Does the DVD cam got any future?

Question

Many people are saying that HD is awesome on the miniDV format.... What should I get?

Answer 1

DVD cams have no future. They are one of the most returned pieces of electronics gear. DVD media is unreliable; a spindle of 100 DVD blanks will have at least 10 mirror bobbles - disks that are nothing but garbage.

For digital shooting MiniDV Tape is the only way to go - fast, reliable, reusable. I load and edit my video and then burn to DVD's from my PC. This allows me to reuse tapes and keep a smaller inventory for a tape library.

As for HD, I'm in no rush to upgrade. Some of my customers still don't have a DVD player, let alone a flat screen TV. I have to copy my DVD's to VHS tape - yuck what! When HD is mainstream I'll spend some dough. In the meanwhile there are too many fence sitters.

1CCD versus 3CCD - "Only your hair dresser knows for sure." At the end of the day - if its DV of any variety - it all goes out onto a screen at about 500 lines per inch. No one has an eye refined enough to tell whether something was shot with a 1CCD or 3CCD cam. I think a 1CCD cam is more than sufficient for most jobs; it might not cut it for a feature length film, but it will cover everything else very well. If you think about it, Digital SLR's only have 1 sensor - even the top Pro models at ove $10K. The Foveon Sensor for DSLR's is actually 3 sensors in one, but it's only used in one DSLR with modest results. Why does a video camera need three? I think it's more to do with "keeping up with the Jones' than any meritable technical argument.

Answer 2

if you can afford it, HD rocks! miniDV is fine for now, but get the 3ccd at least. DVD camcorders suck, poor video quality, and expensive. lots of hype!

Answer 3

Whatever you get it will be obselete in a few years, so get what you find most comfortable.

Answer 4

Whatever is cheapest.