Will I regret getting a non-HD Camcorder?

[mplep]

Hi,

I convinced myself that a £250-300 MiniDV camcorder would be fine (family shots and stuff). Something like the Sony DCRHC47E was of interest. But reading through here and elsewhere is giving me second thoughts. An HD unit sounds great and does make sense, but it's double the cost at least. I know everything will be HD sooner than later. But will a good standard def MiniDV look terrible if you played back in a few years when compared to HD? Are we talking VHS compared to DVD quality here?

Your advice is very welcome.

MPLEP

[PDP-434HDE]

You can't turn back the clock - yes.

I purchased a Sony HC-3 and I have 20 tapes of HDV footage that I can assure you is stunning when viewed on my Plasma via HDMI.

[rhubarbe]

Yes, if the technology is available and you can afford it, and you're going to be watching the video for the next twenty years I would have thought that HD is the way to go.

You can get new Canon HV10's on eBay for £420 to £450. I've got one and for all it's odd form factor (if you thnk it is odd), the image quality is beautiful.

I just played myself some SD footage I took last year on a Panasonic SDR-S150, and although the colour on the Pana is very realistic the definition of the HV10 is in a whole new league.

Better OIS, too, thank goodness.

[mplep]

OK, I'm convinced. I will go for the Canon HV20. Don't need until nearer the end of the year, so hoping the price might reduce a little by then.

Thanks for the advice

MPLEP

[senu]

Originally Posted by mplep

OK, I'm convinced. I will go for the Canon HV20. Don't need until nearer the end of the year, so hoping the price might reduce a little by then.

Thanks for the advice

MPLEP

I think ( like all the above posts) , the answer to your original question is yes
Being able to wait means
You can save
newer models will make the older ones possibly less costly
You can actually get to see for yourself what you are getting
The HV20 is great.. but so is the HV 10 and the Sony models. the differences ( when it comes to the nitty gritty) are far less than the similarities
I would however suggest you stay close to HDV .. what the HDD and Flash card models ( AVCHD) give in tapeless convenience.. they take back in somewhat fledging software and playback versatility support

[samsav]

Just so as I don't start a new thread - what are the current recommendations for a hard drive cammy using miniDV (I gather this is the way to go so that data can be soundly archived - although given the costs of hard drives - I am wondering whether its simply worth buying two backup drives).

Sorry that's two questions:

1. whats a good miniDV HD recorder around £500 - used for family shots, principally my wife's expectant child

2. Is tape is the choice for archiving footage?

thanks

sam

[rhubarbe]

There is no such thing as a Hard Drive Mini DV camcorder. Mini Dv is tape, and Hard Drive (HDD) cams store the footage as mpeg-2 files on the HDD.

There isn't an HD HDD cam for £500. Cheapest is Sony HDR-SR5 about £550.

Yes, tape is best for archiving, but you can't archive Mini DV onto a HDD unless it's been saved as something else first, and you can't archive it to the HDD in your cam, obviously.

You can't archive mpeg-2 from a HDD cam onto a Mini DV tape, either.

Nothing is easy in this life.

[jetinder]

If your budget is limited get a minidv and then upgrade at a later.

Minidv isnt as bad as people make it out to be, still used by countless people.

[samsav]

Thanks - sorry my terms confused. I am happy to go with the mini DV tape I am just not sure which machine to buy the HC5 or HV20 (due to the cine mode). The camcorder is likely to be used 50% indoor and 50% outdoor therefore I am presuming that low light definition will be important. Price wise around £500 is tops for a brand new machine.

Are prices likely to drop in October as thats when I am likely to need it

thanks

sam

[senu]

Originally Posted by jetinder

If your budget is limited get a minidv and then upgrade at a later.

Minidv isnt as bad as people make it out to be, still used by countless people.

Actually ,MiniDV is not bad at all. There are a few poorly implemented MiniDV models and some great HDD models but the converse is very easily true
In general the video formats carried by MiniDV( DV AVI ( Standard def) and m2t ( for Hi Def) ) are not inferior formats
The real time downloading to PC and linear access to tape may make it not seem "digital"
However it is Digital
Once on the PC, its footage either as Standard or Hi def can be used exactly the same way as HDD or Flash card footage
More to the point the starting footage is of higher quality and the Hi def variety ( HDD: AVCHD) is yet to catch up with HDV for ease of play editing and versatility
The marketing depts which need to persuade folk to get HDD models are fond of comparing MiniDV tape to VHS..this is really just a marketing spin to move the market towards the newer technologies which (for now) give some and take some.
I realise the OP has stated a desire for HV 10/20 or Sony HC5 (or even HC7!) which are Hi def on MiniDV but for any one else looking out to buy don't dismiss miniDV models out of hand.. and read marketing claims with a pinch of sodium chloride