DVD Camcorder

[lurcher]

Just running an idea through my head and considering whether a dvd camcorder would be suitable & useable for in car filming.
I normally create footage on HDD Cam and then transfer to dvd at home to give pupil on next lesson , no probs there , good quality and usually about 30/55 mins footage per dvd-r.

Looking at options to provide pupil with media at end of lesson to take home and play straight away.
Had a trial by connecting my camcorder to Archos AV500 and then copying footage direct to USB pen drive . This would allow pupil to take home and plug into PC for viewing. 2GB Pen drive about £2.50
Initial prob was that my Windows Media Player wouldn"t play the pic just the audio.
Thats been sorted by downloading VLC Media Player on to the Pen drive and the video footage plays fine ( prob of no audio though ). PQ is not great but viewable as long as I dont go full screen.

This option is let down by the time it takes to copy the file from the Archos (700mb about 40mins footage ) to the Pen drive - about 12/13 mins which isn"t acceptable.

Any dvd camcorder users can give feedback on PQ on replay on home players ?
Am I correct in thinking 30 mins max record to -RW disc.
How long is the finalising process in camera before handing the disc over ?
When pupil brings disc back does it have to be formatted for new footage and if so how quick is this process.
Recomended media for best compatability with home players
Cosidered SD card Camcorders but I need relativley cheap reusable media to give to pupils.

Just an idea at this stage and suggestions welcome.

[senu]

I suspect youll find the quality on home DVD players fair to quite good depending on lighting

2 things to think of:-

How well do you need the AF to work ?
How reliable are the RW discs?

There are potential "problems" of unfinalisable discs which may be very few but have been reported

[lurcher]

Originally Posted by senu

I suspect youll find the quality on home DVD players fair to quite good depending on lighting

2 things to think of:-

How well do you need the AF to work ?
How reliable are the RW discs?

There are potential "problems" of unfinalisable discs which may be very few but have been reported

Re AF , I always leave the Sony HDD on that and it works well.
I would favour Ram disks but dont believe the majority of pupils would be able to replay them.
Have read some where that +RW dont require finalising ?

[senu]

Originally Posted by lurcher

Re AF , I always leave the Sony HDD on that and it works well.
I would favour Ram disks but dont believe the majority of pupils would be able to replay them.
Have read some where that +RW dont require finalising ?

You read wrong

[lurcher]

Originally Posted by senu

You read wrong

Hi,
Just been looking at the inline manuals for recent Sony models and they state +RW discs can be viewed on other devices without the need to finalise them.
Dony know about the general compatability of dvd players for +RW.

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by lurcher

Hi,
Just been looking at the inline manuals for recent Sony models and they state +RW discs can be viewed on other devices without the need to finalise them.
Dony know about the general compatability of dvd players for +RW.

What Sony meant to say is that they can be played on Sony DVD Recorders without the need for finalising. Now there might be more players but you cannot guarantee that. Anyway finalising is not an issue at all, I've had my Sony for over two years and not a single problem with it. And it only takes a minute and can be done in camera...

However I only was filmed whilst my wife was driving. I had mine in my hand and it absorbed the shocks that way. If you are an instructor I'd hope you have a mount. But that is where I would be concerned, by the very nature of the technology used for recording I would not trust it in a bumpy environment unless the mount has got shock absorbers.....Nice idea but I would just give it to them at their next lesson, also great for making them come back and back and back and spend more money with you

[lurcher]

Originally Posted by dejongj

What Sony meant to say is that they can be played on Sony DVD Recorders without the need for finalising. Now there might be more players but you cannot guarantee that. Anyway finalising is not an issue at all, I've had my Sony for over two years and not a single problem with it. And it only takes a minute and can be done in camera...

However I only was filmed whilst my wife was driving. I had mine in my hand and it absorbed the shocks that way. If you are an instructor I'd hope you have a mount. But that is where I would be concerned, by the very nature of the technology used for recording I would not trust it in a bumpy environment unless the mount has got shock absorbers.....Nice idea but I would just give it to them at their next lesson, also great for making them come back and back and back and spend more money with you

Thanks for the reply , yes I do use camcorder on a mount and both DV & HDD models have performed well over 4 years ( only had a corrupted file once on HDD Model )
Couple of questions ,
Can you recomend a reliable disc both -R & -RW.
PQ on 30min record setting.
Any other feedback on the DVD models.

TIA

[dejongj]

On my Sony I use either JVC DVD-RW for Camcorder version 1.1/2x or Sony DVD+RW for videocamera

It can be different on other camcorders, with Memorex my Sony says that they are not ok, I tried it for something non-important and it was fine...But evertime I put the disc in it says not ok...

Quality wise in 20minute mode they are the best, really good...In 30 minute mode you get some artefacts...However in the car the Camera is only ever in one position, you won't be doing any camera pan's...So you should not get any artefacts at all and possibly even be able to use it in a 1 hour setting if you had to....

Personally I would still be concerned about a laser mechanisme going close over the disc whilst driving on bumpy roads etc....

[lurcher]

Thanks for that , I can see your point re bumpy roads and the laser , I"ll try and blag one to try first , maybe QVC 30 day trial lol.

[lurcher]

One other question , seen some 60min discs , can I assume that you have to turn the disc over after 30 mins ( double sided ).

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by lurcher

One other question , seen some 60min discs , can I assume that you have to turn the disc over after 30 mins ( double sided ).

I wouldn't dare to say, my Camera a Sony DCR-DVD803e is single layer discs only. There are dual layer models out, but would doubt you have to flip the disc, I guess it is like with normal computer DVD drives and that the laser can write at different depths...

[lurcher]

Yes I understand DL disc record without flipping , but there are some double sided -RW around its those I was assuming had to be turned over ?

[dejongj]

Don't know mate....

[redsox_mark]

Yes, double sided discs (as opposed to dual layer) need to be turned over to record on both sides.

[lurcher]

So both sides have to finalised seperatley ?