Sony miniDV versus Canon miniDV

I've read a few times on this forum that Sony miniDV cameras will be recognized by iMovie 08 even if they are the "second" firewire device attached to a Mac. In other words, you can have an external firewire hard drive attached and then attach your Sony camera and it will be recognized.
Then, I've read where a Canon miniDV camera will not behave this way. With a Canon camera, you must detach all other firewire devices and have only the Canon camera as the single firewire device attached to you Mac in order for the Canon miniDV camera to be recognized.
Does anyone know the real story here or have any actual experience with this? I would like to buy a new Canon camera, but I have an external firewire drive attached and that is where my Events are stored. So, obviously detaching my Events firewire drive isn't desirable.
I presently have an old Sony Digital8 firewire camera and it works without detaching my firewire drive.
I appreciate you help and advice.

I have a Canon HV30 attached with a firewire& my time machine also attached with the other firewire port. IMovie recognizes the HV 30 & so does FCE. Hope that help. bjt

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Sony NX30 or Canon XA10 for Final Cut Pro X?

I produce for nonprofits and am about to purchase a new iMac with Final Cut Pro X, and need to also purchase a video camera. The Sony NX30 or Canon XA10 are in my budget, but my challenge is that I'm not a real technical person, and so need to be able to import the footage easily into FCP-X. ANY advice on which camera would be best? Any advice would be very much appreciated.

This forum is not really suitable for comparing cameras as few (if any) people will have experience of both.
As the cameras are both AVCHD there should be no difference regarding the "ease of import".
The only thing that should concern you is whether one performs optically better than the other . . . . if neither, then get the cheaper.
Google for camera reviews, but treat with caution those written by customers.
The best reviews are usually by professional testers who subject them to a standardised battery of tests.

MiniDV versus AVCHD

I am just starting to use FCE. I have version 4.0.1, running on a MacPro 2x2.8 Quad-Core Intel, Mac OSX 10.5.8.
Up until now I have been importing video from my old analog Hi-8 Camcorder, via an analog to digital converter (firewire). After editing, I am exporting to iTunes as H.264, for use on AppleTV. Most of my use of FCE is editing clips, adding sound, titles, etc. I do little "tweaking" of the images, such as contrast, brightness, etc.
I think it is time to upgrade to an HD camcorder.
Is miniDV the "best"? My biggest concern is how long it will take to download the tape into the Mac. Do you find that it is much slower to download from a miniDV than it would be from an AVCHD unit? How much quality will I lose if I go with an AVCHD camcorder? Will using the compressed format limit my ability to edit well? Is the image quality equal between the two?
Many thanks for any advice.
Mark

Hi Mark,
For an iMovie or FCE user, HDV and AVCHD video are both visually very good and almost indistinguishable from each other. Some reviewers who have done side-by-side comparisons give HDV better scores on 720p video, and AVCHD slightly better scores on 1080i video. But that's about it in real life. Most of the arguments for or against one or the other have to to with technical specs. Since both HDV and AVCHD are transcoded to Apple Intermediate Codec during capture, editing in FCE is the same in both cases.
With an HDV camcorder you will be recording onto miniDV tapes; capturing the tapes takes 'real time', meaning that if you have a 1-hour tape, it will take 1 hour to capture. AVCHD is faster because it's on a hard drive or flash memory in the camcorder and can effectively be transferred to your Mac at drive speeds. But hold on a minute ... FCE transcodes both HDV and AVCHD into Apple Intermediate Codec during capture, so AVCHD loses some of its apparent transfer speed in the process. Bottom line, yes it takes longer to capture HDV because it is tape-based, but not hugely different compared to capturing AVCHD.
Keep in mind that since HDV uses miniDV tapes, you can set the tapes aside and keep them as backups. Can't do that with AVCHD.

Is Sony DCR HC 96 MiniDV compatible with MAC

I have read mixed reviews on this - some folks say they have been able to use it with iMovies (through firewire) while others have not.
Is this model from Sony compatible with imovie HD? Any feedback on usage or experience ? Thanks very much
ibookG4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Hi Vikmac:
Welcome to discussions!
While I own several Sonys that work very well with the Mac, I do not own the Sony DCR HC 96.
But, as long as you have the proper 4-pin to 6-pin firewire cable, I see no reason at all that it wouldn't work!
:)Sue

Sony EX1r versus Panasonic AG-HVX200a

I'm looking to take a big step forward on my next project and rent either a Sony PMW EX1r or Panasonic AG HVX200a. I believe I'll have to download software for either, and will need the dowload to use Log and Transfer rather than Log and Capture. Any thoughts on XDCam versus DVCPro for ease of use/end result with Final Cut Pro?

Thanks for you help, I did go with the HPX170. I used more than one P2 card during the shoot (and did keep labelled slot 1 and slot 2) after taking cards out and write protecting.
It's a documentary so I'm keeping all the footage just in case, and so would like to save all to my hard drive with a backup copy on an external hard drive.
I connected the camcorder via firewire and each card shows up as an individual storage device. I assume there may be clips that span both cards? If so, how do I make sure to copy in the correct order?
Thanks for your help.

IPhoto 08 versus Canon DPP

I own a Canon XSi DSLR and I shoot all my pics in RAW. I usually photograph birds and other wild life and often need to sharpen, adjust exposure, or modify the white balance. Does anyone have an opinion about which program, iPhoto 08 or Canon's DPP, is best for doing these tasks? I will use iPhoto to do all my organizing of the photos, so I am just looking at post processing needs.
Before anyone suggestions Aperture or PhotoShop, I am looking at no cost choices for now.

After testing out both options, DPP is not as easy to use as iPhoto. iPhoto is not as powerful, but is more fun and does what I need in fewer steps. If I need a more powerful program, I will use photoshop or Corel.

Canon 70-200mm lens with a Canon Extender EF 2X III versus Canon 100-400mm lens

Which is better for astrophotography,
a Canon 70-200mm lens with a Canon Extender EF 2X III or Canon 100-400mm lens

JMR66 wrote:
Which is better for astrophotography,
a Canon 70-200mm lens with a Canon Extender EF 2X III or Canon 100-400mm lens
If you refer to Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS II USM + Extender 2x III, then you'd get f/5.6 all over the focal length range vs. the EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM (meaning you'll get a bit more of light at the short telephoto end when using the 100-400)
Both combinations are very sharp, but I think the 100-400 is a bit sharper when compared to 70-200 2.8L II + extender 2x III, noticeable if you use full frame DSLRs.
If you use APS-C DSLRs, then I'd suggest going for the 70-200 2.8L IS II USM because you'll get more than 1 f-stops of light if you shoot from 70 to 200mm (without the Extender 2x III) compared to the 100-400, and the sharpness is really amazing (better than 100-400 in both Full Frame and APS-C cameras)
Regards
HD Cam Team
Group of photographers and filmmakers using Canon cameras for serious purposes.
www.hdcamteam.com | www.twitter.com/HDCamTeam | www.facebook.com/HDCamTeam

Help: Sony HDRHC1 versus HDRFX1

I will be purchasing a HD camcorder for some instructional videos that I'll be putting together in FCS. I am seeking recommendations and suggestions in choosing between these camcorders. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

HC1
single chip CMOS imaging
no xlr inputs
bottom release cassette
no 50i
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-HCR-HC1-Review.htm
FX1
three chip imagining
no xlr inputs
side release cassette
50i and 60i
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-HDR-FX1-First-Impression-Camcorder-Rev iew.htm

Canon EF400mm f5.6 versus Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-f5.6

Hi folks
Having attended the MotoGP at Valalencia last week, and using my 7d with a 70-200mm with 1.4 extender. I have realised I need a longer lens for such events. I was wondering what lens would be better, ie sharpness. I know the 100-400mm has the benefit of the zoom, but I don't want to lose image quality if I can help it.
John
Solved!
Go to Solution.

This topic has been debated many times at both Photography on the Net (POTN) and Fred Miranda (FM) for years with no clear winner. I suggest you forget about choosing one or the other based only on IQ under ideal circumstances. You're not going to see the difference doing what you do unless you have extremely good panning skills. The prime is marginally sharper but so what? It limits what you can shoot because you can't keep changing position so you'll miss opportunities, some of which may be that "money shot". I shoot a different form of action, and based on the expectations of those viewing motorsports photos I strongly suspect the ideal photos will have slow enough shutter speeds for blurred wheels (or spokes) & background but a rider & bike that very crisp. Meeting those requirements will cancel any difference between the 2 lenses IQ wise 99% of the time.
For my needs the prime (just about ANY prime) would be useless, even if I got them free, and I rely on lenses considered to be less than ideal by most because they're superzooms, BUT they do the job, & well. They may not have the very best IQ but they do get the shot, and do it consistantly. Just remember it's not just the lens that captures the shot, it's the combination of the lens, the body, knowing how to set the variables in the body, and your ability to either pan perfectly or hold it steady enough. Blow one of those a tiny bit & the IQ is now less than what was possible when exacuted perfectly. You're not shooting stationary riders from a tripod from a fixed distance all day long so consider all the variables from your previous trips to the track before buying.
"A skill is developed through constant practice with a passion to improve, not bought."

Sony minidv cameras and intel macbook stop talking after firmware update

i think there must be an issue with a driver conflict between sony's camcorders and the latest intel firmware update. three sony mini dv cameras fail to be recognized by final cut pro or imovie. i have no such issue with canon minidv cameras. any info on where to get an updated driver? sony doesn't seem to support anything other than microsoft systems. thanks in advance.

Try resetting the PRAM:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
Oh and tell Sony the next time they tell you they don't support Mac that the following is true:
1. Their president came to Macworld 2004 to introduce new products for the Mac and a collaboration with Apple. I was there and saw it.
2. Their music is being sold by the iTunes Music Store
3. They have Apple to thank for iLink, as iLink is actually Firewire.
Suggest to them to reconsider their position. As Mac users won't support them if they won't support Mac users.

Workflow suggestions for CS4, Sony XR520 (HD) & TRV18 (SD-MiniDV)?

Hello all,
I'm working on my first video "production" in a long while, and it's my first time delving into the world of HD and mixed formats. So I'm feeling a bit like a fish out of water.
This is the workflow I was USED to:
Connect camera to computer via FireWire(MiniDV-SD-60i)
Launch Premiere 6.5
Use Capture Utility to set In/Out points and bring in as AVI clips
Import those AVI clips into bins and edit directly
Save Timeline out to AVI
Encode to final output format
SO, this is the situation I'm faced with now:
Two cameras. Main camera is Sony HDR-XR520 (AVCHD-1080i). Second camera is Sony DCR-TRV18 (DV - MiniDV - 30fps Interlaced - 60i?) for time lapse shots/filler shots.
My final output is going to be computer/internet playback (I'm assuming I'm going to need to output to a progressive format, 24P or 30P. Am I right on this?)
Any suggestion as to what my workflow needs to be?
My assumptions:
Edit using a 1080i30 (60i) timeline(sequence)
Edit XR520 clips directly
Import TRV18 as avi clips, put in timeline, but only use clips to fill 1/4 of the HD frame (don't try to up res)
Export to AVI, encode to mpeg4 and remove interlace.
Am I going in the right direction here, or am I all wrong on this?

Thanks for the suggestion. Yeah, I guess that's the thing: the final output, while it will be computer/internet playback, doesn't necessarily have to be at full hd. In fact, I'd rather it be 1280x720, since not all laptops (typical of what our sales people will have) will be able to handle playback of HD video. I really just want them to be able to play this video back in PowerPoint or directly through WindowMedia/QuickTime at 100% or fullscreen mode, and still be high quality to the viewer (typically in a conference room/board room, on a projector, an large monitor, or directly on the laptop screen)
I've seen SD internet video that plays back really well in fullscreen mode (on a typical 1280x1024 monitor), but I don't know what export settings will yield those type of results. Any good tutorials on getting SD video to encode and play really well at monitor resolutions?
It'd be nice to be able to use the SD timelapse footage at full size, but I was planning on only using that timelapse footage in multiples (2-3 clips playing at SD size on an HD timeline). As far as PAR, if I was to manually place black bars on the 4:3 footage, would I be able to export in native 16:9 PAR so I could then edit it in a 16:9 timeline?
So, going along with your suggestion, would I need to convert all my HD clips FIRST to 1280x720, then edit on a 720 timeline, or edit on a 1080 timeline and export to a 720 output?
Also, am I right that since playback is on a monitor/projector, that I'll need the video to be progressive?

Which HD camcorder? Sony - Canon - Panasonic

Currently I use a Panasonic MiniDV with great results
but not HD and would like to upgrade to HD.
I am looking at three HD camcorders and would like
to see if anyone has an opinion of them.
The three HD cameras I am looking at:
Sony HDR-HC3 - MiniDV tape
Canon HV10 - MiniDv tape
Panasonic HDC-SD1 - Memory card (4gig = 1 hour recording)
I am not interested in a DVD disc camcorder.
Harold

Hi guys, I'm estimating hd camcorder between Canon
HV10 and Sony HDR-HC3.
but what do you really mean with "you will need to
convert the footage to something imovie can use"
I don't think you need to convert it.
Can I import hd video direct in iMovie from this
camcorder?
Probably; Apple is very good with camcorder support.
See:
http://www.apple.com/ilife/imovie/features/importing.html
and
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=43000
"iMovie works with most DV camcorders that have a FireWire connection. For information on cameras that Apple has tested and qualified for use with iMovie, see the following:
For iMovie 1 see "iMovie 1.0.x: Compatible Camcorders"
For iMovie 2 see "iMovie 2: Compatibility"
For iMovie 3 see "iMovie 3: Compatibility"
For iMovie 4 see the iMovie webpage.
Tip: Devices that are not on the qualified device list may still work. Results will vary depending on the device. Consult with the camera's manufacturer for additional compatibility information."
-Robert

HT201338 Can I connect a firewire 400 to firewire 800 adapter and then a firewire 800 to Thunderbolt adapter(standard Thunderbolt to firewire adapter) together to digitize video from a miniDV video camcorder?

I have a 10 year Canon MiniDV camcorder that I used to connect via firewire to digitize the data. Now my IMac only has a Thunderbolt connector and my camcorder uses the older firewire 400 standard. I would like to digitize the video into my IMac. How can I do this?

I did a little looking around and found a Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 adapter, and then a Firewire 400 to 800 adapter, but no Thunderbolt to Firewire 400. Amazon and Apple stores had the Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 cable and Amazon had the Firewire 400 to 800 adapater.
Wherever you get the cables, ask them if it will work OK with what you want to try and do - if they don't know make sure you can return if there is a problem. I think it will because the Thunderbolt side is so much faster than what the camera can pump out to it. If it were the other way (Thunderbolt device to a Firewire computer I would expect that to fail since the Firewire could never keep up with the data rate of the incoming Thunderbolt device).
Maybe if you have a local Mac user group or a friend with an older mac with a firewire 400 port you could do it this way too?
Good luck

New to PE 11. What quality to expect burning miniDV input to DVD?

Hello:
Thanks for reading. I am tyring to burn a "decent" quality DVD of a recent wedding. I have tried iMovie, Final Cut Express 4, and now PE 11, and all 3 give me lousy quality on the DVD burn. I need your help, please.
Long story short, I recorded the wedding on a Sony PD-170 in miniDV format on good Sony tape. When I watch the film on my 50" plasma straight from the camera, it looks fine for SD. But when I author the movie in any of the before mentioned programs, the DVD looks awful on the TV. My basic settings are...... 720x480 widescreen, 30pfs, Output = Max bit depth, at Highest Quality. I am working on a new Apple iMac 27" with Lion.
If you have any suggestions for input settings, output setings, or anything at all that might help, please let me know. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Richard

Other discussion is at http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1118765
Sticking with one discussion for a continuation of the same question is actually better, so you don't miss an answer
As I said in the other discussion, I am going to reply here and figure you have been answered "over there"
Your captured tape is "roughly" the same quality as a DVD (I no longer use tape, but when I did, my DVD output was the same quality as the input)
So... please provide step by step DETAILS of what you are doing
Especially... are you using ANY effects while editing the video?
Then, post a screenshot of your output settings - http://forums.adobe.com/thread/592070?tstart=30
Creating a DVD does compress the file (13Gig per hour from a tape down to "about" 4Gig to fit on a DVD) but you SHOULD see very little difference when you play the DVD

MiniDV Capture Quality

Does footage look the same from:
*a $2500 3CCD Sony/Cannon
*a $1500 miniDV capture deck
*an old $200 Panasonic home video camera?
Basically I am asking if capture quality changes depending on what is being used?
Thanks.

Of course not. If all MiniDV cameras captured exactly the same image, nobody would buy an expensive camera over a cheaper one, and there wouldn't be the hundreds of models there are out there. They are all the same resolution, but resolution is only a small part of the image quality equation.
a $1500 miniDV capture deck
Decks don't capture footage, they just play it back. So however good or bad the footage from a MiniDV tape is, that's how good or bad you'll get it from the deck.

Sony miniDV versus Canon miniDV

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