Author
|
Topic: HD vs Blue-ray battle.........how does this affect us? (Read 4635 times)
|
|
|
|
|
|
sjspeck
Damsel Fish
 Offline
Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 110
  
|
 |
Re:HD vs Blue-ray battle.........how does this affect us?
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2008, 03:39:41 PM »
|
 
|
| Okay, discussing the whole HD vs Blue-ray battle last night and my hubby asked how that affects me as an underwater videographer.......... I don't know! |
|
Ok,
There's a difference between HD and HD-DVD.
HD is anything shot in High Definition.
HD-DVD is the losing format in the HD definition DVD format war just won by Blu-Ray. Both are HD formats, just incompatible disc technologies.
HDV is the format most consumer based "HD" tape camcorders record in. The Sony HDR-HC series and Canon HV20 are examples - as are others.
AVCHD is the "HD" format used by HDD (Hard Disk Drive) HD camcorders. Sony's HDR-SR series and the Canon HG10 are examples. As do the HD DVD format recording camcorders. (Not to be confused with HD-DVD...could they have picked a more similar sounding name...  )
Most(All?) consumer/prosumer "HD" models record in HDV/AVCHD. Only high-end professional cameras record in true uncompressed HD formats. I don't even know what those are called.
Make sense?
| Does that mean that when I do upgrade to a HD camcorder I need to get a blue-ray burner for my computer in order to make videos I can playback on Blue-ray DVD player. |
|
Yes, You'll probably also need a new computer also to handle rendering and Blu-Ray DVD authoring. Unless you have a newer computer with a CoreDuo processor, a couple GB's of memory and fast (7200RPM) hard drives. Or a newer Mac - don't ask which one, I'm a PC person.
| but still burn regular DVDs for my computer playback? |
|
On the computer with the Blu-Ray burner? Just play it on the Blu-Ray burner. On a computer with a standard DVD burner? Yes. as it won't be able to read the Blu-ray format.
But most Blu-Ray component DVD Players will upconvert a standard DVD to near HD quality. So most SD DVD's will still look good on an HDTV.
I have an HDTV (1920x1080 resolution) and all I play are SD DVD's of footage shot originally in HDV but downconverted to Standard Definition (SD). Or commercially produced SD DVD's. On an $85 Samsung HDMI Upconverting DVD player.
Both look good but Blu-Ray is a little sharper...once the prices come down, I'll probably buy one.
| I guess I am not understanding the whole "different format" thing....... is it a problem for those who have already bought HD camcorders? |
|
No, most prosumer and some "pro" camcorders are recording in HDV which is HD compressed to fit on a MiniDV format. Since any "HDV" camcorders are recording at (typically) 1920x1080 or HD resolution already it won't be an issue. The only difference is that on the output side you'll record to Blu-Ray DVD media. Some people already are as Sony's high-end VAIO laptops have integrated Blu-Ray burners as an option.
| Are there going to be camcorders that record Blue-ray? |
|
There already are. But what they really are is AVCHD format cameras with integrated Blu-Ray DVD burners. Hitachi makes a "Hybrid" model that has both a 30GB HDD and integrated Blu-Ray DVD recorder. And one with just a Blu-Ray burner. But they're using small form factor 8CM media so the recording time has to be limited even with the best compression. http://av.hitachi.com/camcorder/blu-ray/index.html
Afaik, the only true Blu-Ray HD camcorder is the Sony XDCAM HD. But it starts around $17K
Is this as insane as it sounds?  |
|
It is until you get a handle on it.
But now just wait for all the new solid-state SDHC media cameras to show up in the next couple of months. They use AVCHD compression to store an hour or more of HD material on an 8GB media card. So no HDD or tape drive required.
IMHO it's the future once media capacity goes up and the cost per card goes down. Right now it's a little too expensive to change cards mid-shoot.
I think Blu-Ray disc prices will fall now that the format will be widely adopted. I used to see double-layer SD discs for $12, now they're $1.50.
Probably get a really good deal on an HD-DVD player after this week...LOL Even Hitachi - the leading mfr. of HD-DVD players just announced they're no longer making them after March.
|
|
| « Last Edit: February 20, 2008, 04:10:57 PM by sjspeck » |
 Logged
|
|
URL of this post: http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=24144;start=msg218297#msg218297
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ronscuba
Cleaner Shrimp
Offline
NYC
Posts: 58
I wanna be a Digital Diver!
|
|
Re:HD vs Blue-ray battle.........how does this affect us?
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2008, 06:14:35 PM »
|
|
Easiest way to watch your videos is to connect your HD camcorder to your HDTV. Edited videos can be recorded back to the camcorder from your PC.
Right now, if you buy a Blu Ray player and want to watch through the player, you will need a Blu Ray burner. I say right now, because sooner or later, Blu Ray players should be able to read and play m2t files, which is the file format for HDV camcorders. To confuse you more, the video game system Sony Playstation 3, is a game platform but also a Blu Ray player that can play movies and read m2t files. I know many people consider the Playstation 3 a very good performing Blu Ray player and credit it with building up the Blu Ray side in the format war.
Right now, the AVCHD camcorders have been rated a notch below the tape base HDV camcorders in video quality.
Confused 
My advice, forget HD camcorders for now and buy some video lights. 
|
Sony FX7, Gates housing on order.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=scubaronc
| « Last Edit: February 20, 2008, 06:17:01 PM by ronscuba » |
Logged
|
|
URL of this post: http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=24144;start=msg218307#msg218307
|
|
|
|
|
|
sjspeck
Damsel Fish
Offline
Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 110
|
|
Re:HD vs Blue-ray battle...Adding to the confusion...LOL
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2008, 08:38:42 PM »
|
|
Hypothetical here:
If in 6 months I buy an HC-7 camcorder and I buy a Blue-ray DVD player to use with my HD tv set we got last year. Will I be able to play my own videos? |
|
Standard DVD's - Yes. And the Blu-ray player will upconvert them to near HD quality also.
| Will I need to buy a blue-ray burner? |
|
Only if you want to make Blu-ray DVD's to play on the new player.
| Would it be better to buy the AVCHD instead? |
|
What's more important to you, video quality or recording time?
If it's quality, I'd buy the HC7 - or HC9 if the price drops by then.
If it's recording time, there's any number of new AVCHD models from Sony, Canon and others due by this April. Both bigger HDD and SDHC media models. Although hopefully Sony drops their proprietary Memory Duo Media format in favor of SDHC soon.
Here's some relevant specs. for the Sony BDP-S300 player. My comments are in quotes..
Blu-ray Disc format compatible for high-definition movie playback with resolution up to 5 times greater than DVD
Delivers greatly enhanced video performance with standard DVDs by upconverting their video resolution to HDTV-compliant 720p, 1080i or 1080p via the HDMI interface (What it says, it will upconvert your existing standard DVD's)
Here's where Ronscuba and I disagree (a very infrequent occurence btw...), I think the Blu-ray will play your existing rendered DVD's just fine. Since they're most likely MPEG-2 files - or MPEG-4 if done on a MAC using H.264 - encapsulated in a standard .vob DVD container file(picture/sound and menus) But he's likely right in that it won't play raw .m2t files.
Plays BD-ROM, DVD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, MP3, JPEG, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4
(covers most of the common formats you can make on your existing burner or new Blu-Ray burner)
Enjoy full HD 1080p video output on your 1080p display. (Blu-Ray discs are 108OP - if your HDTV is also, you'll get the best output currently possible)
|
|
| « Last Edit: February 20, 2008, 08:39:34 PM by sjspeck » |
Logged
|
|
URL of this post: http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=24144;start=msg218312#msg218312
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ronscuba
Cleaner Shrimp
Offline
NYC
Posts: 58
I wanna be a Digital Diver!
|
|
Re:HD vs Blue-ray battle.........how does this affect us?
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2008, 10:38:22 PM »
|
|
Steve, we actually agree...as usual.
I agree Blu Ray players should play standard def files, just not the raw HD m2t files, which is what you want. You don't buy a HD camcorder to watch standard def.
I still think a $99 HD DVD player is a good buy if you have a standard player, need a new one and don't have the $$ for a Blu Ray. It will play and upconvert all standard dvd's plus HD DVD's. You get 2 free movies already packaged in the box (300 & Borne Identity), plus 5 additional movies mailed to you from Toshiba. You can also burn 20 minutes of your HDV videos onto a standard DVD with a standard DVD burner and it will play in full HDV resolution on a HD DVD player. A very good deal IMHO for $99.
|
Sony FX7, Gates housing on order.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=scubaronc
| « Last Edit: February 21, 2008, 01:05:53 PM by ronscuba » |
Logged
|
|
URL of this post: http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=24144;start=msg218317#msg218317
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jedi99
Damsel Fish
Offline
Kosice - Slovakia
Posts: 107
I wanna be a Digital Diver!
   
|
|
Re:HD vs Blue-ray battle.........how does this affect us?
« Reply #14 on: May 20, 2008, 09:38:08 AM »
|
|
I am already doing many animations and advertising in HD, mainly in 1280x720, not full HD 1920x1080, and testing on PS3 
I just bought my first blu-ray burner LG CGW-H20L, so next month I will do some test with rewritable media, because also here in Slovakia media are still quite expensive..
but the main advantage is that I have CX6 SONY HD camera, recording on memory stick, and I can put that memory stick to PS3 and play..... files are saved in AVC HD codec, with maximum 15mbits/s (I am not sure yet if it is VBR or CBR)
the only small problem is that not many software packages are currently editing in AVC HD, but I tested sonyvegas, edius pro, and now also Premiere CS3 is working (after some instaling)... if anybody tested AVC HD, I will be glad for any info...
Marek
|
http://www.animax3d.sk
|
Logged
|
|
URL of this post: http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=24144;start=msg221086#msg221086
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
