SV on an AVCHD camcorder

tcbetka wrote on 9/27/2008, 3:49 PM

For anyone with a HD camcorder with the ability to record SV...

How much better video quality do you think (or have you noticed) there is when comparing the "entry-level" SV cameras and the HDV/SV cameras recording in SV mode? I am particularly thinking of the Sony HDR-SR11 vs. the Sony DCR-SR45, but it certainly could be something from another manufacturer's line as well.

Thanks.

TB

Comments

dibbkd wrote on 9/27/2008, 4:54 PM

What is SV?

tcbetka wrote on 9/27/2008, 6:05 PM

Sorry, slang for DV I guess. I meant "standard digital video."

TB

EDIT: I see now that Sony uses both HD and SD (standard definition) on their website. I have been reading so many camcorder spec sheets that I must have morphed a couple terms together, lol.

Terje wrote on 9/27/2008, 7:08 PM

I can try to relay my experience. I used to have a very good (three CCD) SD camcorder. Very popular. I upgraded to an entry level HDV camcorder, the Canon HV 20. The difference is like night and day. HDV is many, many times better than the SD. There simply is no competition whatsoever.

blink3times wrote on 9/27/2008, 7:21 PM

I have the HC3, HC7, and HV20.... all HDV/DV cams.

Agree with Terje. There is no comparison, HDV is many times better.... although I think it does tend to suffer a bit more in low light situations.

tcbetka wrote on 9/27/2008, 9:33 PM

Wow--can't wait to see some footage. Someone mentioned a site that you could go and download some HD footage to edit; different formats, I mean. Like AVCHD vs HDV...that sort of thing.

Out of curiosity though, how much bigger is an HD file than a SD file of the same footage? Take a 1-minute clip of something...anything you can think of. How much larger is the HD file(s)?

Thanks again for the replies.

TB

John_Cline wrote on 9/27/2008, 10:33 PM

HDV and DV files are basically the same size, in fact, HDV files are slightly smaller.

dibbkd wrote on 9/28/2008, 1:58 AM

I'll email you a small raw footage AVCHD (.mt2s) file if you want to see for yourself from a HDR-CX12.

tcbetka wrote on 9/28/2008, 6:58 AM

Great...I would appreciate it.

tcbetka@hotmail.com

Thanks a lot.

farss wrote on 9/28/2008, 7:42 AM

When you get a sample clip try rendering it to SD mepg-2 for DVD.
I'm certain all of the above is well intenioned advice however to get good looking SD from HD is not trivial. You need to render at Best and wrangle interlace issues and aliasing. Plus most likely you'll need to deliver in 4:3 or else letterbox your 16:9.
As far as I know the AVCHD camcorders don't have the ability to downconvert on the fly to SD like the HDV tape based camcorders do, some of which will even do the letterboxing / centre cutout for you.

What you need to do as always is test the whole process from end to end. If you only look at parts of it you can easily misslead yourself.
I'm assuming your goal is to shoot quite a few hours of video and deliver it as easily and quickly as possible for playback on a SD TV.

Bob.

tcbetka wrote on 9/28/2008, 7:58 AM

Thanks Bob...will look for it right now and let you know how it works out.

TB

Terje wrote on 9/28/2008, 3:15 PM

blink3times: Agree with Terje

You have to stop that blink, it is really freaking me out :-)

blink3times wrote on 9/28/2008, 4:17 PM

Yeah I know. Doesn't it just drive you crazy when we agree on something!?! When it happens I shake my head, ponder my surroundings, and then SMACK my head against the nearest brick wall just to make sure it hurts and I'm still alive! :)