Sony HDR-HC7E or HDR-SR8E?

7hil · 30-09-2007, 10:26 AM

I'm leaning towards the HC7 as it's tape based and is HDV. I have a fear of everything being on hard-drives or discs. Also I think HDV will be easier to playback on an Xbox or PS3 whereas AVCHD will be more limiting to the PS3.

But the SR8E will save me having to buy tapes. It will be more convienient to use when travelling. Quicker transfer to my PC. Decisions, decisions!?!?

7hil · 30-09-2007, 9:42 PM

So Hard Drive or Tape?

**senu** · 30-09-2007, 10:31 PM

I would go tape

You have the opportunity to make WMV-HDs . put them on a DVD and use them in the HD DVD Xbox 360 add-on
and also use m2t files on PS3 so the best of both worlds. AVCHD is PS3 only

Your tapes are a small cheap ready archive which don't need you to require HDDs for storage / backup / archiving before, or after editing ( if desired)
HDV is very slightly better quality ( not by much though)
and
Editing from tape is easier and more mainstream

If you stock up on tapes while travelling the HDD disadvantage disappears and it certainly will if you fill up the HDD unless you have downloaded to a laptop to free it up

The disadvantages are real time transfer on the PC and the need to swap tapes ( after 1 hr of recording) but the wide user base and the fact that Semi Pro/ Pro version camcorders still use tape mean that you are not getting an old dying format

redsox_mark · 01-10-2007, 7:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7hil

But the SR8E will save me having to buy tapes. It will be more convienient to use when travelling. Quicker transfer to my PC. Decisions, decisions!?!?

As Senu has said. Remember, if you go for HDD you don't need to buy media upfront, but you still need to worry about how you are going to archive backups of your material. And depending how much you shoot tape can actually be more convienent - just buy more tapes if you run out (or carry a lot with you)... rather than having to carry a laptop or other device to download to.

As I've keep saying (so apologies for the repetition), to me the big advantage of a HDD/AVCHD cam is if you don't want/need to edit on the PC at all. On the camcorder you can delete the clips you don't want, copy the ones you do quickly to a PC and burn to disc etc. If you are going to do editing on a PC that takes some time anyway; and you really need to watch your footage to determine what edits to make. You can watch your footage and make notes during that real time capture.

7hil · 01-10-2007, 9:05 AM

Cheers Guys. I will probably go tape as archiving on HDD can be a nightmare. I've already had an external HDD die on me. Would be terrible for that to happen with home video footage.

Where has been the cheapest and best place to get the tapes from?

Also do you know of any good sites to download HDV M2V (or do I mean M2T) clips for testing?

chrishull3 · 01-10-2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7hil

Cheers Guys. I will probably go tape as archiving on HDD can be a nightmare. I've already had an external HDD die on me. Would be terrible for that to happen with home video footage.

Where has been the cheapest and best place to get the tapes from?

Also do you know of any good sites to download HDV M2V clips for testing?

for tapes go to google and type in cheapest minidv tapes uk.chris

redsox_mark · 01-10-2007, 12:19 PM

You can find HDV clips (.m2t) all over.... Some nice example clips from a Sony FX1 here
http://www.vasst.com/HDV/FX-1_images.htm

Respighi · 01-10-2007, 5:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senu

I would go tape

You have the opportunity to make WMV-HDs . put them on a DVD and use them in the HD DVD Xbox 360 add-on
and also use m2t files on PS3 so the best of both worlds. AVCHD is PS3 only

Hello. I've been considering the same issue being discussed here and "playback-ability" is of key concern to me.

I have an XBox 360. If I were to record on the SR7/8 would there be any way for me to then convert the AVCHD on my PC into a format that I could stream to my 360?

Many thanks,

Mark.

**senu** · 01-10-2007, 5:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Respighi

Hello. I've been considering the same issue being discussed here and "playback-ability" is of key concern to me.

I have an XBox 360. If I were to record on the SR7/8 would there be any way for me to then convert the AVCHD on my PC into a format that I could stream to my 360?

Many thanks,

Mark.

I suspect that AVCHD can easily become WMV-HD. A DVD disc with WMV-HD to it can play of the Xbox360s HDdVD add on .
You can stream then via the media extenders for xbox .
At any rate AVCHD cannot ( apart from on the imovie08, be imported into editing software and output back to AVCHD)
As such I imagine WMV is one of its output options
I'm not sure if this is software dependent but certainly Sony Vegas 7 e ( and now 8 are able to do this

Respighi · 01-10-2007, 5:47 PM

Thanks Senu for the fast response.

I'll probe a little further before making any final decisions, but if indeed I can convert AVCHD into WMV-HD, that would solve the main potential concerns I had over playing back through my 360 (I currently have on trouble streaming WMV-HD from my PC to the 360).

7hil · 01-10-2007, 5:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

You can find HDV clips (.m2t) all over.... Some nice example clips from a Sony FX1 here
http://www.vasst.com/HDV/FX-1_images.htm

I actually downloaded some m2t clips of your dogs which I think you posted on a previous thread. I burned the 50i and 60i files to a data disc with a AVCHD file I downloaded too.

The AVCHD file played fine on my PS3 but your two Dog files were very choppy on playback. Any ideas what might be causing that?

**senu** · 01-10-2007, 6:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Respighi

Thanks Senu for the fast response.

I'll probe a little further before making any final decisions, but if indeed I can convert AVCHD into WMV-HD, that would solve the main potential concerns I had over playing back through my 360 (I currently have on trouble streaming WMV-HD from my PC to the 360).

One way of getting past this is to use the HD DVD add on.
It will enable you play HD DVD discs, make mini HD DVD discs from HiDef ( esp 60i) using standard 4.7Gb discs, and also put WMV-HD files on a DVD disc and play them rather than rely on streaming

Respighi · 01-10-2007, 6:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senu

One way of getting past this is to use the HD DVD add on.
It will enable you play HD DVD discs, make mini HD DVD discs from HiDef ( esp 60i) using standard 4.7Gb discs, and also put WMV-HD files on a DVD disc and play them rather than rely on streaming

Thanks again. (I actually meant to say "I currently have no trouble streaming...", but as I do have the HD-DVD drive that seems like another useful means of storing and playing HD footage.)

**senu** · 01-10-2007, 6:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Respighi

Thanks again. (I actually meant to say "I currently have no trouble streaming...", but as I do have the HD-DVD drive that seems like another useful means of storing and playing HD footage.)

The problems of transposing one little letter

. Well you have one more way of using your HD DVD drive

7hil · 01-10-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7hil

I actually downloaded some m2t clips of your dogs which I think you posted on a previous thread. I burned the 50i and 60i files to a data disc with a AVCHD file I downloaded too.

The AVCHD file played fine on my PS3 but your two Dog files were very choppy on playback. Any ideas what might be causing that?

The problem was that I burned the clips to a CD and not a DVD.

ctcrm · 03-10-2007, 12:26 PM

i went for hdv, ive got loads of other tapes in sd and wanted something to be able to play them, tapes are only a pound a go and if you go on holiday for any amount of time its less likely for me that im not going to run out of tapes where as the drive might become full.

the HD7 is a fantastic camera BTW not that ive had much experience to compare it with, im particularly impressed with the low light performance.