Published
By Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP In Digital Media
DVD Camcorders..... Friend or Foe?
DVD camcorders are a fairly new kid on the block. The first model
appeared at the end of 2000 and came from Hitachi.
This model was the DZ MV100 and quickly caught the eye of the
public.
However it was NOT without its problems....
DVD camcorders are now produced by several of the
major players in the MiniDV Camcorder market place, and other
manufacturers are set to launch DVD camcorders too.
Why The Appeal?
One word - CONVENIENCE.
The most recent DVD camcorders will allow you to play back the DVD
in most home DVD players! (sadly they are not yet 100% compatible
with every DVD player).
As I mentioned Hitachi were the first to manufacture DVD camcorders
but SONY hopes to capture the market share with their DCR-DVD100 and
DCR-DVD200 models. Panasonic are also producing a worthy DVD
camcorder...
No FireWire!
These new breed of camcorders are fun. They produce great quality
digital video (MPEG 2) and incorporate basic editing tools and
navigation on the camcorder itself.
My only REAL criticism is both Hitachi and SONY only have USB 2.0
support - and no FIREWIRE.
The target market for these DVD camcorders is aimed squarely at
"gadget boys and girls."
SONY has done extensive market research to find out why this group
was not buying MiniDV camcorders. The answer they got was that
MiniDV camcorders were perceived as just too fiddly. So creating DVD
camcorders for this market was a natural conclusion.
So that is why USB 2.0 was chosen. If you recently bought a PC then
it comes with USB 2.0 connections on it. If you want firewire
connections you have to install a card yourself!
BUT for semi-serious video editing folks like myself who use Adobe
Premiere software. There is no USB 2.0 capture ability - just
firewire.
And there's the rub... well for me anyway!
BUT for Windows XP users who want to create digital video and edit
their movies on a PC with little fuss or technical ability. DVD
camcorders are a GREAT option for you!
Make home movies in minutes!
Run your creativity. Personalize
your DVDs!
# InterVideo Launchpad to
Easily Start a Task
# One User-friendly Interface for Capture, Edit, Author &
Burn
# UniPass: Video Editing and Creation Combined in One Quick
Step
NB - I wrote this article in 2003, things have now changed as
regards to connectivity so please check with your vendor....
The
Windows Media Player DVD XPack
The DVD XPack instantly adds DVD playback to
Windows Media Player 9 & 10. It Installs the
same theatre-quality video and audio decoders
proven by over 45 million users of WinDVD -
the world's leading software DVD player.
Why Use It? BECAUSE:
It's FAST, cheap, no-fuss use and Microsoft approved!
Marc Liron -
Bio
Microsoft Digital Media MVP
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The views on this website are
my own and
NOT that of Microsoft!
I am not responsible for the content of any sites linked to.
ALL Trademarks are freely acknowledged
ALL information is provided "As
Is"
