Newbie with recording questions

[hillsmi]

Thank you in advance for answering.

I'm going to be videoing a class trip next week.

Available to me is a Sony TRV118, capable of Hi8 and standard 8mm modes, with SP and LP modes.

Available media is Panasonic Hi8 and Sony standard 8mm.

Could be taping many hours, possibly 6-10.

1. Upon the transfer / editing process, how many hours will fit on a 4.7GB 120 min DVD-R disc? Because I know from transfering to my home DVD recorder, that I can fit as many as 6 hours on a single disc, albeit that the more I squeeze onto the disc, I'm sure the quality isn't as good as if it were 2hrs.

2. Which mode of recording, LP or SP, will be best for balancing my transfer / editing and maximizing quality and tape conservation?

I read in the manual that if you use a Hi8 tape, and use the LP mode, it records in standard 8. What are the advantages / disadvantages of using LP to save tape and have longer recording time? Does it degrade recording quality upon output?

The Sony 8mm tapes state there are two modes, NTSC and PAL. What are these? is it just LP or SP mode in a different language? Because NTSC gives 4 hrs and PAL gives 2hrs. Likewise, the Panasonic tapes state Hi8 of 4hrs in LP and 2hrs in SP. Is this something that is user set? or does the camera know which type of media is inserted, change the available recording time when you choose either LP or SP?

Any additional information you can provide is greatly appreciated for this novice videographer.

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by hillsmi

Thank you in advance for answering.

I'm going to be videoing a class trip next week.

Available to me is a Sony TRV118, capable of Hi8 and standard 8mm modes, with SP and LP modes.

Available media is Panasonic Hi8 and Sony standard 8mm.

Could be taping many hours, possibly 6-10.

1. Upon the transfer / editing process, how many hours will fit on a 4.7GB 120 min DVD-R disc? Because I know from transfering to my home DVD recorder, that I can fit as many as 6 hours on a single disc, albeit that the more I squeeze onto the disc, I'm sure the quality isn't as good as if it were 2hrs.

2. Which mode of recording, LP or SP, will be best for balancing my transfer / editing and maximizing quality and tape conservation?

I read in the manual that if you use a Hi8 tape, and use the LP mode, it records in standard 8. What are the advantages / disadvantages of using LP to save tape and have longer recording time? Does it degrade recording quality upon output?

The Sony 8mm tapes state there are two modes, NTSC and PAL. What are these? is it just LP or SP mode in a different language? Because NTSC gives 4 hrs and PAL gives 2hrs. Likewise, the Panasonic tapes state Hi8 of 4hrs in LP and 2hrs in SP. Is this something that is user set? or does the camera know which type of media is inserted, change the available recording time when you choose either LP or SP?

Any additional information you can provide is greatly appreciated for this novice videographer.

My advice is record h8 in sp mode i know hi8lp is said to be ok but i would use sp myself[you could always do some test footage and may find lp ok]a dvd recorder in sp 2hr mode will record 2hrs on a 4.7gb disc at hi 8 quality, if you use the sony in video 8 mode lower quality the disc would probably hold 3 hrs without losing much quality,i must say i did not know panasonic made 8mm tapes they did not make 8 mm cams only vhs and vhsc.pal is the uk european video mode ntsc the usa mostly.

[MarkE19]

I would strongly recommend you stick to recording in SP mode as getting another camcorder to play a LP recording could prove difficault as not all LP modes are compatible with each other. LP will be lower quality and more prone to picture & sound drop outs due to the tape moving slower across the heads of the camcorder.
You will have a switch or menu setting on the camcorder for selecting between LP & SP.

Hi8 recordings will be better quality than video8/8mm.

The more you squeeze onto a DVD the lower the quality will be. The chances are that you will see no benefit with the best possible quality settings due to the lower quality from an old analogue camcorder. But too much squeezed onto the DVD could make it look very poor. Do some test transfers to see what you think offers the best results with the equipment you have.

Mark.

[senu]

Originally Posted by MarkE19

I would strongly recommend you stick to recording in SP mode as getting another camcorder to play a LP recording could prove difficault as not all LP modes are compatible with each other. LP will be lower quality and more prone to picture & sound drop outs due to the tape moving slower across the heads of the camcorder.

Ditto

Originally Posted by MarkE19

The more you squeeze onto a DVD the lower the quality will be. The chances are that you will see no benefit with the best possible quality settings due to the lower quality from an old analogue camcorder. But too much squeezed onto the DVD could make it look very poor. Do some test transfers to see what you think offers the best results with the equipment you have.
Mark.

I would generally avoid more than 2 hrs on a 4.7G b disc. Most commercial movies longer than 90 min tend to use dual layer discs

[chrishull3]

i think i covered things ,sp best ,hi8 best ,2hrs of hi8 per disc, dvd can take 3hrs of 8mm with only a small loss not that i would.

[senu]

Originally Posted by chrishull3

i think i covered things ,sp best ,hi8 best ,2hrs of hi8 per disc, dvd can take 3hrs of 8mm with only a small loss not that i would.

You did
but
Maybe bullet points to explain in a some what simplistic way would make it easier to digest for a newbee hence the other posts

No offence intended .. All in a bid to help the OP If we are all saying the same thing there must be some truth in it

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by senu

You did
but
Maybe bullet points to explain in a some what simplistic way would make it easier to digest for a newbee hence the other posts

No offence intended .. All in a bid to help the OP If we are all saying the same thing there must be some truth in it

you and these little blighters seem to get on well
i never take offence senu