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Mini Dv Digital Camcorders
Apr 6th
Mini Dv Digital Camcorders
Thinking about a mini DVD camcorder? You’re not alone, it’s a rapidly growing
sector of the camcorder market, with Hitachi, Sony and Panasonic all making more
than one mini dvd camcorder.
These camcorders differ from regular digital video cameras in one important way -
they record video onto mini DVD discs, rather than DV tape. This has a number of
advantages. DVD discs are more robust than tape and won’t get chewed up in the
camera. Although this is thankfully a rare occurance, it scares me every time I here a
strange noise coming from my camcorder, so it’s with bearing in mind.
The second advantage is that DVD discs are random access, compared to tape on
which everything is recorded sequentially. This means that there’s no need to
rewind and fast forward to find the clip you’re after, just select it from the menu.
Some cameras even allow you to perform basic editing functions on-camera. An
additional side-benefit is that a mini DVD camcorder doesn’t have tape heads to get
worn or dirty as happens in regular mini DVD cameras.
And thirdly, you can easily watch your home movies by removing the DVD from the
camera and playing it in practically any DVD player.
However, there are negative factors to. The most siginificant one is that video is
encoded as MPEG-2 on a mini DVD camcorder, as opposed to DV format. This
means that it needs specialist software to edit – you can’t just use your regular
video editing program (unless it specifically supports MPEG-2). And if a Mac user
you’re out of luck, as there are no MPEG-2 editing applications for the Mac.
Also, mini DVD camcorders tend to cost more than similarly specified mini DV
cameras. And the media is also more expensive. However, if you don’t intend
editing your movies and don’t mind the extra cost, a mini dvd camcorder does offer
extraordinary convenience.
Digital Camcorder format?
Where is the clever money being spent on digital camcorders nowadays? Is it DVD, mini DVD, SD, Mini DV (whatever that is!) or something else?
and of course HDD!
You’ve got two issues to consider – video format and recording medium. On the format front you’ve got Digital Video (DV), MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and the high def formats.
DV is only lightly compressed so it has the best video quality and is best for editing. Because it needs a lot of storage space you can only record to tape – a MiniDV system. This is what the pros use.
MPEG-2 is the format used on DVDs. It’s highly compressed, so you can use mini DVDs, hard drives or memory cards as the storage medium. The quality of the compression is variable, though it’s getting better, and it’s not a good format for editing. On the plus side, you can access and transfer your video files very quickly, and the technology is seen as being sexy.
MPEG-4 is a more modern format than MPEG-2 and allows higher compression for similar video quality. It hasn’t caught on commercially yet, though it’s being used by some of the cheaper memory card based camcorders. It’s got the same pros and cons as MPEG-2, but more geeky than sexy!
The high def formats are based on MPEG-2, but you can record to tape with some systems. Editing can be a nightmare, though some people think this is a small price to pay for high def!
Where’s the smart money? For me it’s still MiniDV, but I guess high def on hard drive is what a lot of people are aiming for. Longer term I think we’ll see seriously high capacity semi-conductor memory coming on the market, capable of storing lightly compressed high def video. I’m not holding my breath though!
 Mini Dv Camcorder DVR Video Digital Camera 30 Fps Dc Sale Price: $19.75 Description# The Smallest Digital Video Camera in the World With High Resolution Image Features
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Eligible for free shipping!  Mini DV MV80 Pocket Video Camera Black List Price: DescriptionThe newest model of 4GB Mini Pocket Video Recorder is a miniature Camera Camcorder DVR. MV80 is a Smallest Digital Video Camera in the World with High Image Resolution. MV80 Can be used for fun time recording, babysitter Monitoring, Pet fun recording and so on. Built-in Li rechargeable battery. The included accessories with the camcorder are: belt and clothing clip, wall mount, car dashboard mount which is also used as a stand, USB cable, power adapter, protective rubber case, strap, driver CD. Features
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 Panasonic AY-DVMCLA-A Cleaning Tape for DV Camcorder Sale Price: $3.08 DescriptionPANASONIC DV Head Features
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 Wide Angle Lens for Sphere Mini Digital Camcorder. 0.68x Negative Zoom. Captures Up To 30% Around You! List Price: DescriptionSphere Gadget Technologies brings you the perfect accessory for our original Sphere Mini Digital Camcorder (sold separately). The 0.68x Wide Angle lens allow you to capture more around you without compromising distance from object. The negative zoom creates a ‘virtual stabilization’ effect. Just like any video recording device, the further out you zoom, the more stable the videos become. A great feature for high-speed movement or activities requiring movement of the camcorder. Perfect for sports enthusiasts, R/C cars and aircrafts, evidence recording, journalists, law enforcers, and more. These wide angle lens captures more area coverage in home surveillance settings. For drivers, these lens help capture more peripheral perspective of the road, or capture your speedometer and the road ahead in the same frames. Mounts and dismounts on Sphere Mini Digital Camcorder in less than 2 seconds. Features
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 Sony DVC60PRL Mini DV Tape 60min Premium Data Cartridge 10 Packs List Price: DescriptionWatch your videos come alive when you record using SONY DVM60PRR Digital Video Cassettes. Each tape provides 60 minutes of premium quality digital video in a convenient pack. They feature metal evaporated tape, with a diamond-like carbon coating protective layer, which improves durability and helps prevent shedding and dropout. Start recording now with a SONY DVM60PRR 10 pack. Features
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 Panasonic AY-DVM60EJ5P MiniDV Tapes (60 Minute, Pack of 5) List Price: DescriptionPanasonic Mini DV Cassette AY-DVM60EJ5P Video Cassettes Features
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 Sony DCR-HC26 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom Sale Price: $125.00 DescriptionMaking high-quality home videos has never been easier with the compact and stylish DCR-HC26 MiniDV Handycam® camcorder. An expansive 2.5″ SwivelScreenâre far away from the action. Compact, stylish design with brilliant video&sound Move in close with 20x Optical&800x Digital Zoom Shoot like a pro w/ a Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® Lens Clarity&control w/2.5″ SwivelScreen® Plus INFRARED System – low-light shooting Additional LCD Screen Controls – Zoom&record Color Viewfinder for clear, colorful view of subjects 1/6″ Advanced HAD® Vario-Tessar® Lens: An advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased Contrast, resulting in vivid image brilliance. 2.5″ Touch Panel SwivelScreen® Plus INFRARED System: Capture natural video when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 20 feet away without the overall monochrome color Features
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 Sphere Mini Digital Camcorder. 640 x 480 resolution, 30 FPS. Compatible with 0.68x Wide Angle Lens or 180 Degree Fish Eye Lens (Sold Separately). List Price: DescriptionThe Sphere Mini DV Video Camcorder is a go-anywhere, do anything mini-camcorder that does not compromise when it comes to delivering high-quality video & pictures. Featuring compact design, sturdy construction, a variety of secure mounting options, multiple lens accessories, long-life removable batteries, high-capacity memory card upgrades & more, the Sphere Mini DV Video Camcorder specializes in providing the kind of performance that active-lifestyle enthusiasts need to capture lasting memories of their adventures. Features
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 Canon ZR100 MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom (Pearl Silver) List Price: DescriptionIt’s about preserving life’s special times. When you do, you can only trust a Canon digital-camcorder. The vibrant color of a summer sunset, the exhilarating action of a championship goal, and the tender moment of a newlywed kiss are all preserved in spectacular color, clarity and detail by the ZR100. Canon’s most affordable, yet exceptionally powerful, digital camcorder brings together a variety of advanced features in one stylish package. Inside the streamlined body of the ZR100 is Canon’s DIGIC DV system, which delivers outstanding image quality for both videos and photos. With the 20x Optical Zoom/360x Digital Zoom lens, you’ll also quickly appreciate why the name Canon is synonymous with professional image quality in photography and broadcast television. Another highlight of the ZR100 is its high-resolution 16:9 widescreen recording mode, which lets you capture true widescreen photos and videos. With the ZR100 in hand, all of life’s most precious moments are yours for the taking. Audio Recording system – PCM digital sound – 16 bit (48 kHz/2 ch); 12 bit (32 Image Sensor – 1/6-inch CCD, approx. 680,000 pixels / Effective pixels – approx. 340,000 pixels Tape Format – Videocassettes bearing the MiniDV mark. Tape Speed – SP – 18.81 mm/s (0.74 ips), LP – 12.56 mm/s (0.49 ips); Maximum Recording Time (with an 80-min. cassette) SP – 80 minutes / LP – 120 minutes. Fast Forward/Rewind Time – Approximate 2 min. 20 sec. (with a 60 min. cassette) Lens – f=2.8-56 mm, f/1.6-3.2, 20x power zoom Viewfinder – 0.33-inch. TFT color, approx. 113,000 pixels / LCD Screen – 2.4-inch. TFT color, approx. 112,000 pixels Microphone – Stereo electret condenser microphone DV Terminal – Special 4-pin connector (IEEE 1394 compliant) Unit Dimensions – 2.0 x 3.7 x 5.1 inch / Weighs 15.2 ounces without battery pack Features
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 Samsung SCD103 MiniDV Digital Camcorder List Price: DescriptionEasy to operate, provides a top quality digital video image that is virtually unaffected by hand movements during recording. This sharp image is reflected in its convenient 2.5′ TFT LCD monitor which rotates for multi-angle shooting, self-recording and playback. Features
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