What is the difference between a DVD and a MiniDv Camcorder? Wich is the best recording option?

Answer 1

Make your life simple - go for MiniDV.

DVD based camcorders are on the top 10 list of most returned electronic items because:

1. DVD media are notoriously unreliable as write media - 10% of blank DVD's are only good for beer coasters.

2. DVD's need to be initialized, opened and closed. If you miss any of these steps you'll have problems.

3. DVD's do not necessarily work in all DVD players. DVD-R is the most universal, but it's not a 100% guarantee.

4. Unless you're very PC literate, you'll likely have problems capturing your video off the DVD to edit it.

MiniDV is vastly superior:

1. 100% reliable

2. Simple to use. Stick it in the camcorder, hit the record button and go.

3. With Firewire, you'll be able to easily capture, edit your video.

4. We think in terms of tape, so why buck a long, long trend. Besides the tapes are reusable.

5. Check out what the Pro's use - MiniDV! Nothing else will do for reliability, reusability, durability and quality.

Answer 2

The size and capacity of the disc, the minis are much smaller than the regular. The best quality of video is the SP mode which uses more frames per second, but you get less total recording time on the disc.