mind that only the most recent versions support HDV transfer. Until Blu-ray and HD-DVD burners become available, you're limited with what you can currently do with your HD content. I used Sony Media Software's Vegas+DVD video-editing package to transfer HD content to a PC for playback. Editing HD content is easy, if somewhat slower than working with DV, but you eventually have to downconvert the final footage to DVD resolution (720x480-pixel 480p format) for distribution.

Comments

jrazz wrote on 6/1/2006, 10:38 PM
It can be viewed from a DVD, but you would have to encode to wmv and play the file on your computer or something that will play HDV wmv files.

The reason why DVD players won't play them is b/c they are not geared for them hence the creation of HD DVD players as well as BluRay Disc Players. They are setup for hi def and they play hi def- but if your tv is not hi def, then it is basically a waste of money as you will not get the 1080 lines that HDV provides.

j razz
rajgopal wrote on 6/1/2006, 10:54 PM
Will the picture quality of HD footage better if played from progressive scan DVD player on a HD Plasma TV compared to SD footage with the same set up?

I am planning on upgrading from DCR HC96 to HDR-HC3. If the picture quality wonlt get any better, I might as well stick with SD (DCR-HC96). What do you think?
mbryant wrote on 6/2/2006, 2:22 AM
Will the picture quality of HD footage better if played from progressive scan DVD player on a HD Plasma TV compared to SD footage with the same set up?

As j razz explained... today if you are playing it on a DVD player, then by definition it will need to be SD. So the question becomes: Will HC3 footage converted to SD DVD look better than a SD DVD made with HC96 DV footage? The answer to this is yes, it should be somewhat better, but the difference will be much smaller than if you compare HC3 HD footage with the HC96.

While there is no real way to distribute HD today, you get these additional advantages by going to HD now:

- If you have a HD screen, you can watch your edited projects in HD today. The most simple way is to output back to tape and play the HDV files from the cam. You can also play HD files from the PC in a number of formats, optionally using one of these
AVeL LinkPlayer2

- You can archive your edited HD projects, and when Blueray or HD-DVD writers become available, you can reissue on these formats.

Mark