AVCHD vs HDV Camcorder Question(s)

[phildavies79]

Looking to buy my first high def camcorder...

Been told that AVCHD can be tempramental to edit and may place too much strain on my PC (core 2 duo processor 2.1Mhz and 2GB ram).

But I can't find many HDV camcorders at all. Best non-professional model I could find was the Sony HDR-HC9E (though no where seems to stock it).

1. Do any HDD or SD(HC) camcorders use HDV?

2. If I go for AVCHD would my PC specs be up to it (I am happy to get Sony Vegas 9 for editing, which apparently allows drag n drop of AVCHD clips)?

Thanks for any help you can give,

Phil.

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by phildavies79

Looking to buy my first high def camcorder...

Been told that AVCHD can be tempramental to edit and may place too much strain on my PC (core 2 duo processor 2.1Mhz and 2GB ram).

But I can't find many HDV camcorders at all. Best non-professional model I could find was the Sony HDR-HC9E (though no where seems to stock it).

1. Do any HDD or SD(HC) camcorders use HDV?

2. If I go for AVCHD would my PC specs be up to it (I am happy to get Sony Vegas 9 for editing, which apparently allows drag n drop of AVCHD clips)?

Thanks for any help you can give,

Phil.

[B]




Canon HV30 High Definition Mini DV Camcorder with remote [HV30] - £521.73 : Compudirect, Laptops, LCD Televisions, TFT Monitors, Digital Cameras and more..

Dont dicount this a great performer, my powerful quad core pc was not up to the job of properly editing avchd.

[Ken42]

I Have the earlier Canon HV20. Excellent camera as Chrishull3 says.

[senu]

Originally Posted by phildavies79

Looking to buy my first high def camcorder...

Been told that AVCHD can be tempramental to edit and may place too much strain on my PC (core 2 duo processor 2.1Mhz and 2GB ram).

It will struggle

But I can't find many HDV camcorders at all. Best non-professional model I could find was the Sony HDR-HC9E (though no where seems to stock it)

The Canons as suggested.

1. Do any HDD or SD(HC) camcorders use HDV?

JVC made one or 2 which record HDv to HDD but Im not sure of current models
It is possible theoretically but would be hard to market because HDV would use up 13Gb for 1 hr of video
AVCHD would use up much les space for arguable the same or "better" quality Hi Def video

2. If I go for AVCHD would my PC specs be up to it

As stated above, it wiil strugle a lot
You could get a newer Quad core or i7 sysytem or stick with HDV for now

(I am happy to get Sony Vegas 9 for editing, which apparently allows drag n drop of AVCHD clips)?

They all do

[phildavies79]

Thanks for the Cannon suggestion and the link.

Seems bizarre that most hi def camcorders are using AVCHD - a format that most folks are going to struggle editing. I would have thought people interested in hi def are also more likely to want to edit their footage.

One more question...

Can most high def camcorders (inc the Canon HV30) shoot in standard def as well? Or is it usually an either/or thing?

Thanks.

[senu]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by phildavies79

Thanks for the Cannon suggestion and the link.

Seems bizarre that most hi def camcorders are using AVCHD - a format that most folks are going to struggle editing. I would have thought people interested in hi def are also more likely to want to edit their footage.

A case of editing / software playing catchup with camcorders. The marketing was to et on tape high quality and affordable camcordein peoles hand first and worry about the smal minority seeking to edit later
Maybe soon, well have quad core i7 systems as entry level.. till then. AVCHD is very processor hungry

One more question...

Can most high def camcorders (inc the Canon HV30) shoot in standard def as well? Or is it usually an either/or thing?

You can shoot SD but you can shoot HDV and capture as SD anyway as the camcorder can downconvert " on the fly" whist doing the capture
AVCHD camcorders cannot do this though so you either have to shhot Sd or convert in software later
Many Canon AVCHD models dont have SD shooting option