Camcorders forum: DVD vs Mini-DV

With some exception to the response item #1 at http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t27507.html I pretty much agree with the response. The diatribe about MPEG 2 and such washes away as its just the storage format your DVD players use. It will have to be that file format and people who know about XVid, DivX and other encoding amy turn up their noses at this standard. Ignore that since to make a compatible DVD, that's how its done. The rest pretty much is spot on. Short record times, short battery life and such.

If you have a PC, almost any Digital-8 or DV-can can work nicely. DVD recorders for a desktop run about 79 to 149 dollars and firewire cards are cheap.

Bob

Well it is almost a year later. Any updates on DVD vs. MiniDV? (It is my turn to have a new baby and I want to get this right.)

I purchased a JVC mini dv camcorder and I'm pleased with it however, I'm having problems trying to burn a cd from the camcorder. I've tried the software that came with the camera and then I bought new software and tried that. I don't know what's the problem but I'm thinking that maybe I should try and use a firewire. I'm using the usb port. I don't think I have the other type of connection [i link] on my computer. By the way, I'm using my laptop to do all this. The software shows that it can be used by the usb port but when I try to do that, it won't burn to a cd.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to be able to burn cd's for family members and for myself. Are there any issues about how to view them once they are made?

Hello, i def have the same problem, i just bought a ZR80 and its mini DV, i was wondering if it was possible to connect the camcorder to the USB or something like that. how much does the firewhatever cost and which one is most efficient? thanks!

The reason to stick with MiniDV over the DVD is cost and storage ability.

A DV camcorder records at a massive 3.5 megabyte per second.

Reasons to stick with tape.

1) When recording to the MiniDV tape you will get 60 minutes worth of recording for three to six dollars a tape.
2) When recording to the small DVD you only get approx. 15 to 30 minutes recording on a $10-12 small DVD-R/W.
3) All the professional DV camcordes are still tape. That's because it's still better. Check out the latest $5000.00 Canon XL2 MiniDV camcorder. Just released in Sept. 2004

Go to this link for more details-
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6500_7-5140339-1.html?tag=promo2

Good luck with your camcorder purchase. The 3 CCD units provide better color (check out Panasonic) and also buy some great software for making your own movies, ie Pinniacle Studio 9.0.