I have a sony Handycam Mini Dv DVC ect.. ect.... And I wanted to get a better quality tape for it, so I want to use HD tapes. Will these work for my mini dv recorder, or will there be NO change in the quality. My camera is NOT an hd recorder..
HD mini dv in normal mini dv recorder
| hsadmin wrote: |
| My camera is NOT an hd recorder.. |
You just answered your own question. - No HD Camera = NO HD footage.
I record HDV on regular DV tapes: different tape stocks don't effect the type of, or quality of the signal. The only difference between tapes is the 'lubricant' they use, if you switch between certain brands, you could possibly gum up your heads a bit.
The more epensive, 'higher' grade tapes usually give you less droput, the one qualitative difference that can be had with more expensive tapes. The more expensive HDV tapes will not necessarily guarantee less dropout, but are probably better formulated to deal with it because in HDV, the long GOP MPEG 2 signal means dropout isn't just a quick blip on the picture but a a half second freeze.
The more epensive, 'higher' grade tapes usually give you less droput, the one qualitative difference that can be had with more expensive tapes. The more expensive HDV tapes will not necessarily guarantee less dropout, but are probably better formulated to deal with it because in HDV, the long GOP MPEG 2 signal means dropout isn't just a quick blip on the picture but a a half second freeze.
The type of tape you use DOESN'T have an effect on the quality of the recording, other than helping avoid dropouts. The CAMERA and LENS is what does that. You say you have a Sony Mini DV cam...you CANNOT get an HD signal out of that camera....it will give you a standard definition signal. If you had one of the new HDV cams you could shoot HDV on mini-DV or the mini-HDV tapes. But because you have a mini-DV cam...that's the quality you will get out of it no matter the tapes. So no, switching tapes won't improve your video signal. Only buying a new camera will. There is so much misinformation floating around about camcorders it is absolutely amazing. As a video professional I find it astonishing how little the "Best Buy" type salesgeek at your local electronics store knows. I've heard them trying to sell a camcorder to a potential customer based on the fact it had a 700x digital zoom (knowledgable video people know a digital zoom is just useless) or the fact that it had a certain "mega pixel" rating which is mostly geared at still photo cameras. But they are easy "marketing speak" numbers.
Better things to look at would be....does it have an external mic connector?, does it have 3 chips, does it have manual controls of the iris, white balance, shutter speed, audio, how large are the CCD's? things like that. I have actually ruined Best Buy sales before by helping customers....I hate to see people being ripped off. I actually once saw a local sales geek trying to sell an customer here in the USA a PAL version of a camcorder (when we use NTSC). He told the customer that PAL meant the cam would be "his best friend.....like your pal". WOW.....I had to step in at that point.
Better things to look at would be....does it have an external mic connector?, does it have 3 chips, does it have manual controls of the iris, white balance, shutter speed, audio, how large are the CCD's? things like that. I have actually ruined Best Buy sales before by helping customers....I hate to see people being ripped off. I actually once saw a local sales geek trying to sell an customer here in the USA a PAL version of a camcorder (when we use NTSC). He told the customer that PAL meant the cam would be "his best friend.....like your pal". WOW.....I had to step in at that point.
Well. Can I buy a new lens for it to make the quality better?
Bottom Line: A camcorder is a camcorder. If it cost you less than $1000, you probably won't be able to attach another lens. See, there's consumer cameras, and prosumer cameras. What you've got(Sony Handycam Mini Dv DVC etc) is a consumer camera. Consumer cameras are mostly meant for point-and-shoot consumers, and are very low on features and manual controls. A standard DV camcorder with or without 3ccd is an excellent example of a consumer camera. A prosumer camcorder on the other hand is a totally different story. These babies usually cost between $3-10000 and have lots of capabilites, expansion possibilities and and great image quality.
What I'm trying to tell you is tha you can't do anything with your current handycam. However, play with the settings on it(white balance should always be set corresponding to where you are and should NOT be left to auto mode) and look for results. Stop using auto mode and start living in the manual world. Manual control is always better when it comes to camcorders.
When it comes to tapes, there's not much to choose from. If you're using a DV or HDV camcorder, you're most definitely using MiniDV tapes. Some camcorders record to hard drives, some use DVD discs and some even use flash memory, hell, Panasonic AG-HVX200 needs it's own type of "ramcard" called "p2". What I'm saying is, even if you could change your storage media, the lens and camera it self define the quality, not the tape. And what are you complaining about anyways? Sony camcorders use Carl Zeiss optics, and that's the best of them.
What I'm trying to tell you is tha you can't do anything with your current handycam. However, play with the settings on it(white balance should always be set corresponding to where you are and should NOT be left to auto mode) and look for results. Stop using auto mode and start living in the manual world. Manual control is always better when it comes to camcorders.
When it comes to tapes, there's not much to choose from. If you're using a DV or HDV camcorder, you're most definitely using MiniDV tapes. Some camcorders record to hard drives, some use DVD discs and some even use flash memory, hell, Panasonic AG-HVX200 needs it's own type of "ramcard" called "p2". What I'm saying is, even if you could change your storage media, the lens and camera it self define the quality, not the tape. And what are you complaining about anyways? Sony camcorders use Carl Zeiss optics, and that's the best of them.
Most camcorders will NOT allow you to interchange the lens. I own a Sony PD-150.....it's a 3 chip cam has manual EVERYTHING and XLR audio. It cost 4 grand when I bought it. I cannot put a new lens on it. I CAN use lens "adaptors" such as a wide angle adaptor or telephoto adaptor, but they go on IN FRONT of the original lens. So it changes the "angle of view" but the original lens stays on. Not a big problem for me since the original lens is good and the PD-150 shoots good looking video.
The cannon XL series will allow you to buy new totally seperate lenses. The JVC GY-DV500 and 5000 series will as well. Those are pretty much the only cams that shoot mini DV that will allow you to do this. Sony has a couple DVCAM camcorders that will as well, and they may work with mini DV tapes and the old Panasonic DVC 200 would as well but they don't make it anymore....but they are pretty uncommon. All of them are pretty expensive. Really all of them cost 3 grand or more new. If you want a professional type camcorder you have to spend money. They are for people who make money with them so they cost more. For example, I've spent over 30 grand on my video gear. Of course I charge $500 a day or so to shoot or edit for people so I make it back.
The cannon XL series will allow you to buy new totally seperate lenses. The JVC GY-DV500 and 5000 series will as well. Those are pretty much the only cams that shoot mini DV that will allow you to do this. Sony has a couple DVCAM camcorders that will as well, and they may work with mini DV tapes and the old Panasonic DVC 200 would as well but they don't make it anymore....but they are pretty uncommon. All of them are pretty expensive. Really all of them cost 3 grand or more new. If you want a professional type camcorder you have to spend money. They are for people who make money with them so they cost more. For example, I've spent over 30 grand on my video gear. Of course I charge $500 a day or so to shoot or edit for people so I make it back.
no. you cant! If you recorder is not a HD camara you wont have a better definition just putting an HD casette! sorry!
... and it depends what you call "quality".
Bigger frame resolution? = go for HD video.
Better image rendering? = go for interchangeable lens cameras (where you can put great lens on it).
If you just want to get better images, as a consumer, go for a 3CCD camera, like Panasonic HDC-SD1. The difference will be really big.
And, if possible, take a look in the new cameras on the market that records AVC HD, like Canon HV20 or similars.
Bigger frame resolution? = go for HD video.
Better image rendering? = go for interchangeable lens cameras (where you can put great lens on it).
If you just want to get better images, as a consumer, go for a 3CCD camera, like Panasonic HDC-SD1. The difference will be really big.
And, if possible, take a look in the new cameras on the market that records AVC HD, like Canon HV20 or similars.
I don't know where to ask this question. It is sooooo... low tech. I have a video player that connects to an RCA cable that I have to boost the signal. I don't know how to boost a video signal if it uses an RCA jack. I would rather not have to get svideo switcher, cables & boost.
Yeah the problem is the camera.
I did a HD video last week. But for a 3D animation
I did a HD video last week. But for a 3D animation
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