What format do pro camcorders use?

Question

I need to get a semi pro video camera that will record to mpeg 2.

The reason for this is i need to be able to transfer the files as quick as possible to pc and convert it to dvd format and burn it all in like 15 mins.

From what i know mpeg 2 will convert directly to a vob file without much encoding. At the moment i use nero which converts and creates a dvd in seconds.

What camera can I buy that will do the same? I simply dont understand what recording formats they are creating, what size is coming out etc.

From what I know i need a camera to record directly to mpeg onto an attached hard drive and or memory card. So that i can transfer it instantly to pc and use nero to make a dvd asap.

Please advise.

Please give me as much information as possible and any links to cameras that you suggest.

Answer 1

You are actually asking about two topics here.

1.  Format Professional Camcorders Use

Almost all of the Professional camcorders use the same video codecs as the consumer models; however, professional camcorders can also video codecs to save video in formats not available for use on consumer camcorders.  These codecs are usually proprietary formats for a particular company such as Panasonic's DVCPRO and Sony's XDCAM. Consumers can convert their videos to these specialized formats as well as import videos in these specialized formats if they use a higher grade video editing program such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 (with Quicktime 7), Thomson Grass Valley EDIUS, and Adobe Media Composer.

* The term "camcorder" here is referring to the 'true' camcorders that include an internal media recording device inside of the body the video camera electronics.  Just like consumer camcorders, the storage device on professional camcorders could be DV tape (digital8, miniDV, "full size" DV, and HDV), flash memory (SD, SDHC, Memory Stick, or internal RAM), a hard disc drive (HDD), or a DVD (a full size disc compared to the miniDVDs of consumer models).

2.  A system to burn standard "movie" DVDs in approximately 15 minutes.

There are no professional camcorders that record directly to a standard 2-hour full size DVD in the MPEG-2 format for quick play in DVD players.  Standard DVD is not very user friendly for professional needs - especially non-linear editing and long term storage.  Most professionals send their edited video to their DVD burning software, and the program automatically converts the SD or HD format to the correct MPEG-2 compression rate to fit the entire video onto the DVD at a decent quality.  This allows for making standard DVDs now, Blu-ray Discs later (when we can afford it) and the additional flexibility of sending material to internet websites (personal and video sharing), cell phones, media devices (Sony PSP, iPod, and Microsoft Zune), and distribution through sources like iTunes - all from one video recording.

The only camcorders capable of the feat you describe are consumer models, and you are probably only familiar with the the 20-30 minute miniDVD type.  Sony has professional camcorders that record to specialized optical discs in their XDCAM format, but these discs are specially made for editing and storage needs.   We explain consumer options below that you and other are probably are not aware (including your technicians at Best Buy).

  ***  There is alternative that may work for you ***

(it works well)

There are full size DVD burners available that can burn full size DVDs directly from a camcorder.  They are a stand-alone DVD drive that connect to camcorders.  Think of them as external DVD drives made specifically for camcorders and not computers.  A few of these are universal and can work with almost any camcorder.  Some of these burners are proprietary to only a few camcorders from a particular manufacturer.  You will need to shop around.  You might find a burner that will work with your existing camcorder.  You might have to get a whole new camcorder to work with your burner.  A complete setup (camcorder and burner) will cost $1,000-$1,500 - the same price as base model professional HD camcorders.  One example are the JVC Everio camcorders and the JVC DVD Stations or JVC Share Stations - or the Sony VRC-MD5 compact DVD Recorder.

  *** Your last alternative ***

(we don't know how well it works)

Many of the newer consumer AVCHD camcorders have a unique feature.  They can be connected to your computer via USB.  A movie can then be burned directly from your camcorder to the DVD burner in your computer.  The first camcorders with this feature accomplished the feat with software that came with the camcorder.  Newer models have the capability built-in and accomplish the feat magically with the push of a single button on the camcorder.  Imagine THAT!  Examples: Sony Handycam DCR-SR200 (software) and Sony HDR-UX1 (one-touch button)

Answer 2

Semi-pro... also known as "prosumer" all record in miniDV tape format.

Sony DCR-VX200 series, Sony HDR-FX1, HDR-FX7

Panasonic DVX100 series

Canon XHA1

Some of these can also be considered low-end pro-grade.

Even when you move into the fully pro-grade, the only one currently available that uses anything other than miniDV tape is the Panasonic HVX200 (P2 cards - flash memory). Otherwise, the selection is the higher-end Canons, Sony HVR series and higher-end Panasonics.

The Red series records to hard drive or flash memory, but not MPEG2. A Firestore external hard drive connected to a miniDV camcroder uses the same format as the miniDV tape - DV or HDV.

Even if you were to find a half decent (consumer grade) HDD camcorder, the video still needs to render from the video editor to the DVD VOB format.

You did not say how much video needs to be rendered to DVD format. You might have heard that MPEG2 does not need much encoding - and that is partially correct - and it depends how much compression was applied to the video in the MPEG2 file... The fact is the rendering - frame-by-frame production by the DVD authoring application will take time - longer with a slower CPU. If 3 minutes of video needs to be rendered, then it might be possible. Anything beyond that will not meet your requirement.

As for DV format, it is the least compressed (and the best video quality) of the available consumer formats - at about 13 gig of hard drive space per hour of recorded video. This is one reason - of many - why the pros (and semi-pros) still use it (and have not moved to the lesser MPEG2 or AVCHD storage formats). The other consumer formats - internal hard drive and flash memory - generally use the same highly compressed MPEG2 format. Compressed video = discarded data = reduced video quality.

I NEVER recommend DVD based camcorders because their video quality is so poor (especially for editing) - but perhaps for your limited requirement, maybe it makes sense. Equip your computer with a drawer loading DVD - and presuming you already have another DVD burner attached. Record video to the DVD camcorder, finalize the disc, put that disc in the drawer loader and copy the appropriate file to a blank in the other regular sized DVD burner. Then, I believe you are doing VOB to VOB and no decoding-recoding or rendering is needed.

For what its worth, real pro camcorders use Beta (yes, they still do), DVCPRO and DVCAM (and their high definition variants). Details on these formats are available at wikipedia.