[CO2000]

Hi,
Looking at a HD Camcorder for filming Motorsport & general family filming duties, I want to stay away from tape (I do know its better quality but would prefer HDD or SD card etc)

I was all set for buying a SD5 Panasonic but now think the fast panning req'd for Motorsport may cause the footage to suffer.

Is there a better HDD or SD card Hi Def Camcorder that handles fast panning better (the Canon HG10 ??)

Thanks for any help & Happy New Year !

Co.

[redsox_mark]

The fast panning clips I've seen from the HG10 have looked fine.

There are some clips here
http://file.meyersproduction.com/hg10/

The 00009.zip file contains a raw clip with a lot of very fast pans.

[senu]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

The fast panning clips I've seen from the HG10 have looked fine.

There are some clips here
http://file.meyersproduction.com/hg10/

The 00009.zip file contains a raw clip with a lot of very fast pans.

I totally agree with this
I have casually used it (The HG 10) in this mode and have been pleasantly surprised at the AF and Fast panning reaction
Curiously though, last night I used its composite video out to output to a settop DVD recorder and the DVD I made from that had some "smearing". This may be due to the Settop recorder not the camcorder as the actually playback from the settop HDD was smaer free
However Ive never had this from tape but then with tape Ive always tranferred by firewire

[CO2000]

Thanks for the replies, would the SD5 be a lot worse than the HG10 or only slightly with regard to panning ?


I already have a TZ3 Camera so the SD5 would be a good fit (both sd cards etc)

Cheers,

Co.

[Spy]

This is an interesting thread.

The Canon HV20 seems to be highly rated and is an HDV (miniDV) camcorder which is widely regarded as the better HD format for video quality.

AVCHD appears to be inferior in quality to HDV yet the HG10 seesm to perform well, particularly in fast panning which seems to be an achilles heel of the AVCHD format.

Does the HG10 really address many of the AVCHD shortcomings and is therefore the best AVCHD camcorder on the market ?

[senu]

Originally Posted by Spy

This is an interesting thread.
The Canon HV20 seems to be highly rated and is an HDV (miniDV) camcorder which is widely regarded as the better HD format for video quality.

For now that would seem to be the case

AVCHD appears to be inferior in quality to HDV yet the HG10 seem to perform well, particularly in fast panning which seems to be an achilles heel of the AVCHD format.

I have to say that in ideal lighting and similar camcorders the playback difference isnt startling. TBH. What is true is that HDV "technolgy" is a tad more evolved despite being the "older " one
I think fast panning also affects tape (HDV)AF ( especially in lower light) to a little extent, SD HDD as well but HDD/CF card HD (AVCHD) the most. I also think the auto slow AF doesnt help much and is better turned off. It is better to use better lighting.Panning is not a great video technique in any case. I think the more upmarket Semi Pro Pro grade camcorders can get away with it because of superior optics and electronics but to be fair, even modest MiniDV SD tape models do handle it a lot better.

Does the HG10 really address many of the AVCHD shortcomings and is therefore the best AVCHD camcorder on the market ?

It is very hard to say that without having hands on with the others but I certainly don't think its well received status is undeserved .
It has made strides to address a lot of the misgivings by those used to the better made camcorders.

Im not sure what you mean by the "AVCHD shortcomings" though. It is still hard to play, hard to edit on PCs with modest specs and software compatibility is pants ....
The HG 10 does however come with software to address playing and editing its own output

[rhubarbe]

My SD7 really isn't very good at all at even quite slow panning.

[CO2000]

Hmmm interesting updates, I'd ideally wait but my stuation is a trip to Oz in 6 weeks so I really need to pull the trigger soon. SD Card & hard drive seem a new (in camcorder terms) & handy way for storage but not so good if its going to affect the very thing its used for.

I'll have to look at the Cannons as well HG10 & the HV20, still like the look of the SD5 though...

Co.