I currently am using a 13-14 year old Sony camcorder that uses the small DV tapes. It has been great. Recently I went to review one of my

tapes (ten years old) and noticed the picture quality was not as god as it had previously been. I am strongly considering purchasing a new

camcorder that uses the removal SD instead of tapes. I currently have 21 tapes that have been used for various purposes and I am thinking

that with the proper camera I could use the SD instead of tape and retaing quality video. I use Studio 16 to make home videos so what ever

I purchase must be compatible with Pinnacle. I don't know as much as the experts on this forum but what I have learned is the for quality

editing I need to produce videos in AVI and that MPG would be a mistake. When I look at the new camcorders they talk about MPG, MTS,

and it seems many other formats. I am asking what is it I should look for in a camcorder that will allow me to have removal Disk or memory

and also be the best format for Pinnacle. Please excuse me if I did not use correct terminology. I don't want to spend money on a camcorder unless

I can then produce a good quality DVD for the family. Thank you for any advice.

Even if you don't have a Blu-ray burner, you can still create an AVCHD disc that you can burn on regular DVDs.  You can only get about half-hour on a disc, but it will be full HD quality that will play back (only) on a Blu-ray player.

You will also be able to create a high definition MPEG-4 file which you can probably transfer to an SD card, but I'm not sure whether your camcorder will be able to play it.  Does your Blu-ray player have an SD card slot?

Thanks for you response. However, now I am totally confused. I am looking to purchase a camcorder that uses SD memory cards to replace my aging Sony camcorder that uses small DV tapes.

I then want to import the video from the memory cards into Studio 16 and be able to perform edits and exports to make DVD's. There are many camcorders on the market but I want to get one that

will produce video that will work well with Pinnacle.

An SD memory card is the equivalent of your earlier tapes.  It stores your video in a digital file that is simply transferred (copied) to your computer where it can be used by Studio for editing and conversion to disc or other file formats.

I must not be phrasing the question right. I am looking for a recommendation for what I should be looking for in a camcorder that will let me get away from tape.

I know what an SD memory card is. What type of video format should the camcorder produce so that I can do a quality edit with Studio 16 ????

Maybe I am using the wrong words. From what I have learned on this forum is that AVI is better for editing than MPG. My problem is that I don't see any camcorders

that write AVI files.

what is your budget -- and what kinds of things do you shoot ??

Do you ever use a separate microphone ?

Larry6295:

My problem is that I don't see any camcorders

that write AVI files.

That's because technology has moved on. Every new camcorder now records High Definition, and there is no DV-AVI format for that. You are going the have to disregard what was the norm years ago and move on.

Even if you find a Standard Definition camcorder that recorded to SD cards,  it will be mpeg-2 or an even higher compressed format.

Larry, times have moved on. Modern consumer camcorders are almost without exception HD and have SD cards. As with all things, you get what you pay for. A cheap camcorder will probably not give such good quality, especially when panning or zooming or in bad light. The cheaper ones also tend to only record at 30fps although this is acceptable for HD. The most used recording format is probably mts followed by mp4.

My budget is flexible but it would probably be 900 or under.

I just shoot family events. Example I have 19 DVD's of 5 grandchildren ranging from birth to 24 years old.

I am not a pro but I want DVD.s to turn out as nice as economically possible.

I don't use a separate microphone.

 

Will Studio 16 support MTS or MP4 for making DVD's?  I thought MP4 was for the internet?

I don't have a Blu-ray player or an HD burner. When I purchased my computer a couple years ago,

I did not think I would ever need an HD burner. Would I still be able to burn a DVD?

Larry6295:

My budget is flexible but it would probably be 900 or under.

I just shoot family events. Example I have 19 DVD's of 5 grandchildren ranging from birth to 24 years old.

I am not a pro but I want DVD.s to turn out as nice as economically possible.

I don't use a separate microphone.

that's a very decent budget.

I use a version of the Panasonic TM-700 -- a very good camera.

I shoot some serious stuff with it -- but its easy to use in a completely automatic mode as well. It would also allow you in the future to have the option of adding an external mic etc.

But the TM700 is only available used. 

The current model of the same camera is the TM900 -- its also very good, but little different from the TM700 -- and much more expensive.

I would suggest buying a slightly used TM 700 for under $400, get a spare battery or 2 for approx. $20 ea. -- and a Rode Mic Pro for about $200 (if you decide to become more serious)

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

Is this the AVCHD or MTS or MP4 that has been mentioned?

Is there any problem with Pinnacle using the video produced?

Studio has no trouble with its AVCHD video 

what are the specs of your PC ?

 

I have an HP

 AMD fx(tm)-8150 8 core processor       3.60 GHz

12 gig memory

64 bit

that's likely sufficient -- though I don't know AMD systems. (passmark rating on that CPU is 7718) 

What video card are you using (if any) ??

 

Everybody has their own preferences for camcorders.  Mine is Canon.  I have the HF G20 which currently fits your budget.  I bought it when it first came out about a year ago, when it was at the top of Canon's consumer line.  About 3 months later, Canon brought out the HF G30 with more features and a substantially higher price. 

On the other hand, I also bought a low level panasonic camcorder (for about $250) for my daughter to video my grandsons when I am not around.     It fits in a pocket and takes a very credible HD video.  I was shocked at how good it was given its price. 

If you only intend to burn standard DVDs, there would not be much point buying a high end camcorder.  You would probably be better off spending a hundred bucks (or less) on a Blu-ray player (if you have an HD TV).  As I have already mentioned, you would then be able to burn an AVCHD disc on your regular DVD burner that can be played on the Blu-ray player at full HD quality.  You will see a huge difference from SD DVDs.

I have a 1 Gig AMD Radeon 6570

The specs of my system are listed below by my name.

Thanks for all the advice. I really appreciate it. This forum is truly the best.

your video card may not be sufficient -- consider possibly upgrading to an nVidia card at least as strong as the one I have listed -- a GTX 650 (they're not expensive)

 

Thanks for the advice. It sounds by your response that the GTX 650 is the minimum that I should get.

I am reluctant to get it if it is the minimum that I need as it still might not be adequate. I looked at PassMark

and saw a GTX 760 at a higher price but it had a higher rating. Would that be ok for the various HD formats?

Thanks again.

Larry6295:

Thanks for the advice. It sounds by your response that the GTX 650 is the minimum that I should get.

I am reluctant to get it if it is the minimum that I need as it still might not be adequate. I looked at PassMark

and saw a GTX 760 at a higher price but it had a higher rating. Would that be ok for the various HD formats?

Thanks again.

the GTX 760 would be fine -- but since PS uses the CPU much more than the video card, I doubt you would see too much difference

Others might disagree ...  

(either card can handle those formats)

 

 

Larry6295:

I did not think I would ever need an HD burner. Would I still be able to burn a DVD?

Once you start working with (and viewing) hi-def footage, you aren't going to want to dumb-down your projects to standard def DVDs. They look terrible in comparison.

I will be getting a new video card and either the Canon or Panasonic mentioned in the postings.

Should I be concerned about the 1080i or the 1080p ?

no --  I expect that you'll be shooting in 1080i (not progressive).

Either camera will make video infinitely better than either you or your viewers have seen before. Either camera would be fine.

I think the Panasonic will be simpler to operate and cheaper -- but the choice is yours.

Beyond the camera,the most important way for you to improve the quality of your videos would be to buy and use a good separate mic.

The Rode is excellent -- but its more than $200 -- and you may want to save money. In that case there's an Azden mic I recently added to my bag (as a spare) -- the ECZ-990. Priced under $85, its surprisingly good.

Its been replaced reportedly by the Azden SGM-990 for about the same price -- but I've not handled or heard that specific model.

Good sound makes good pictures all the more compelling.

 

 

A Nvidia GTX 650 was recommended. When I look at them they have several models of the

GTX 650 and the GTX 660 to look at. Would  GTX 660 superlocked 2048MB GDDR5 DVI HDMI

be ok? I looked at GTX 660 on Amazon.com and they have 3 different ones that are the 660. What should

I be looking for?