[mattandrew]

I have been given the task of finding a Camcorder for an Uncle. They want it to be easy to viewback and save the recordings.
I understand on a dual layer DVD you can get around 110minutes, my questions is can you have 3 diffferent discs on the go ie 1. His children 2. House 3. Misc. Can you then do some recording on disc 1 then remove this put disc 2 in and record on that then return to disk 1, add more recordings then finalise.

They want to spend about £280 below are a couple i have looked at. Is it better going for a DVD type or a HDD then play back to a DVD recorder which he has attached to his TV


DVD
Sony DR-DVD109E

HDD
Sony DCR-SR33E
Panasonic SDR-H20EB-S

Thanks Matt

[rhubarbe]

If I tell you that a DVDcamcorder doesn't take standard sized DVDs, does that spoil the plan for you?

[senu]

If he's got a DVD recorder at home, there is little point having a DVD camcorder as well despite the attractiveness the marketing you get at Comet ect.would have you believe

Your alternative plan for an HDD camcorder to settop DVD recorder would seem more reasonable, but copying an already compressed format from HDD camcorder would mean first outputting it as analogue to DVD recorder which will then re encode the video back to mpeg2 to create a DVD. The mind boggles at the potential for PQ loss in all of this

Moreover, apart from the need to Buy tapes, and be limited to 60- 90min (LP) at a time,
I would think at that price point a MiniDV camcorder ( with better starting video quality) recording to a DVD recorder ( which he already has) is far better value for money.

Even more so if the DVD recorder has a firewire input for digital transfer to the MiniDV camcorder, with no loss of quality apart from the need to encode from DV AVI to mpeg2 (DVD video) which is the ultimate viewing format anyway

Why?

1)Video quality of HDD Camcorders at £250/300 are fair to average at best compared to similarly priced MiniDV models
2) Unless a PC is involved and a fast transfer via USB is envisaged, Copying from HDD camcorder to DVD recorder would most likely be by composite video.. the lowest quality possible..
This would similarly be true of MiniDV as well if the DVD recorder doesnt have firewire but at least its video starting quality is better .

[L11]

There's a JVC HDD camcorder for around £300 that has DV Out, I think the model number is 155ek or 175ek

[rhubarbe]

The ones with the added focus blur and pixellation button, you mean?

[dejongj]

A dual layer DVD Camcorder can only record 40 minutes in High Quality mode. The other modes you should immediately forget as the compression becomes bad...

And to your other question, yes you can very easily swap discs between scenes. There will be no need for finding the end of a recording when you put it back in...All automatic...

[mattandrew]

Firstly thanks for all your input.

Ok i am now looking for a MiniDV for about £250 - £300

Sorry for the short reply i am at work

[redsox_mark]

Sony HC96, only available at ebyuer (discontinued model in the UK, but excellent)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/108048

Or Panasonic GS320, available from a number of places
http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pl/8-86...Compare-Prices