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Camcorders forum: Pros and cons about Hard Disk Drives vs DV tape

by: Wanda-soo April 16, 2007 10:56 PM PDT

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Pros and cons about Hard Disk Drives vs DV tape

by Wanda-soo - 4/16/07 10:56 PM

Hi, can anyone clarify the benefits or limitations to using Hard disks in a prosumer digital video camera as opposed to tape? I am about to purchase the Sony HVR-V1p High Def camera and someone (a sorta home-movie hobbyist) suggested that I shoulda gone for the hard disk version. I've seen that there is a Sony HVR-V1U 3-CMOS 1080i but it seems a little lower down the food chain.

Any expert opinions gratefully received.

cheers :^)


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So... two options - but neither is inexpensive

by boya84 - 4/23/07 6:16 PM

In Reply to: I agree... by whizkid454

Check for compatible cameras and attach an external hard drive from http://firestore.com/solutions/video_production.asp - You get long recording times, drop the codec problems and lose any internal mechanism noise you might have picked up because the external drive is isolated from the camera.

or...

Use the P2 cards... http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelList?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&catGroupId=34401
The AG-HVX200 does P2 cards and miniDV if you want.


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Unplanned obsolescence of the stick..

by Wanda-soo - 4/23/07 10:20 PM

In Reply to: So... two options - but neither is inexpensive by boya84

Gee I mourn for the days when making pictures was a bunch of kids using burnt sticks to draw on the pavement!

:^)


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Who said that technology

by boya84 - 4/24/07 5:57 AM

In Reply to: Unplanned obsolescence of the stick.. by Wanda-soo

can't continue to be used? Its not like you need support from elsewhere...


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Cool!....

by Wanda-soo - 4/24/07 6:21 AM

In Reply to: Who said that technology by boya84

I'm gonna start up a burnt stick user's forum!

:^)


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DV tape is only 1440 pixels Hard drive or flash may be more.

by disco-legend-zeke - 2/4/09 8:42 AM

In Reply to: The camcorders with built-in hard drives under by boya84

In order to fit HD into the DV format, the resolution had to be limited to 1440 horizontal pixels.

Many cameras that offer a "full" HD CMOS sensor nonetheless can only record at 1440 onto DV cam.

This is the main reason to choose a hard drive or flash card based camera.

Although having your important video (or any data for that matter)on a single hard drive would be risky. Once it duplicated on two or three hard drives, one of which should be in another building/city the data is pretty safe.

Panasonic now has a FULL HD digital recorder, but at the professional side most new cameras appear to be equipped with flash.

Disco Legend Zeke


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HDD v/s Mini DV

by Krishnaswami - 2/22/09 7:06 AM

In Reply to: The camcorders with built-in hard drives under by boya84

Thanks a lot for the clear explanation of differences betweeen HDD and Mini DV. I own a Sony HDR-SR12 and use it to shoot HD videos. I want to know if I use the highest quality video capture setting which gives you 14 hrs for 120 GB (~8GB/hr) will you still find a considerable difference in the quality of video when compared to that with a mini DV tape? The reason I ask is I don't want to compromise on quality at all. I would be watching these videos down the line on a 50 inch + screen. Can you please elaborate on how much compression is used in the HDD camcorder format where you caputure 1 hr in ~ 8GB? Would a mini DV tape be significantly better. If so I seriously need to think about changing to DV as I don't want any compromise on the video quality.


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Since you

by boya84 - 2/22/09 8:24 AM

In Reply to: HDD v/s Mini DV by Krishnaswami

"don't want to compromise on quality at all", you're stuck with DV/HDV. Is there a significant difference? It depends on who is looking at it.

Using your "compression is used in the HDD camcorder format where you caputure 1 hr in ~ 8GB", HDV captures ~14 gig (of computer hard drive space when imported) of data on a 60 minute miniDV tape.

There are many reasons the Sony HVR V1U, HVR-Z1U, HVR-Z5U, HVR-Z7U, Canon XH and XLH series, JVC GY series - and even the Panasonic HDX200 series continue to be the professional's choice - even when they attach an external drive to them. They save to DV/HDV format (so do the external drives). Even the Panasonic pro line of AVCHD camcorders gets to 24 mbps (HDV is 25 mbps)...


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hard disk drive versus tape

by kingpaulkng1 - 8/6/10 11:30 AM

In Reply to: The camcorders with built-in hard drives under by boya84

After asking a reputable camcorder repairer i certainly had the impression tape was more reliable, cheaper but more importantly was safer ie, not much chance of losing important footage, just one heavy knock to hdd and all data is potentially lost forever just for the record all tapes should be stored upright in the correct environment will last a lifetime. Any comments very welcome.


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According to the Sticky Note...

by whizkid454 - 4/17/07 1:01 PM

In Reply to: Pros and cons about Hard Disk Drives vs DV tape by Wanda-soo

On the top of the Camcorders Forum, it says to be sure to search the forum because your question may have already been answered. Did you search this forum because I am sure there are at least 5 threads that answer your question? Not trying to be arrogant, but these forums need to be kept clean of repeated questions.

Thanks! happy


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hi

by roxanhupert - 8/11/09 8:25 AM

In Reply to: Pros and cons about Hard Disk Drives vs DV tape by Wanda-soo

I read this note you asked about prosumer cameras dv cassette or hard drive. I am replacing a sony TRV900 which was stolen but was a great camera. Did you purchase one yet. May I get your advice about where to purchase the one you did? I live in NY and went to B&H where they suggested a canon.

I liked Sony but they said Canon is great too and it's been in the business of cameras for more years, not to worry. Did you decide on tape vs. hard drive? I am ready to buy and wanted info.
Thank you


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