"amer" <seymoria@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:7d1e8174.0308211032.35d9db1b@posting.google.com...

 

> Thankyou for the responses. Some queries have further precipitated.

>

> 1- S-video.

> What type of devices have this analogue connector? I havent seen them

> on any TVs / VCRs in my country (in Asia).  What is the comparison

> between S-video and Firewire?

 

"S" video separates brightness and color picture signals; Firewire

carries the digital stream for both picture and sound. The image-quality

from both is close - but one is analogue and the other digital, with all that

that implies. The "S" connection is provided on SVHS and Hi-8 gear, and

on better TVs, though it may be known by another name...

 

> 2- DV-in/out.

> Is DV a different connector than Firewire? I guess its a digital

> connector and not analogue; and that it is even better than S-video /

> Firewire in quality. Am I right? I would also like to know what type

> of devices have it?

 

DV and FireWire are interchangeable terms for connections

for amateur gear. FireWire connections are on DV camcorders,

DV decks, DV-compatible computers, and on some external hard

drives...

 

> 3- VHS to digital conversion (e.g. through TRV-70) :

> The quality of the conversion (digital format), obviously, cannot be

> better than the original (VHS), and at best, would be equal to it. But

> what I am interested in is the fact that VHS, being an analogue

> signal, will experience a constant, slow deterioration with time,

> directly proportional to the physical condition of the magnetic tape,

> while the digital signal will be as good as new everytime I watch it.

> Am I correct?

 

The digital signal remains constant until it is unreadable, which first

happens in small areas, then may spread if the tape is VERY badly

stored or used; the analogue tape generally also holds up well, with

"catastrophic" losses of parts also more likely than overall gradual

lowering of quality (though the second would appear to be the more

likely failure mode...;-).

 

> ======================================================================

>

> Some camcorder questions not related to connectors :

>

> 4- Sony vs. Panasonic.

> Can we make a rough generalization that for approximately similar

> models, Sony is appreciably more expensive than Panasonic? (I am

> afraid this may be a too non-quantified question).

 

It is... 

 

> 6- Nightshot (infrared).

> I guess this feature is only useful on cams wich also have a built in

> AV emitter. Or do all have...?

 

The Sonys, at least, do - but it is useful without the IR emitter (and

one can be added) as a way of shooting in lower light than normal

color mode permits (switch the picture to B&W to look better).

BTW, for the older cameras that can shoot IR in daylight, this

mode is quite a bit of fun for landscapes. See:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/ir.htm for some examples shot with

the TRV9...

 

> 7- Image Stabilizer :

> How much useful is it? I could not notice any difference at close

> range (25 feet) with my friend's old Hi8 cam. But I guess its very

> useful during zooming, which I am going to use often?

 

Yes, it is VERY useful, but does not need to be used all

the time (I often turn it off when shooting at WA with a WA

lens converter added...). Both DIS/EIS and OIS can be good

systems for stabilization, BTW...

 

> Thanks a lot and best regards,

 

--

 David Ruether

 d_ruether@hotmail.com

 http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com