HDD vs. MiniDV

lumpy pants · Posted: Feb 22, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject: HDD vs. MiniDV

I am torn between what style of camcorder to get and I was wondering if it is pretty easy uploading the tapes to your computer?

scott a · "a" is for angel Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 4126

Yes, it's easy to 'upload' tapes to your computer.

YaBro · Backside 180 Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Posts: 624

It depends on what camcorder your looking at that records onto a HDD. I personally film onto tapes but soon will switch to a HDD for less expense long-term and easy to capture footage. Make sure the camcorder you purchase has a Firewire Output. That is key.

also make sure your computer has a fire wire port as well

Oh, sometimes consumer HDD camcorders record onto a weird format, so just do research on those camera's between the $600-$1200 range.

Good luck.

lumpy pants · Posted: Feb 23, 2009 1:23 pm Post subject:

YaBro, yeah im getting the canon vixia hg20.

chriscut · Backside 180 Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 2000

Check out the canons that record to SD cards... 16gb SD cards are mad cheap now. If you get a HD cam that records to SD it will prob record to AVCHD format which can be edited by the newest versions of most video editing software. But beware, HD video files are huge and it will take a decent computer to edit them.

jcoffey · Backside 180 Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 1339

I would go with the HDD, especially if you don't have a DV recorder (vcr) because if you're anything like me, and enjoy keeping expensive equipment in pristine condition then recording the miniDVs onto a hard drive will wear on the heads inside the camera which can lead to a whole lot more money out of your pocket...but thats long term.

and a lot of people purchase used cameras according to the hours on it, and recording back to a computer from the camera doubles it.

..i think.

Mario C. · Posted: Apr 23, 2010 7:50 pm Post subject:

Is it still worth it to buy the prosumer minidv cams in the $1200 range, or would a $1200 HD handycam be a better choice? I like the idea of a hard drive and I would suspect the image sensors in the smaller HD cams are still better than the minidv 3ccd sensors... Any advice on this?

Mario C. · Posted: Apr 25, 2010 5:18 pm Post subject:

Decided on this cam: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/674275-REG/Panasonic_HDC_TM700_HDC_TM700K_High_Definition_Camcorder.html#specifications

3 1/4 cmos sensors and records in 60fps

I'm excited to learn HD.

slayshface · Ollie Joined: 28 May 2010 Posts: 56 City: Orlando

Personally I've been using tapes for years now and they are waayyy easier to capture your footage to the computer instead of uploading from a hard drive. Hard drives are annoying if you start and stop recording a lot, but if you let it run through it wastes a lot of space. My friend has got a hard drive and has gotten used to it so it's not that bad but at first he didn't like it either.

My point being... Both will work great, both will take some time to get used too. You can't make a wrong decision really you just need to get out there and get that footy

Gnarly Dancer 42 · 360 flip Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 5121 City: kalamazoo

slayshface, i see your point about how hard drives take up more space, but having tapes means there's more moving parts in the camera and its way easier to break.

i'm personally so sick of having to get my heads re aligned and cleaned on my camera all the time, i can't wait to get a hard drive camera even if that means i need to buy a new external hd