Camcorders: DVD vs MiniDV?

Question

What gives better quality footage, MiniDV or DVD camcorders?
I'm mostly worried about quality of footage and not whichever is more convenient to use or more cutting edge.

Answer 1

MiniDV.

Think of it this way; MiniDV is roughly 13 GB/hour. A regular DVD holds 4.7 GB of data. It's a different compression standard, and DVD is crushed more than DV is. Therefore, DV gives the better quality. Generally speaking about video, in regards to file size...the bigger, the better.

How many professional camcorders use DVD? I can't think of any. Some DV camcorders are often used for professional jobs, though.

DVD uses "interframe" compression, in which the data of most frames has some reliance on data in other frames. Therefore, if you remove some frames in editing, it can affect the quality of others. Think of it as a chain-link fence; when you remove a link, the fence still holds up, but it sags a bit at the point where you removed the link.

DV uses "intraframe" compression, in which each frame is compressed independently of all others. So, if you remove frames in editing, other frames are unaffected. This is more like a picket fence; remove a picket, and the other pickets are still standing the same way they did before.

With ALL other factors being equal, DV comes out on top. It might take a little longer to capture, but I'd stick with it.

Answer 2

for standard definition, miniDV is 720x480 and DVD is 640x480. The same miniDV tape can record HDV which uses the same MP2 compression used by DVD for high definition. so basically the quality is about the same for video with a slight edge for tape because tape can handle a higher data rate. For audio quality miniDV in the 2 channel mode is uncompressed 48k audio, doesn't get much better than that.

Answer 3

the least complicated thank you to be sure is to weigh the ease advantages. in case you have chose to observe your video clips good away, get the DVD digital camera. in case you have chose to edit video on a working laptop or computing gadget, and decide directly to create DVDs out of your photos, the miniDV format is the greater valuable decision. remember you will would desire to purchase and learn a application equipment to create your video clips from the DV source photos. frequently, the MPEG conversion is greater valuable on a working laptop or computing gadget than the actual-time compression finished on the digital camera. additionally, miniDV is greater decision than DVD, so interior the destiny you may make greater valuable HD-DVD out of the unique source, although no longer finished decision HD. maximum persons in no way get around to modifying the movies, and hence do no longer watch their video clips very generally. except, of direction, you identify to take a place in a miniDV participant to connect on your television. it relatively is why DVD cameras are increasing in popularity. -BS