I'm considering buying a video camera (while impatiently waiting for Egghead to deliver my Coolpix 950, thanks) for an upcoming trip, and just realized I know nothing about digital video.

How does the picture quality of the >$1000 digital palmcorders compare to the Hi8 of the better Sony's, etc.? Is DV still in comparative infancy? What are the pro's and con's? Is there a better place I can find this kind of information?

Thanks, Brad

-- Brad Berson (bersonb@abc.com), May 03, 1999

Answers

The >$1000 DV Cameras are still better quality than Hi8. Be cautious - the quality varies from brand to brand. The quality difference is also quite noticable between cameras in the $1000 range, and the $1700+ range. Canon makes a great choice. I still have a hi8. It's nice - but if I had the choice today I'd go for digital. Some of these 1700 dollar cameras put out better video than many 30-thousand dollar cameras many television news photographers are running around with today (3/4 inch units) - and are on-par with the popular non-digital Sony Betacams they use. Bear in mind that once they broadcast any quality signal it's going to be much worse than anything you shoot and play directly on your TV - especially if you have an SVHS connector on your TV (which provides your TV with a component signal rather than a composite one).
Des

-- Dan Desjardins (dan.desjardins@avstarnews.com), May 04, 1999.

To be more precise, the DV offerings have the capability of producing 500 lines per frame, verses the HI-8's 400 lines. Also, the DV camereas have great new technologies available such as "Progressive Scan" imaging, and on-board "fire wire, or IEEE 1394" ports. The fire wire port for example, makes it possible to capture video to a pc with nearly no quality loss. If you choose to go DV, I would suggest that you shop carefully. Also, check out "DVLive" at www.dv.com. After a lot of research, I decided on the Canon Optura because it seemed to have the best picture with only one CCD. Also, it has a two-way Fire wire port. However, the Sony models are exceptional too. Good luck!

-- Joel (DigitalImagingMan@hp.com), May 05, 1999.