Please help me decide.
 

I'm ready to buy a HD camcorder but until now I can't decide between the SR11 and the JVC HD7. I love manual controls and at the same time I'm also concern of the image quality. I read from this how good the SR11 and the same time watch good videos of the HD7 in vimeo. I think Steve Mullen can help me since he has both the SR11 & HD7. My goal is to buy a HD camcorder within this week.

thanks
jade

Jade Maestre,

I am proude owner of HD7, I am using it since last one year and more! I am fully satisfied with it! It is stunning performer! Solid colour producer! It has 3CCD, 60GB, Fujinon lens, and those manual controls & focusing ring!

And if you like Sony SR11 then go for SR12.

But you will not disappoint if you buy HD7.

You have seen already HD7's videos, here is my link if you would like to see my videos: http://www.vimeo.com/user318721

Kaushik

Kaushik, Do you think my pentium D 3.2 ghz, 3gig ram computer can edit TOD files? BY the way I have Sony Vegas 8. Have you tried converting TOD files to AVi? How long will it take for an hour of tod files to be converted to AVI?

The nice thing about Vegas, EDIUS, and iMovie 08 is there is no need CONVERT tod files. Just move them from camera to your computer and then import.

HD7 vs SR11: This week I plan to do a comparison. I have no doubt the Sony will do better in low light.

However, my main problem with the the HD7 is it has "red push" on skin tones that require color correction. My hope was the Sony would not. But, it does. It just has less. So I still have to color correct for the best results. :(

The real issue is compute power for AVCHD. All the software companies say you MUST have a 2.66GHz QUAD core computer -- minimum. They are correct. (And, Pinnacle and Cyberlink are VERY slow compared to Vegas.)

With EDIUS, you convert to their HQ codec -- which you can edit on a slower machine. Converting takes a LONG time and lots of disk space. (You must convert using any Apple editors.)

So it comes down to what computer you own. I'm going to be trying-out my new Sony VAIO this week. It has a 2.5GHz DUAL core. Maybe Vegas will be able to at least smoothly play half-speed. (EDIUS should be fine -- after you wait several hours for the conversion to be done.)

I am afraid why you need to convert them in to AVI? Supplied PowerDirector software will convert .TOD files in to MPEG2, and if you buy new PowerDirector 7 then you do not need to convert .TOD files in to MPEG2, you can direct import them for editing!

Kaushik

He said he uses Vegas.

Are you suggesting that .TOD files are easier to edit in slower computers than AVCHD? If that's the case then maybe I will go with the HD7. Am I right. By the way the HD7 is cheaper than the SR11. Steve do you accept Paypal international if I purchase the electronic handbook you made either the SR11 or Hd7? Please your input will really guide me in buying the right camcorder based on the specs of my computer. I need to buy an HD camcorder at least two days from now.

Kaushik. Iwant to convert Tod files to AVI because it easier to edit in Vegas and by the way I'm planning to SD DVD's. So I think MPEG file is too compress and when you edit MPEGs the image quality will be affected. By the way thats my own idea. Let's try to hear from the experts.

Are you suggesting that .TOD files are easier to edit in slower computers than AVCHD? If that's the case then maybe I will go with the HD7. Am I right. By the way the HD7 is cheaper than the SR11. Steve do you accept Paypal international if I purchase the electronic handbook you made either the SR11 or Hd7? Please your input will really guide me in buying the right camcorder based on the specs of my computer. I need to buy an HD camcorder at least two days from now.

AVI is a wrapper not a codec. Quality never gets better being converted. So, you should stay with TOD files.

Unless you have a 2.66GHz QUAD core Intel based computer -- don't even think about AVCHD.

PS: Paypal accepted for both my SR11 and HD7 eBooks.

Thanks Steve. I don't know if this is good news or bad news. I just won a SR11 on ebay 4 hours ago for 875 US dollars. Despite the fact, that I have only a Pentium D 3.2 GHZ 3 gig ram computer. By the way my next step is to buy your SR11 handbook when I receive my new SR11 camcorder. Maybe I will ffind ways how to convert AVCHD files to Mpeg or avi and then edit in Vegas. Steve. do you think It's Ok to just open an avchd file in vegas and render as avi? How long will an hour of avchd files takes to be converted to avi? Maybe you will wonder why I talk about converting. The reason is I don't plan to snake HD dvd's, I only plan to make SD dvd's. and I heard that HD converted to SD will have a better quality.

There's always Cineform to loosen your processor load. Editing intermediate is easier than editing the raw AVCHD files.

Jade Maestre,

I have made so many DVDs since I do not have Blue-Ray burner, and I watch my DVDs in my projector connected with HDMI cable, and result is very good. Just we have to make HQ DVDs so it will give us average 8MB/PS.

I do not see any clarity loses if I use converted MPEG2 files, however now I do have PowerDirector 7 which support .TOD files, so I will compile new DVD by using .TOD files and see if result is same or better

Kaushik

Thanks Kaushik & Jack for your input.

Steve. I don't know if this is good news or bad news. I just won a SR11 on ebay 4 hours ago for 875 US dollars. Despite the fact, that I have only a Pentium D 3.2 GHZ 3 gig ram computer. By the way my next step is to buy your SR11 handbook when I receive my new SR11 camcorder. Maybe I will ffind ways how to convert AVCHD files to Mpeg or avi and then edit in Vegas. Steve. do you think It's Ok to just open an avchd file in vegas and render as avi? How long will an hour of avchd files takes to be converted to avi? Maybe you will wonder why I talk about converting. The reason is I don't plan to snake HD dvd's, I only plan to make SD dvd's. and I heard that HD converted to SD will have a better quality.

I think for best results you should consider buying Cineform's NEO, and use that to convert the AVCHD into a much faster and less destructable codec. Second of all you need to set your P4 to use dual channel RAM. You are using 3GB now which means you are not in dual channel, unless you have two 512MB and two 1GB sticks(I hope). I am guessing you have three 1 GB sticks? You need two sticks that match, and another two sticks. If you are going to edit with these types of codecs, you need memory bandwidth. Get that P4 into dual channel mode asap!

I have a duo core and edit AVCHD
 

And I do it with no converting to Vegas 8b. It works just fine. It is just as fast as the HDV I use with my Sony HC1. The AVCHD I use is from my Canon HG10. I have not had any issues with editing AVCHD. Roger :o0

Jade Maestre,

How long you will be making DVDs? But now everybody is swiching to Blue-ray.

Kaushik

YES, BUT -- cineform is wonderful with Premiere because the cineform software replaces Premiere's slow rendering engine. But, if he shoots 1920x1080 he must buy the $1,000 cineform Prospect HD.

With Vegas -- which he has -- you only get a cineform codec. You still have the Vegas rendering engine -- which is not very fast. And, is not really real-time unless you wait for a RAM preview to be generated.

For far less money he can buy EDIUS which has a great intermediate codec, a very fast advanced true real-time rendering engine, and is a far more professional editor than Vegas.

Vegas is only "better" than Pinnacle and Cyberlink. Premiere makes NO sense because you've got to spend the extra $1,000.

Steve, which EDIUS package are you referring? The EDIUS NEO, EDIUS PRO, or the EDIUS BROADCAST.

EDIUS PRO is all you need. No extras. Just check that your system meets their requirements for HD video. By the way, you can also edit TOD files without conversion. And, it comes with a DVD encoder.