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Mean Gene
Guest
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 Posted:
Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:01 pm Post subject:
MiniDV or D8 for indoor lighting? |
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I have a TRV230 D8 Sony camcorder. For outside video, the quality kicks
a**. All of the video I've shot indoors with normal lighting STINKS. My
old Sony Hi8 camcorder was 100 times better in low light conditions.
Since it's that time of the year again, (xmas) I'm thinking about either
getting a better D8 camcorder or switching to MiniDV. First question,
when it comes to shooting under normal lighting conditions inside, which
is better? (MiniDV or D8, or does it depend on the camera more than
anything?) Also, is it just me or does Sony seem to be getting away from
D8? I've noticed they have discontinued a lot of their D8 line.
I'd like to stay with D8 because I have a lot of Hi8 and D8 tapes that
are still in need of converting. But I'm guessing that most MiniDV
camcorders can use their firewire/AV input links and act as a 'pass-
through' so I can push PLAY on my D8 and hook it up to the MiniDV and
record onto my PC. True?
Long story short, I'm after the best quality (without spending tons of
money) for mainly indoor/low light shooting. If I have to go the MiniDV
path to accomplish this, so be it. Or if somebody can recommend the
perfect D8 that has superior indoor quality, please do.
Thanks!
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Jeffery S. Jones
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:02 am Post subject:
Re: MiniDV or D8 for indoor lighting? |
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On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 14:21:47 GMT, Mean Gene <gene@insight.rr.FAScom>
wrote:
| Quote: | I have a TRV230 D8 Sony camcorder. For outside video, the quality kicks
a**. All of the video I've shot indoors with normal lighting STINKS. My
old Sony Hi8 camcorder was 100 times better in low light conditions.
Since it's that time of the year again, (xmas) I'm thinking about either
getting a better D8 camcorder or switching to MiniDV. First question,
when it comes to shooting under normal lighting conditions inside, which
is better? (MiniDV or D8, or does it depend on the camera more than
anything?) Also, is it just me or does Sony seem to be getting away from
D8? I've noticed they have discontinued a lot of their D8 line.
|
Sony has reduced the D8 line. If you want higher end features and
quality, you have to go to MiniDV. The last high-resolution/bigger
CCD D8s were the 740/840 models. Those are OK in low light, but not
amazingly so.
However, MiniDV also suffers from the same issue. Older camcorders
used larger CCDs. Newer, smaller camcorders use smaller CCDs. If you
want really good low light capability, you're stuck not only with
MiniDV, but with the more expensive models.
There are some workarounds. First, on many Sonys and some others,
the image stabilization costs some light gathering capability. Switch
off the steady shot, and you can roughly double the f-stop
equivalence.
Second, you can use post-processing to brighten the image. The
digital format gives you enough detail in the dark areas to be useful.
In analog, this tends to be quite noisy -- a lot of graininess in the
image; likely this was true with your Hi8. The normal playback from
digital doesn't allow for gain boosting, but you can do it using your
editor.
Third, while not a real fix, the nightvision models using infrared
do allow for fairly good pictures in low light, albeit in green-tinted
monochrome. The slow-shutter mode also works, but that of course
blurs motion terribly, so is limited for casual video. Either one,
though, gives you some options in very low light.
If you can afford it, Sony's VX2000 is very good in low light.
| Quote: | I'd like to stay with D8 because I have a lot of Hi8 and D8 tapes that
are still in need of converting. But I'm guessing that most MiniDV
camcorders can use their firewire/AV input links and act as a 'pass-
through' so I can push PLAY on my D8 and hook it up to the MiniDV and
record onto my PC. True?
|
Most do, check before buying. The lowest priced models often do not
have passthrough.
| Quote: | Long story short, I'm after the best quality (without spending tons of
money) for mainly indoor/low light shooting. If I have to go the MiniDV
path to accomplish this, so be it. Or if somebody can recommend the
perfect D8 that has superior indoor quality, please do.
Thanks!
|
--
*-__Jeffery Jones__________| *Starfire* |____________________-*
** Muskego WI Access Channel 14/25 <http://www.execpc.com/~jeffsj/mach7/>
*Starfire Design Studio* <http://www.starfiredesign.com/> |
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Richard Crowley
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:08 am Post subject:
Re: MiniDV or D8 for indoor lighting? |
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"Jeffery S. Jones" wrote ...
| Quote: | First question, when it comes to shooting under normal lighting
conditions inside, which is better? (MiniDV or D8, or does it
depend on the camera more than anything?)
|
It has virtually everything to do with the camera and almost
nothing to do with the tape format. Furthermore, there is no
difference between the digital data stored on a D8 tape and
that stored on a DV tape. Only the physical characteristics
(tape and cassette dimensions, tape speed, scan angle, drum
diameter, etc.) are different.
| Quote: | Also, is it just me or does Sony seem to be getting away from
D8? I've noticed they have discontinued a lot of their D8 line.
|
Not surprising. Many have predicting its demise for years.
Sony has never offered the range of products (either feature-
wise OR quality-wise) in D8 that they have in DV. D8's days
have been numbered for some time now and it is only a question
of when they pull the plug.
| Quote: | I'd like to stay with D8 because I have a lot of Hi8 and D8
tapes that are still in need of converting. But I'm guessing that
most MiniDV camcorders can use their firewire/AV input links
and act as a 'pass-through' so I can push PLAY on my D8 and
hook it up to the MiniDV and record onto my PC. True?
|
I'd say "many" but not necessarily "most". Furthermore there are
rumors that the number of products with this most useful feature
are dwindling even as we watch.
If you want to capture/digitize Hi8 and D8 tapes, your best
bet would be a D8 camcorder that reads (and outputs) a DV
stream via iLink/Firewire. This is certainly prefereable to
an analog connection to a separate digitizer (whether another
camcorder, or a video capture box or card).
| Quote: | Long story short, I'm after the best quality (without spending
tons of money) for mainly indoor/low light shooting.
|
There are certain models of cameras that are legendary for their
low-light level performance. Likely something you will have to
get from grass-roots sources like this newsgroup and other online
forums of users. Popular magazine reviews (and certainly the
manufacturers' own data) are not likely sources for this kind of
info.
| Quote: | If I have to go the MiniDV path to accomplish this, so be it.
Or if somebody can recommend the perfect D8 that has superior
indoor quality, please do.
|
Seems quite unlikely that you will find anything in D8 that meets
your needs. You are pretty much looking at DV or nothing.
Unless there was some particular model of D8 camcorder that
has particularly good low-light performance. I've never heard
of such a beast, but then I don't follow D8 technology, so don't
take my word for it. |
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Roman Svihorik
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:38 pm Post subject:
Re: MiniDV or D8 for indoor lighting? |
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Hello,
I just would like to add "... and connect it to a miniDV camcorder by
appropriate iLink/FireWire cable directly".
Roman
Richard Crowley wrote:
| Quote: | If you want to capture/digitize Hi8 and D8 tapes, your best
bet would be a D8 camcorder that reads (and outputs) a DV
stream via iLink/Firewire. |
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Jukka Aho
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 16, 2004 12:01 pm Post subject:
Re: MiniDV or D8 for indoor lighting? |
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Jeffery S. Jones wrote:
| Quote: | the nightvision models using infrared do allow for fairly good
pictures in low light, albeit in green-tinted monochrome.
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The green tint can be removed by using the B&W picture effect
while shooting.
--
znark |
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Martin Heffels
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 17, 2004 12:02 pm Post subject:
Re: MiniDV or D8 for indoor lighting? |
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On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 14:21:47 GMT, Mean Gene <gene@insight.rr.FAScom>
wrote:
| Quote: | First question,
when it comes to shooting under normal lighting conditions inside, which
is better? (MiniDV or D8, or does it depend on the camera more than
anything?)
|
A much cheaper solution would be to use a little light on top of your
camera. Put some 216 on it, and away you go. A little extra light
does wonders ya know.
cheers
-martin-
--
Can the terror of spam be included in the war on terror? |
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