24MBPs AVCHD vs. MiniDV HD tape

[MacGuy]

Hi I am looking into replacing my Panasonic HDC-SD9

I want to know which has less compression and looks way better.
24 mbps AVCHD or HD miniDV tape.

My camcorder options are.
Canon HV30
Canon HF200
JVC GZ-HM200

Please help me out.
Also if anyone knows the Low light quality say as in a room with one lamp or two. And if their is any trailing or ghosting. I am going to post a sample picture taken from the video sometime tonight.

Also is it possible to record straight to the computer without a tape in the HV30.

[scumball]

HDV uses MPEG2 - 1080i uses a recording data rate of 25 Mbit/s (3.125 MB/s) while HDV 720p records at 19.7 Mbit/s (2.46 MB/s).

My money would be on the AVC looking crisper.

[A n d r e w]

Just to clarify, the HV30 records HDV2: 1080 lines at 25mbps not 720 at 19mbps (HDV1). The Canon HF and HV series are roughly on par for image quality.

[MacGuy]

So which would have better pic quality.

[senu]

Originally Posted by MacGuy

So which would have better pic quality.

It would depend on the camera
In theory AVCHD is a better codec for Hi def implementation and would perhaps at identical bitrates be better than equivalent HDV
In practice even at 24mbps , I would challenge a canon HF doing 24 with AVCHD to be better than say an HDV XH A1
I imagine you can record direct to HDD via firewire from a tape camcorder if you have a capture program al fired up.. however I dont know how longou could do this for as many camcorders will auto shut off after a period of percieved inactivity

[MacGuy]

I just remembered why I thought about the MiniDV.
Well I heard the AVCHD in the Canon HF200 is highly compressed.
Thought I am now leaning toward the JVC if I go with card based.

[senu]

Originally Posted by MacGuy

I just remembered why I thought about the MiniDV.
Well I heard the AVCHD in the Canon HF200 is highly compressed.
Thought I am now leaning toward the JVC if I go with card based.

You heared wrong
the 24mps HF 200 can do is the least compressed you can get consumer AVCHD and as such currently its highest bitrate

[MacGuy]

Ok thats good news than.

[MacGuy]

Ok so AVCHD and Minidv HD look about the same if not any different. In that case I think I will get the HV30

Reason:
When I want to record a family event that takes up 2 hours or card. To archive it will take 16GB I don't have enough DVDs and don't 4 DVD's cost the same at 2 MiniDV HDV tapes
At home when doing fun things I can make sure the cam don't shut off. And record straight to computer. Saving me money and time.
Because with my HDC-9 I have to record then import into iMovie or FCP and sometimes for a 1 Hr recording it takes 1 hour and so many minutes to import. But by bypassing tape I can save time by just recording straight to computer.
The HV30 has a bigger censor than the HF200.
We have very few family events. So most of the time id be at home recording straight to computer.

[ntm1275]

Originally Posted by MacGuy

Because with my HDC-9 I have to record then import into iMovie or FCP and sometimes for a 1 Hr recording it takes 1 hour and so many minutes to import.

Why does it take so long?

With my HDC-SD1, I just copy the mt2s files on to my PC and then format the card, which takes a few minutes, and then in my own time I edit/convert etc the mt2s files in to whatever I want
I think it takes about 4 minutes to copy the whole of my 16GB SDHC card

I assume that you are editing/converting directly from the SDHC card in to your chosen program as that is why it's so slow

[MacGuy]

Originally Posted by ntm1275

Why does it take so long?

With my HDC-SD1, I just copy the mt2s files on to my PC and then format the card, which takes a few minutes, and then in my own time I edit/convert etc the mt2s files in to whatever I want
I think it takes about 4 minutes to copy the whole of my 16GB SDHC card

I assume that you are editing/converting directly from the SDHC card in to your chosen program as that is why it's so slow

Ok I have a Unibody MacBook
I take the card out of my HDC-SD9
then put it into my SDHC card reader
Open disk utility and create a Disk Image of the card. Which is basically a exact clone.
Once I have checked the size of the Image compared to the Card To make sure they are about the same size.
I put the card back into the cam. Then erase it.
I don't like to always format it.

And whenever I want to edit I mount the Disk Image and then Edit.

[MacGuy]

It take about 3 to 6 minutes to clone a Full 8GB card.

[MacGuy]

I meant converting from AVCHD to Apple Pro Res.

[chrishull3]

The 25 mpbs does not meen that much,an avchd BD rendered at mpeg 2 is around 25 mpbs while one rendered AVC [that takes twice as long]is around 16 mpbs but is sharper with more resolution.To be fair avchd cams nowadays despite the extra resolution have less noise or none in some,making good films with them is anothr story.

[MacGuy]

So AVCHD can look way better. But that for more expincice cams. So say a $800 Mini HDV beats a $800 AVCHD but A $1500 AVCHD beats the $800 Mini HDV.

See I used to own a Panasonic HDC-SD9 it had great outdoor in daylight quality but kinda bad indoor at night quality. But that's not why I sold it. Inside when people moved they became a ghost and would trail. My snap failed so I have to re do.

I decided that altho I like AVCHD I don't have enough space for backup but in about two years things might change storage wise.