HD space is very cheap these days; D25 (Mini-DV, DVCam,
D8) is a fixed-rate medium (12.5 gigs/hour); D25 in
affordable cameras has a basic limit (in SP mode,
with standard tapes) of one hour per tape - but in LP
mode with thinner tape (risky), two hours can be recorded
on one tape (about 25 gigs of data); you can further
compress this to get to 4.7 gigs total, with quality
reduction...

On 6 Aug 2002 11:30:20 -0700, kcelone@harthosp.org (ccnlab) wrote:

>Ok, so some of the requirements have changed. I was originally
>looking for the highest quality dv camera, but now I am looking for a
>quality digital format that I can store around 2hrs of digital video
>on a hard drive in 4.7 gig or less. I don't know much about video
>capture, but is there a way to slow the video capture speed in order
>to save more dv in less space?

>d_ruether@hotmail.com (Neuman - Ruether) wrote in message news:
<3d4a7bdc.3685312@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu>...
>> On 1 Aug 2002 10:54:46 -0700, kcelone@harthosp.org (ccnlab)
>> wrote:
>
>> >I have a few questions about digital camcorders, they may be really
>> >trivial and simple, but I could not find definitive answers on them. I
>> >have read a ton of posts, but I just want to make sure that I
>> >understand completely before I buy.
>> >
>> >1) Can a dv camcorder (minidv,digital8,etc) record directly from the
>> >camera to the computer, or must they always be saved on tapes or
>> >memory sticks? I know about firewire cards, I just want to make sure
>> >that this definitely can be done before I purchase.
>>
>> Yes, no problem - it is the same signal, either way...
>>
>> >2) Once the recording is saved onto the hard drive (.avi, etc) can
>> >this be burned onto a DVD and play within any dvd player? Or just on
>> >computer DVD drives?
>>
>> "Regular" DVDs can be made, with special burners, BUT,
>> these are generally compatible with some, or most,
>> standard DVD players, but not all, alas...
>>
>> >3) How much hard disk space would a two hour recording take up?
>>
>> A "finished" 2-hour recording (after editing, most
>> likely from much more material...) in Mini-DV/DVCam
>> takes up about 25 gigs of HD space - but big drives are
>> now cheap...
>>
>> >4) Do all models come with an external mic hookup?
>>
>> No.
>>
>> >5) We are looking for a camera that will have excellent image capture
>> >because we will be using this to video patients in a study, and we
>> >need to have really good detail to discern facial expressions and
>> >general movements.
>>
>> See:
>> www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/vid_pict_characts.htm
>> www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm
>> www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm
>> www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/sony_dcr-vx2000.htm
>> to get some background and comparisons - from
>> this, you may have a better idea of what to look for...
>>
>> >What would you recommend minidv, digital8,
>> >micromv, etc? Digital 8 and minidv seem to be the same within
>> >reviews, but is there really a better way to go for this sort of
>> >thing?
>>
>> They are the same data format (as is DVCam), and a good
>> choice, but camcorders using these formats vary A LOT
>> in image and sound quality - see the URLs above for more...
>>
>> >Ok, I think that's it. I really appreciate any help on this topic.
>>
>> Knowing the budget amount, lighting encountered, audio
>> needs, user skills, etc. would narrow and define the
>> choices somewhat...;-)
>>
>> David Ruether