On 17 Jan 2002 10:42:17 -0800, stanley.siu@gs.com (Stanley Siu) wrote:

>Just bought a new TVR30 and tried playing the recording on TV (NTSC)
>through a normal video cable.
>
>I noticed the quality of the image is less than perfect, since I could
>see the pixels flickering, although very little.
>
>When I connect the camorder through S-cable, the quality is better but
>it is still not as crispy as TV broadcast.
>
>Is that normal or I have a poor cable or faulty unit ?

Hmmmm......;-)
The TRV30 is capable of producing a fairly sharp TV
image (500+ TV-lines of resolution), and broadcast TV
is limited to about 340 lines - BUT:
- If your TV cannot display very high (relatively
speaking...!!! ;-) resolution, it will narrow the
differences, as will using an RCA connection instead
of an "S" connection.
- Sharp-looking broadcast TV (as with sharp-looking
commercial VHS tapes) often originates with a FAR
higher quality image than Mini-DV can produce, so
in a "resolution system", it can look better, even
though it is also limited by the fairly low broadcast
resolution.
- Shooting conditions affect image quality - try
shooting in good light, with cross-lighting to
accentuate detail contrast.
- Even in good light, one-chip megapixel camcorders
have noticeable picture problems: the color noise
you see as "pixels flickering", and a tendency to
show artifacts in motion with contrasty near-horizontal
edges ("flapping" at scan lines, and "stair-stepping").
Going to a ***good*** three-chip camera reduces these
effects, but does not eliminate them - some of these
are part of the Mini-DV format...
- It is always possible to have a defective unit - if
you can, it is a good idea to compare it with
something else.
- No home camcorder produces a "perfect" image - and
it can be argued that no commonly-available imaging
device of ANY kind or price can produce a perfect
image. Quality is relative...
You can compare image quality in frame-grabs shot with
various Sony Mini-DV imaging types, at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm,
but these do not show the differences with motion...