PLEASE HELP SD9 v Mini DV playback quality in SD

[Jake Bean]

I currently have a Mini DV camcorder (sony TRV8 - 8 years old) which gives quite a good picture when burnt to DVD. However it is a bit on the big and heavy side so I am considering purchasing a replacement. Thought to future proof best to get an HD camcorder and the Panasonic HDC-SD9 is in my budget.

The dilemma I have is this - at the moment I have a SD plasma tv and an SD DVD player (and don't have the money to upgrade these, yet) so when I convert the footage to standard definition on a DVD to playback on my current equipment, will the picture quality be worse than / about the same / or, better than what I get with my existing camcorder???

Am feeling pressured because the £50 cashback offer ends tomorrow on the SD9.

Please help - have looked for the answer in the forums but couldn't find any.

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by Jake Bean

I currently have a Mini DV camcorder (sony TRV8 - 8 years old) which gives quite a good picture when burnt to DVD. However it is a bit on the big and heavy side so I am considering purchasing a replacement. Thought to future proof best to get an HD camcorder and the Panasonic HDC-SD9 is in my budget.

The dilemma I have is this - at the moment I have a SD plasma tv and an SD DVD player (and don't have the money to upgrade these, yet) so when I convert the footage to standard definition on a DVD to playback on my current equipment, will the picture quality be worse than / about the same / or, better than what I get with my existing camcorder???

Am feeling pressured because the £50 cashback offer ends tomorrow on the SD9.

Please help - have looked for the answer in the forums but couldn't find any.

It may look more vibrant but the basic quality will be the same,make sure you store all your hd footage for future use.
The main thing is you will have the footage on hd then to make avchd and blu ray discs in the future.

[A n d r e w]

In bright light outdoors, at least as good if not better; in average light, about the same; in poor light indoors . . . well, the answer there depends on the size of the chips in your Sony. I believe the TRV8 boasts 1/4" CCDs. The SD9 has 1/6" CCDs. So the SD9 is probably worse in low light than the TRV8. The added resolution can't make up for that.

Still, like the man says, two out of three ain't bad.

Andrew.

[Jake Bean]

Thanks very much for this - Regarding keeping the High Def footage for future use . Can I just simply burn the HD file now on to a standard DVD?

Thanks for your help

Dan

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by Jake Bean

Thanks very much for this - Regarding keeping the High Def footage for future use . Can I just simply burn the HD file now on to a standard DVD?

Thanks for your help

Dan

You must store it on your hard drive or preferably an external drive,putting it on a standard dvd will only be sd footage.

[Zaichik]

Originally Posted by chrishull3

You must store it on your hard drive or preferably an external drive,putting it on a standard dvd will only be sd footage.

Not quite true - you can buy a burner for the SD9 which will burn the HD footage on to a DVD. However, the discs can only be played in a player (like the PS3) which supports the HD format.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Zaichik

Not quite true - you can buy a burner for the SD9 which will burn the HD footage on to a DVD. However, the discs can only be played in a player (like the PS3) which supports the HD format.

Just to clear the air

You can also create an "AVCHD disc" ( such as you are describing) on a PC with suitable software on DVD discs without using any special burner apart from a DVD writer . They also play on suitable BD players ( I have one which can play them) as wellas PS3

As such
Hi def footage can go onto a DVD disc as

• Data
• AVCHD disc

or

• Standard SD DVD after it has been down converted

The first 2 will not play on a Standard DVD player
and the
First one wont play on a Bluray Player or DVD player

Only a PS3 and PC can play all 3

As such DVD discs as " data" storage may prove limiting with only 4.7 Gb/ disc compared to HDD and even as AVCHD disc you only get 20mins worth of footage