Digital camcorder (not high def) questions

[DawnM]

You guys really know your stuff. I am so grateful as our camera abilities and technology is quite outdated. I do feel silly for not knowing this stuff, but I haven't really had a serious interest until recently.

Anyway, we pulled out our old Sony CCD-TRV22 camcorder last night. We haven't used it in 5 years (a part was missing and is now found). Anyway, we had so much fun watching tapes of our kids when they were really little. We even had Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom footage on it!

So, first question.....the camera we have is bulky and takes tapes, but is the digital quality on it less than digital quality on a new video camera that films with dvd or a harddrive????? I am asking about digital and digital here, not digital tape vs. high def.

Second question: Is there a way to transfer it to dvd?

Thank you!,

Dawn

 

[thomas998]

You guys really know your stuff. I am so grateful as our camera abilities and technology is quite outdated. I do feel silly for not knowing this stuff, but I haven't really had a serious interest until recently.

Anyway, we pulled out our old Sony CCD-TRV22 camcorder last night. We haven't used it in 5 years (a part was missing and is now found). Anyway, we had so much fun watching tapes of our kids when they were really little. We even had Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom footage on it!

So, first question.....the camera we have is bulky and takes tapes, but is the digital quality on it less than digital quality on a new video camera that films with dvd or a harddrive????? I am asking about digital and digital here, not digital tape vs. high def.

Second question: Is there a way to transfer it to dvd?

Thank you!,

Dawn

First answer: The digital video format used on the mini-DV tapes back then is unchanged on the standard mini-DV tapes that you have on a current stand def camcorder today. The newer models might have a better sensor but the actual format is the same... In fact the quality of the mini-DV tape is still superior to both the DVD and hard drive camcorders... assuming we are just talking standard def camcorders... so unless you get a high def camcorder you still have the top of the line in video formats.

Second answer: I'm not familiar with that particular sony model.. but I suspect it has a firewire port (sony calls it a i-link), if it does then you simply hook a cable into that port and connect it to your computer... run your editing software and it will pull the video of the camcorder into your computer for editing.... I would suggest vegas video software if you use a windows computer... Also, if you've lost the i-link cable that connect the camcorder to the computer don't waste money buying one from Sony, they sell you a standard 4 pin firewire cable and charge 5 times as much as the cable costs anywhere else... so just go to a computer store and tell them you need a firewire cable... If you have a normal firewire port on your computer it will be a 6 pin port... your camcorder should have a 4 pin port... so you need a cable that has 6 pins on one end and 4 on the other...

 

[DawnM]

Thank you!

I have another thread going for buying a new camcorder and eventually we will.

But after getting on this board I am seriously considering getting back in photography. I haven't really been into it since I had an Olympus OM10. I have great pics from those days, but have done point and shoots since then.

So, I am trying to prioritize my purchases.

I may put the camcorder on hold and get a still camera first.

Dawn

 

[DawnM]

Never mind guys! My camera is NOT digital! I will be getting a new one by Christmas.

Dawn