[TheForge] videotaping

[paul]

Jerry Smith wrote:
> Bruce,
>
> Many years a go I ran a video van for a Cable TV
> company, it's best to have two or three camera people
> to follow the speaker and the action goin on. I hear
> the digital and direct DVD recording camcorder are
> getting really to afford ability. There is also the
> simple thing of renting the equipment.
>   

For those of you considering a new camcorder, both the hard drive and 
DVD camcorders store the video in compressed format, similar to a jpg 
photo from a digital camera. The tape style camcorders (Mini DV and 
Digital 8) store the data in the equivalent  of digital still raw 
format. If you just want to capture video there is no real drawback to 
the new tech camcorders, but if you would like to edit the video other 
than cut and paste, as in fancy fades, color balance correction and 
lighting and contrast corrections, that is best handled in the 'raw' 
video format such as the .avi extension that is stored on your PC when 
you transfer video via 'firewire' from the camcorder to the PC's hard 
drive.
If you transfer via firewire directly to a standalone DVD burner the 
conversion to mpeg (compressed video) takes place in the DVD recorders 
hardware.
I have both Hi8 and Digital 8 and it appears that those formats are on 
the way out. My next camcorder will be MiniDV.
MiniDV will likely be around for some time as it is in more common use 
on high end prosumer and pro 3chip camcorders.
DVD's and CD's are subject to data deterioration due to dye failure when 
exposed to extreme heat or cold. Tape is more than likely the most 
stable long term storage media commonly available.
My local provideo shop rents Canon 3chip MiniDV cameras for about $150 
per weekend, they sell for 2K-4K. Not all that impossible, but rent one 
for a couple of shoots to see if you need all the features and quality.
It is hard to beat the convenience and transfer speeds of the Harddrive 
camcorders for less demanding use. +
Kind of like in the old days of film cameras, which still applies to 
digital photography, nothing beats great lenses and great film ( or 
great sensors in digital toys)
Have fun, be nice and share your video

Paul
WB9HCO