Questions before I buy an HV 30

[dog88]

Alright, I've owned a Canon Optura 20 for about 5 years (until it recently broke). I've shot alot of video with it, edited with Pinnacle Studio, and burned to DVDs. I was very pleased with the quality of the DVDs I was producing. All of my video consist of family vacations, kid's school functions, church functions, etc.... family stuff. I'm not interested in making movies or uploading my videos to the web.

Since I need a new camcorder, I've been looking heavily at the HV 30 due to the facts that it is a Canon product (which I'm familiar with), uses miniDV tapes (which I have alot of) and will shoot HD quality video (and I have an HD TV). However, in looking at the many threads on this board, I worry that I may be in "over my head" with this camera. I don't understand the pulldown issues, the differences between 24p, 30p, and 60i (and any other modes the camera may record in.) I just want to be able to shoot good quality video (in HD), edit using Pinnacle and burn my projects on DVDs. Is there a simple way for me to accomplish this with the HV 30? Is there a basic mode that I can record all my video in and get good HD quality without having to deal with all these "work arounds" everyone is talking about? Obviously, I'm not the "techno" that most posters on this board seem to be.... I need something simple. If this camera doesn't do simple, then I need to look somewhere else. But I'd like to know that before I invest $600.... any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[CycleWriter]

The level of technical ability of most on this board can be overwhelming to a newbie. Still, reading through the FAQs and Stickies should be able to enlighten you on the diversity this camera offers.

Easy IS possible as long as you understand that Easy is limiting. For one, Easy means not putting HD onto a standard DVD. Easy means that while you might shoot in HD, if you plan to make a DVD of it you will have to convert to SD. Now, HD downsampled to SD is still better than anything shot in SD, but it isn't the HD you paid for.

Shooting in HD to output to HD format files means having to leave Easy and move into the realm of More Difficult. This realm isn't too intimidating, but you will have to spend some additional time and resources to accomplish these tasks. You'll have to investigate the different file formats, you'll need an editor capable of working with HD, and you'll have to invest more time in finding a workflow that fits your needs. And if you want to create DVDs in the More Difficult realm you'll still need to downsample to SD.

If you want to make actual HD DVDs of your video you then move to the Hard level of video production. This realm requires a significant investment in time and money. Not only will you be working entirely in HD formats, but you'll need additional hardware and software to make DVDs. A Blu-Ray burner is essential along with a playback device if you intend to watch on that nice HDTV in the living room. And you'll need either an editor that supports burning BD disks or an authoring program that does. Hard requires a bit more investment in learning the world of HD.

If the idea of creating something film-like interests you, then you will have progressed to the Extremely Advanced stage. This is where things like 24P/30P, pulldown removal, and all manner of equipment and software become instrumental in your video experience. Extremely Advanced requires gobs of time and knowledge to execute properly and the previous levels are requisite.

The beauty of the HV is that it can fit into any level you choose. If you simply want to shoot HD and watch it on your HDTV with little fuss, you can do that. If you want to shoot SD or HD and put it on a disk with some light editing, you can do that. If you want to invest the time and money to make BD disks, you can do that. And if you want to be the next Coppola, you can certainly try.

You get to decide how much or how little you want to put into your movie-making endeavours. That's the real strength and appeal of the HV.

Of course, if Ultra Simple is your real desire, then a tape-based camera is a poor choice. Better to go with a flash memory or disk-based camera. Tape requires at least a modicum of committment.

[Erik Bien]

Hi, dog88, and welcome to the forum!

IMHO, you're exactly the type of user the HV series is intended for: you can shoot in the HDV modes (60i, 30p, PF24) and, if editing HD is too much for your present computer, set the camera to "DV Lock" when capturing. This lets you edit in standard-def and burn SD DVDs just as you have been, but your tapes will be in HD, so you can watch them at full resolution on your HDTV (using the HV as a playback deck) or edit them for Blu-Ray or HD web distribution at some future date when you have an NLE system up to the task.

[dog88]

Thanks for the quick replies! Cyclewriter, you say:

"Easy IS possible as long as you understand that Easy is limiting. For one, Easy means not putting HD onto a standard DVD. Easy means that while you might shoot in HD, if you plan to make a DVD of it you will have to convert to SD. Now, HD downsampled to SD is still better than anything shot in SD, but it isn't the HD you paid for."


I understand that I can't burn HD onto a standard DVD, but can't I burn it to a blu-ray DVD if I have a blu-ray writer on my PC without too much trouble? Or does that necessitate "work arounds"? I know my current editing software (Pinnacle Studio 9 plus) would have to be upgraded, but isn't that do-able?

If I recorded all my footage in HD and used the DV Lock function to capture it in SD, how much better quality is that than what I was getting with my Optura 20?

Also, the reason I'm looking at a tape based camcorder is that I have a ton of tapes already that I haven't edited.... and I currently have no means to do so (since my Optura 20 died). I figured buying a HD mini DV camcorder would allow me to accomplish both (record new video in HD and capture and edit my old SD footage).

[CycleWriter]

I understand that I can't burn HD onto a standard DVD, but can't I burn it to a blu-ray DVD if I have a blu-ray writer on my PC without too much trouble? Or does that necessitate "work arounds"? I know my current editing software (Pinnacle Studio 9 plus) would have to be upgraded, but isn't that do-able?

I thought I covered that. Yes, with the right software and hardware you can make BD discs. What may or may not be too much trouble is determined by the complexity of the discs you make. If you simply want to put HD footage you can watch on your BD player, that's easy. If you want to do more involved editing and create finished discs complete with menus and extras, that requires more effort. Workarounds are part of almost anything you do a on a computer because there is always a different way to get from point A to point B. But there is usually a simple way and a complex way to do the same thing.

If I recorded all my footage in HD and used the DV Lock function to capture it in SD, how much better quality is that than what I was getting with my Optura 20?

Much. The lens and sensor system designed for an HD camera is far better than that for a SD camera. Even downsampled, the footage is already better than anything you shot with the Optura.

Also, the reason I'm looking at a tape based camcorder is that I have a ton of tapes already that I haven't edited.... and I currently have no means to do so (since my Optura 20 died). I figured buying a mini DV camcorder would allow me to accomplish both (record new and capture and edit old).

Since you are going to use tapes originally shot on a Canon camera, chances are very good the tapes made with the Optura will play fine on the HV (in SD, of course). Mixing HD and SD in editing may yield unplesant results, though. The weaknesses of the video shot with the Optura will likely be glaring when seen next to that from the HV. But if the content is what matters then it shouldn't disappoint.

[Lunchbox]

I would suggest don't let those frame rate and pulldown method scare you away. Just start shooting in HDV 60i. Play with all the settings. Then you can start shooting PF30 and compared the difference. Once you are familiar with the camera, you can tackle PF24 at the very end.

For me, I don't shhot 24p. Just too much trouble. I always need to make slow motion. 24p just won't make slow motion nice enough.

[CycleWriter]

I agree with Lunchbox. The idiot-proof modes are very capable of delivering quality HD. The key is in learning how to recognize situations and match the settings to them. Some basic photographic understanding about things like aperture, shutter speed and perspective are very helpful, as well. Spending time reading the manual and going out and experimenting to find out what works and what doesn't will go a long way to getting you to where you feel comfortable with the camera. Just like digital photography, shoot, shoot, shoot and learn, learn, learn. And if you later decide to move into the realm of 24P/30P, you can, but it certainly isn't necessary to shooting quality video you'll enjoy sharing with friends and family.

[fxdude]

TV Mode or Portrait mode for accurate color without white balancing or tricking the camera
30p recording
Those are the easiest settings that I've found get me the best results without having to mess with the camera much.
If you want good audio you'll have to get an external mic, on board one sucks.