Flash memory vs HDD vs MiniDV

[Scotttyd]

From what I have learned while researching I have been told that MiniDV gave you better imaging than HDD until the Sony SR11/12 came out, which gave comparable imaging. Where does flash memory (Canon HF10/11 or the HG20 which has both HDD and flash memory) fit in the sequence?

 

[TheBigPhillyFish]

From my research, the flash memory is easier on battery life. The HDD gives you more recording space. I also think the compression on flash is tuff, not 100% sure tho. I was told for editing purpose the list goes HDV, HDD then Flash. But flash has to be the easiest and safer of the two. I only use miniDV now, and will be making the move to HDV very shortly. Also there is a correction, the SR-12 HDD doesn't match the HDV in recording speed. HDV is 25Mbps, the SR-12 I think was 16Mbps, and the new Canon I think was 22 or 24 Mbps.

Don't hold to any of that to strongly, I am also searching like you. So its all of the top of my head. Just remember, if you go HDD, make sure you capture your videos as sson as you safely can. You don't want to put your entire vacation on your HDD and then something goes wrong and you loose it all. The Flash cards carry a few extra and just swap them out.

Good Luck!

 

[jimk]

Tape gives you an original recording which you can store for several years and recapture for editing. You have to make backups of the HDD and flash recordings to other media or you won’t have the footage available at a later date. Tape usually records the HDV format while HDD and Flash typically use the h.264 AVCHD format. HDV has significantly improved in the last year or so, but so has AVCHD which appears to be the future.

HDD give you lots of storage time but drains the battery faster than Flash drives and you tie up the camera while downloading.

Flash is easier on the batteries and you don't have to tie up the camera while downloading (you can pull the recorded chips and put in fresh ones and continue shooting while someone else downloads).