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Thread ID: 90911 2008-06-20 00:09:00 Sony or Panasonic Video Camera? Lizard (2409) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
680405 2008-06-20 04:56:00 I've been googling for reviews of particular models, but this hasn't turned up much. Maybe someone here has something good or bad to say about the following models:

Sony DCRHC52E
Panasonic NV-GS90
JVC GR-D850AA

Have you checked out this site (www.camcorderinfo.com)
plod (107)
680406 2008-06-21 04:09:00 Thanks Plod, that website helps.

I've found a few more websites, and I understand things better I think. But I guess I'm still wondering - is MiniDV inherently a better medium (in terms of the image recorded) than HDD? A number of websites imply that the compression method is different? Is it? And is it better than the method used on HDD cameras?
Lizard (2409)
680407 2008-06-21 04:22:00 As long as you are using the h.264 (Bluray) codec you are using the best video codec available. vitalstatistix (9182)
680408 2008-06-21 04:28:00 As long as you are using the h.264 (Bluray) codec you are using the best video codec available.

None of the cameras I've looked at state what the codec used is (though MPEG2 has been mentioned a few times).
Lizard (2409)
680409 2008-06-21 04:36:00 MPEG2 is the old out of date codec for DVDs. h.264 is the new Hi Def codec for Bluray DVDs and was created by Sony. It recently "won" the bluray vs MS HD DV codec war to become the new video codec standard - bit like VHS vs Betamax back in the 80's except this time Betamax won.

Most of the new DV cams and HDDV brand cams should be supporting it by now. I "think?" Vista supports it when editing DV cam footage.
vitalstatistix (9182)
680410 2008-06-21 06:30:00 MPEG2 is the old out of date codec for DVDs. h.264 is the new Hi Def codec for Bluray DVDs and was created by Sony. It recently "won" the bluray vs MS HD DV codec war to become the new video codec standard - bit like VHS vs Betamax back in the 80's except this time Betamax won.

Most of the new DV cams and HDDV brand cams should be supporting it by now. I "think?" Vista supports it when editing DV cam footage.

Umm, h.264 isn't Sony's. And what "MS HD DV" codec are you referring to?

Sony and Panasonic jointly developed AVCHD - which uses H.264 - as a high def alternative to HDV that could be used with non-tape devices (DVD, SD, HDD). HDV - still used in MiniDV based high def cameras uses MPEG2. To say that MPEG2 is "out of date" in this context is misleading - you'll find plenty of people still prefer the quality of HDCV vs AVCHD. AVCHD's advantage is not better quality - it is the ability to do high def recording directly to non tape media - AND non Blue Ray media.

Both BlueRay and the now defunct HD DVD format (Toshiba's baby) used H.264. It is not unique to BlueRay or Sony.
Biggles (121)
680411 2008-06-21 09:37:00 I spoke to Harvey Normans, and they're happy to exchange it. The person I spoke to seemed more knowledgeable than the last, and recommends the Sony DCR SR 85E (60G HDD-based camera) for better low light footage. Anyone got any opinions about this camera, and how it would compare to the Panasonic SDR-H40? I note both have the same size CCD (1/6"), but the Sony has more pixels (gross 1070k, effective 750k vs 800k gross and 380k effective for the Panasonic). Is this significant to the image quality (does it give greater benefit for low light or outdoors filming)? Also, the focal length and F-stops are different. The Sony has F-stops 1.8-3.2 (Panasonic has 1.9-4.3) and a focal length of 2.5-62.5mm (Panasonic has 1.8-75.6mm). Does this suggest that one is better than the other? Which? Lizard (2409)
680412 2008-06-21 21:49:00 Sony and Panasonic jointly developed AVCHD The sad part of that is that Sony's software can not edit AVCHD filmed on a Panasonic camera but can edit their own cameras filming the same format. Or at least it could not about 12 months ago. That is info given to us directly by a Panasonic Rep at a AVCHD camera product evening given to the Movie Maker club at Panasonic, East Tamaki office. Bantu (52)
680413 2008-06-21 22:11:00 FCP will edit h.264 as will Premier and Avid. I have a feeling that Avid is pricier than FCP. vitalstatistix (9182)
680414 2008-06-21 22:12:00 vitalstatistix Yes I am aware of the software that can and can't. At the time of that Panasonic presentation Premiere couldn't either, but nero could. Strange that some of the main video editing companies were so far behind. Bantu (52)
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