Calling All Cams: Buyer's Guide (page 3)
Mini DV
The first digital consumer format to appear was Mini DV, on 6.35mm (or about 1/4-inch) cassettes. Actually the little brother of full-sized DV cassettes, Mini DV cassettes still hold enough tape to record up to 80 minutes of "better-than-broadcast-quality" video. This video has a 720x480 image size, and includes either stereo, 48kHz, 16-bit audio, or four tracks of 32kHz, 12-bit audio. Mini DV camcorders span a broad range, from value-priced basic models, like the Samsung SCD67 at $600, to professional-level units, such as the Sony DSR-PD250 for $5,330 and the Canon XL1S at $4,699.
The larger, professional full-size DV cassettes and cameras (such as the Panasonic AG-DVC200) can record as much as 210 minutes, but are about twice the size of the pocket-sized Mini DV cassettes. An important item of note is that DV is actually three standards. First, it's a data format, where video is compressed 5:1 into a 25MB/s stream. Second, DV is a tape format. Finally, it is a physical tape cassette format, meaning that some decks or camcorders will accept both DV and Mini DV cassettes, others will only accept Mi…
To View This Article
Start Your Free Trial Plus Membership
Why Become a Plus Member?
As a Plus Member, you'll enjoy:
- Exclusive access to 1,000s of articles, tips, and videos
- Unlimited access to Videomaker Tips & Tricks video series
- Special contests and monthly drawings
- Members only eLetters
- Early online access to the current issue of Videomaker Magazine
- Members only discounts on Videomaker merchandise and more
- Priority status at Videomaker events
- The Expert Hotline: direct email access to our editors. Get answers to questions about any video subject
