LP vs SP digital recording

Question

Hi. I have a camcorder (Samsung VP-DX10). It can record in LP or SP modes. If I record in LP, will I really lose much video quality? Actually, I mean: will this loss in quality, if any, be obvious in the appearance of the video while playing or is it only palpable when editing, etc?

Thanks.

Answer 1

DVD camcorders adjust the playing time by changing the bit rate they record at - the longer it plays the lower the bit rate and the lower the quality.  "Obvious" is subjective, so you'll need to try it for yourself - choose subjects where there's a lot of movement and lighting changes.

DVD camcorders are a poor choice if you want to edit your footage, even if it's recorded at the highest quality, but it can only get worse.