HDD Vs. MiniDV?

Question

Alright I'm looking to get a video camera in the 300-500 dollar range. I'm going to be doing a lot of editing and making music videos/skits and such. I'm wondering, which type of camera is better for editing? The hard drive one or the minidv?

Answer 1

go with the HDD.  It makes life much easier.  Try several out.  I bought a sony & it's great

Answer 2

Dude you seriously need to get a hdd camera i am planning to buy one by myself but only make sure you buy with the most largest capacity possible.

Answer 3

Recording on the Camera:

If convenience of editing (scene selection and frequent deletions) is a priority, you're better off with a HDD one as you don't need to rewind or forward to access the scenes (like you'd have to on a miniDV camera).

Transferring to a PC:

Video transfers from miniDV cameras are done in real time, and can make you go crazy waiting for the import to happen. Transfers from HDD cameras take a lot less time.

Output Quality:

If the quality of the output is a priority, you'd need to go in for a miniDV one as HDD cameras apply some form of lossy compression to store the video, which in turn requires a lot of processing power to allow edits on the video.

Answer 4

If you're going to do a lot of editing, stick with MiniDV.  Hard drive camcorders record in MPEG-2, which is a lossy format.  That's fine if you just want to watch your raw footage but the quality suffers once you start editing.  If you're in any doubt, have a look at what the pros are using.

Answer 5

If you plan on getting your video into you camcorder,

The BEST ones will be those cameras which:

1) store their captured video with the least amount of compression.

2) have an easy video archive process so you don't have an extra step.

3) have an external mic jack so you can connect external mics.

4) have manual audio control, exposure/iris, zoom and focus - but also can go auto while you are learning to use the camera.

When you start looking you will find miniDV tape based camcorders will meet all of these requirements. Hard drive, flash memory and DVD based camcorders cannot meet these requirements.

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

Starting at the low end and working our way to the mid-range:

Canon ZR950 ZR800 (no manual audio controls)

Sony DCR-HC28, HC96 (no manual audio control, but you can switch the mic gain from normal to low to do loud noises like bands without overdriving the audio auto-leveling circuit resulting in a pile of muddy audio.)

Canon HV20, HV30; Sony HDR-HC7, HD9 (have everything on the requirements list)

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

You should also include a firewire port addition to your computer (unless you are using a Mac - they have had firewire ports for years), firewire cable (USB will not work to transfer video from miniDV tape based camcorders - this is for all computers), high capacity rechargeable battery, sturdy carrying case and tripod on your immediate shopping list... and start saving for external mics and lighting...

If you must, look into the hard drive cameras - but they, along with the flash based cameras compress their video a LOT - which is why I cannot recommend them. In the $ range you specified, there are none that I can recommend.

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER. They are worst video quality, the discs are a pain and editing their video is awful.

Answer 6

HDD or DVD - not MiniDV... linear formats suck for editing.