HDR-TG3 - How to Persist your Footage

[dmccrae]

Having read many reviews about this Camcorder, I still cannot see what users are doing about persisting their HD footage and playing it back on an HD TV.

Today, with my current MiniDV Cam, I copy the contents of a tape using the Cam itself and its FireWire output to a Philips Hard Disk/DVD recorder, FireWire input. I might skip unwanted parts of the tape by pausing the recording at the Hard disk end, but thats the limit of the editing I need. From the hard disk I can then burn to standard DVD+R.

When I want to watch a home video, I take the DVD off the shelf and pop it in the player and watch it on the TV - off course the footage is not HD although the TV is. I have no use of, and do no wish to use, a computer.

So for high definition I want the same kind of story and I guess that means obtaining a blu-ray recorder. But what input would that take and from where? Directly from this camcorder? I suspect most people are not doing it this way, but what on earth are they doing then with their HD footage in order to view it on an HD TV?

[runas]

The TG3 records AVCHD to a memory stick. If you want a medium to play via a HD Ready TV then you need to gat the footage onto a Disc. The option I can see are:

1) Get a PS3. I believe this will enable you to play AVCHD files back from a standard 'data' DVD. To put the files on a DVD you need to transfer the video from the memory stick to a PC, then burn the files to the DVD using whatever software there is for the job in the PC.

2) Get a PC with a Blu-ray burner. Transfer the files to the PC and create a Blu-ray disc. Then get a Blu-ray player to connect to the TV. (A PS3 will also do this).

3) Get a media centre PC that can play AVCHD files direct into the TV.

I'd go with option 1) myself.

runas

[dmccrae]

Thanks for the reply.

I see what you are saying, but it just seems weird to me to have to get a PS3 for me just to watch my home video.

As for the PC options I wanted to avoid a PC to do any conversions.

I would rather take the footage direct from the camcorder to a blu-ray DVD recorder - is that possible?

[glesgaguyav]

I don't think there is a standalone BD recorder available at the present time, if you want to avoid a pc and want to watch HD the only options at present are descibed above, a media player is cheaper than a PS3 and can store 100's of hours of video (almost any format) as well as your ripped DVD files not forgetting music and photos, of course this depends on the size of the HD, you can also play your video direct from your portable HD and the HD doesn't have to be Fat32 formatted, as with the PS3

[Russ]

One option is the Sony VDR-MC5 which will tranfer your AVCHD files to DVD (directly w/o PC) and you can then play back in a PS3 or bluray. Saves filling upi your disk and provides a more permanent storage.
I have just bought one of these and they work great with my HDR-SR12 and for copying old tapes to DVD for playback. Well worth £150 IMHO.
R

[OldSkoO1]

Originally Posted by Russ

One option is the Sony VDR-MC5 which will tranfer your AVCHD files to DVD (directly w/o PC) and you can then play back in a PS3 or bluray. Saves filling upi your disk and provides a more permanent storage.
I have just bought one of these and they work great with my HDR-SR12 and for copying old tapes to DVD for playback. Well worth £150 IMHO.
R

Russ please could you advise - do these standalone recorders manage to do seamless discs? I.e. no gaps between each clip.


Thank you

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by dmccrae

Thanks for the reply.

I see what you are saying, but it just seems weird to me to have to get a PS3 for me just to watch my home video.

As for the PC options I wanted to avoid a PC to do any conversions.

I would rather take the footage direct from the camcorder to a blu-ray DVD recorder - is that possible?

Don't see the PS3 as a games console, it is a blu-ray player (just happen to be able to play games on it...)

The PC does not have to do any conversions, just copy the files from the memory stick onto a DVD (hence I use 4Gb memorysticks as they fit on the very cheap DVD's) and hey presto it is there...No conversion nothing...

But of-course you do need a blu-ray player to watch the discs, that's the whole point of a HD camera...As such if you don't have a player get the PS3 as player as that makes life even easier as you can just pop in the stick...

[senu]

Agree the PS3 is a versatile Media player and Bluray/ DVD player which also happens to be a great games console

However with a little know how you can generally use your laptop or a PC as a HTPC
You can ( with a PS3) also use the PC as a media server ( with easily available softer) while the PS3 streams to HDTV.
These are possibilities

[dmccrae]

Thanks to all - I have a good idea of the possibilities now.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by OldSkoO1

Russ please could you advise - do these standalone recorders manage to do seamless discs? I.e. no gaps between each clip.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you -- no gaps. I detect a slight pause (a bit like a layer change).
In effect you create an assemble edit of your 2GB AVCHD files from the camcorder that can then be played back but there isnt a menu.
I use a PS3 and it works fine. My SR12 footage looks excellent !
With the HDR-TG3 you would just insert the card into the VRD-MC5 and follow the menu (selecting clips from the screen etc) Or connect using USB.


In summary, the VRD-MC5 seems a very useful device for many (SD & HD) video to dvd applications including offloading those save programmes off your sky box and IMHO is (my) money well spent.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by dejongj

Don't see the PS3 as a games console, it is a blu-ray player (just happen to be able to play games on it...)

I agree.