3CCD vs regular miniDV?

[Keebler]

Hi folks,

i'm having issues with my digital8 camcorder and while it's supposedly going to be repaired for less than $200, i am somewhat skeptical on it's long term life 🙂

So, looking at miniDVs. i will not get a dvd or hard drive camcorder due to how they record or compress to mpeg2. i want tape for now...maybe someday, they'll make a true full quality capturing hard drive similar to the firestorm (I just screwed that name up, but people who know it, will know what i'm talking about 🙂

Are the 3CCD truly 3 chip camcorders? Are they as real as the 3 chip broadcast cameras used for video/tv production? Is it worth paying the extra few hundred dollars over a regular minidv camcorder?

i'm trying to be diligent b/c if i go to minidv, i have 75 hours worth of digital8 tapes that i'll need to transfer to minidv (as a backup). Heck, maybe i'll even transfer my own tapes to DVD considering i do it for everyone else 🙂

Cheers,
Keebler

 

[MacNut]

If you can afford it get the 3CCD. A 3CCD is a full 3 chip camera but not as big a chip as a broadcast camera.

 

[Sdashiki]

Always go with tape over anything else. Digital tape is not like your old VHS.

When using HDD or DVD/CD burning camcorders, you are losing quality you can not get back.

With mini-DV you start with a "good quality" and can compress to DVD later.


3 chips has nothing to do with "broadcast quality", maybe it did in the past, but not anymore. 3 Chips merely means the obvious, 3 sensors. One for each color, R G B.

Typical camcorders have a single chip to capture all light, a 3 chip camera has 3 chips capturing the same image, so it stands to reason color representation, sharpness and quality are higher.

To backup your stuff, id get a mini-dv deck to do the transferring. If you use your camcorder you will wear out its motor faster, just like the reason people bought VHS rewinders.

Mini-DV is a damn good standard. Small tapes, good quality and low cost.

If you can find a camcorder that says 3CCD, and you can afford it, go for it, the quality is going to be better. Not "broadcast", but quality.

 

[Keebler]

thanks folks. great explanations. the repair shop said it would be about $170 to fix my camcorder (no problems with the heads) so i may go with that for now, but if it screws up once, i'm buying the panasonic gsv320 in a heartbeat.

cheers,
Keebler

 

[marioman38]

Panasonic tends to use smaller 3ccds (1/6th in.) while sony and canon use large single ccds up to 1/2.7 in. These larger single CCDs will perform much better in low light situations. Also weather you've got 3ccds or 1, you're still outputting to 720x480. Check out camcorderinfo.com if you haven't already. They can help you make your decision. IE: I decided to buy the Sony HDR-HC1 over the newer HDR-HC7 because the HC1 has a focus ring, better manual controls, and an adjustable viewfinder. I found these advantages to outweigh the HC7s slightly better low-light performance, top-loading cassette, and x.v. color.

Also, Mini-DV and D8 are exactly the same quality on tape. Since they are both digital formats, thet both record 0's and 1's equally well.

Camcorderinfo states:

"The lack of a mic jack, headphone jack, flash, video light, LCD panel controls, hot shoe, and control ring hardly qualifies the PV-GS320 as a feature-rich bargain"

"Hmm..it has three CCDs? Oh, but they’re each 1/6 inch. Um, it has a zoom microphone? No, that’s not doing it for you either. How about…nah…"
"We looked upon its mighty works, and now we despair.

And the conclusion:
"In all seriousness, the Panasonic PV-GS320 has so many flaws and missed features that it's hard to work up a compelling reason to buy it."

I'd reconsider purchasing that camcorder and begin researching. But hey maybe thats just me? This could be a perfect camcorder for you.
(I recommend you look into the Canon Elura 100, as in won camcorder of the year in 2006)

 

[Keebler]

Panasonic tends to use smaller 3ccds (1/6th in.) while sony and canon use large single ccds up to 1/2.7 in. These larger single CCDs will perform much better in low light situations. Also weather you've got 3ccds or 1, you're still outputting to 720x480. Check out camcorderinfo.com if you haven't already. They can help you make your decision. IE: I decided to buy the Sony HDR-HC1 over the newer HDR-HC7 because the HC1 has a focus ring, better manual controls, and an adjustable viewfinder. I found these advantages to outweigh the HC7s slightly better low-light performance, top-loading cassette, and x.v. color.

Also, Mini-DV and D8 are exactly the same quality on tape. Since they are both digital formats, thet both record 0's and 1's equally well.

Camcorderinfo states:

"The lack of a mic jack, headphone jack, flash, video light, LCD panel controls, hot shoe, and control ring hardly qualifies the PV-GS320 as a feature-rich bargain"

"Hmm..it has three CCDs? Oh, but they’re each 1/6 inch. Um, it has a zoom microphone? No, that’s not doing it for you either. How about…nah…"
"We looked upon its mighty works, and now we despair.

And the conclusion:
"In all seriousness, the Panasonic PV-GS320 has so many flaws and missed features that it's hard to work up a compelling reason to buy it."

I'd reconsider purchasing that camcorder and begin researching. But hey maybe thats just me? This could be a perfect camcorder for you.
(I recommend you look into the Canon Elura 100, as in won camcorder of the year in 2006)

thanks mario. some compelling info. i'll keep this in mind. i'm picking up my digital8 on Friday or Monday so i'll go from there and hopefully, it will keep lasting. if it doesn't, then more research will be done. i don't need HD just yet and probably won't for another few years so 720x480 is good enough for me at this point.

decisions...decisions...decisions 🙂

Cheers,
Keebler