Mini DV or Hard Disk camcorder?

Question

I am into video production/direction and am looking into purchasing a new camcorder. I will, hopefully, have a Mac Book Pro this Summer and have been told that Mini DV is the best, but also that Hard Disk is the best so I really don't know... your suggestions as far as cameras or general advice will be highly appreciated!!

My only "must-haves" are

*3ccd's

*under $1000

*recording format should be Mpeg 2 or Avi

(preferably Avi but I don't think that's possible, ha)

Thanks!!

Answer 1

check out the reviews:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/d/Reviews&l...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controll...

Answer 2

Read here:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7594_102-0.h...

If you decide to go the hard drive route, be aware that you will need to download and install StreamClip

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/vi...

If you truly are into production/direction, you will go miniDV tape.

I'd like to know why you need 3CCDs. My single CMOS Sony HDR HC1 does quite well working with Panasonic DVX100/A/B and Canon XL2 - when everyone is in standard definition. When I am in high definition, my video is better than theirs (OK, theirs is better in low light, but that is because their chips surface area and their lens size are larger).

Requiring 3CCDs is the mantra of the folks who pushed Panasonic camcorders for a long time - that does not apply anymore.

Answer 3

AVI isn't a video format, it's a file format - the video format can be anything from a lightly compressed DV to a heavily compressed flavour of MPEG-4 such as DivX (which I suspect is what you're asking for).

If MPEG-2 is a "must have" then you have to go with a hard disk - that's what they record in, MiniDVs record in DV.  Some of the camcorders that record to a card use MPEG-4, so that's doable too.  But, if you're into video production, why choose MPEG - it's a pain to edit and the quality isn't going to be as good as MiniDV!

Answer 4

Hard Disc

Dv a year out of date