[MW Forums]

Canon is updating its camcorder lineup with its first two DVD camcorders. more

[Tau_Myx]

Is there any way to get footage from Mini-DVD camcorders like this one into iMovie (Or Final Cut) for editing? Apple's "MPEG-2 Playback Component" is useless, as it does not support audio at all. (!)

[Nobody]

What kind of person wants their video recorded direct to an optical disc? What kind of engineer would design such a thing? Why have a fast spinning optical drive and laser, which consumes more power, and is more bulky than a tape transport or solid-state medium? Why would the company care about being "late" to this market, when it isn't a very compelling one? it's kinda like being late to the buggywhip market.
On the other hand, I wonder if the spinning disc produces any gyroscopic effects in holding the camera, and whether this enhances or detracts from stability. I imagine it would make turning the camera in some directions feel a bit weird. But maybe the disc isn't heavy enough to have a significant effect?

[kennethfcooper]

In reply to:

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it's kinda like being late to the buggywhip market.

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Hey! Don't knock the buggy whip market. My wife's ancesters did quite well in the buggywhip market. I almost married an heiress. Too bad they were late getting OUT of the buggywhip market--true story.
One advantage is in transfering the data to the computer--just plug in the disk. I could see applications where this could come in handy. Still, FLASH memory would be better for small projects and for large projects transfering the data becomes a small part of the process.
So, I'll have to agree with you on this (except about the buggy whips.)

[prajna]

In reply to:

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Why have a fast spinning optical drive and laser, which consumes more power, and is more bulky than a tape transport or solid-state medium?

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I think this is prettty clear: random access and faster than real time data transfer. You can almost instantly access any point of the recording rather than shuttling tape, and then transfer to hard disk the clips you want much faster than real time, so that you can start editing right away. That is, if you could start editing right away, which, even with Final Cut Pro, seems not to be an option. This is because it is in MPEG 2, as you correctly pointed out. Ironically, on the PC side, I think there are some editing programs that can handle this without a problem.

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I wonder if the spinning disc produces any gyroscopic effects in holding the camera, and whether this enhances or detracts from stability.

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I seriously doubt there is enough mass involved to have any discernible effect. Those discs are smaller than a normal sized DVD (80 vs. 120 mm), and so have at least 33% less mass.
What I am wondering is: why are the manufacturers taking so long to come out with camcorders with interchangeable hard disk cartridges? I really think this is where they should be going, now that prices have come down so significantly. I think they finally will, and these will take us to the point where flash memory gains greater capacities, economies of scale, and refined manufacturing techniques.

not really a stranger

[Tau_Myx]

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why are the manufacturers taking so long to come out with camcorders with interchangeable hard disk cartridges?

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There is one JVC camera like this, but the cost is just too high, and making the hard drives removable like tapes is a bad idea.
Because the hard drives are so expensive, no one is going to archive them like tapes. They will copy the data off, and reuse the drives again and again. This constant reuse will subject the tapes to more insert/eject cycles then a Mini-DV tape would usually have, thus making the disks more prone to wear and failure. (The most common thing to break in a camcorder is the eject mechanism.) They also rattle around in your pocket because you need to carry several around.
A fixed drive sounds like a better solution to me. A 60 gig drive like in the iPod holds as much data as 5 DV tapes as SP speed, and if you use MPEG 2, then you are looking at the equivalent of 15-30 dv tapes in your camera. The 1.8 inch drives are also much cheaper per gigabyte then any removable format, and if it is fixed, then dust doesn't get in your camera.

[Schneb]

In reply to:

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I wonder if the spinning disc produces any gyroscopic effects in holding the camera, and whether this enhances or detracts from stability. I imagine it would make turning the camera in some directions feel a bit weird. But maybe the disc isn't heavy enough to have a significant effect?

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Now THAT would be interesting. A camcorder with a built-in gyro for steadycam effect. Forget the DVD recording, look into this Canon. Do something new and state of the art!

[moose_n_squirrel]

If you didn't get any gyroscopic effects from carrying your portable CD player, your iPod, or your Powerbook, which all have superfast spinning metal disks, you're not going to feel any from putting a little gyro in a camera. Canon doesn't need this anyway. They have a tried-and-true optical (not electronic) image stabilization system in their better video cameras and pro lenses. You're not going to get a steadycam effect without a major dampening device like a hinged arm.