JVC CAMCORDER - HD - or choose another make?

[CarolynD]

Right, thanks to other advice given this week we have been and look at the JVC Everio range. We have just upgraded TV to Toshiba HD which takes HDMi, USB and card - is it worth paying additional money to purchase either the GZ MG645 or GZ MG680 that will upconvert recordings by camcorder to HD. Other alternative is paying more to buy a full HD camcorder - nothing too technical required - must be able to record fast action (showjumping).

Thank you helpful people!

[senu]

Originally Posted by CarolynD

Right, thanks to other advice given this week we have been and look at the JVC Everio range. We have just upgraded TV to Toshiba HD which takes HDMi, USB and card - is it worth paying additional money to purchase either the GZ MG645 or GZ MG680 that will upconvert recordings by camcorder to HD. Other alternative is paying more to buy a full HD camcorder - nothing too technical required - must be able to record fast action (showjumping).

Thank you helpful people!

If you wat to buy the JVC for the fact of CCD , ( for showjumping) and HDD for easy record transfer do so
But dont buy it in the hope that SD footage upconverted to HD will "wow " you
A lot of DVD players whict upconvert have really been somewhat lacklustre at this
Ironically Bluray players which can play HD natively are more capable upconverters
AFAIK all camcorders can record Fast action, some just do it better than others

[MarkE19]

Also you should be aware that any HD TV will automatically upscale all SD video signals it receives to it's native resolution. If it didn't the video would have large black boarders all around it. Also the inbuilt scaling of the TV will do a better job than any offboard scaling (unless spending a lot of money on the scaler) as it is designed to work with the TV's resolution and other onboard electronics.
IMO offboard scaling in the likes of a DVD player is a complete marketing gimmick that offers no advantages to the average consumer.

Mark.

[senu]

Originally Posted by MarkE19

Also you should be aware that any HD TV will automatically upscale all SD video signals it receives to it's native resolution. If it didn't the video would have large black boarders all around it. Also the inbuilt scaling of the TV will do a better job than any offboard scaling (unless spending a lot of money on the scaler) as it is designed to work with the TV's resolution and other onboard electronics.
IMO offboard scaling in the likes of a DVD player is a complete marketing gimmick that offers no advantages to the average consumer.

Mark.

This would equally also apply to any such upscaling by a camcorder
and indeed
It can be argued that software upconverting SD to HD files on the PC is also of dubious value, apart from addition if a small SD clip to HD footage during editing