I need help, I know little about Digital Camcorders but some about Hi-8 and S-VHS.

I bought a JVC 23 (33 version if in USA) miniDV cam for Christmas and I have a few questions, hopefully from people that USE and edit via firewire with them.

Firstly, despit the write ups this camera is rubbish at low light recording...I get excessive grain and if I up the gain I get grain and crap colour and if i drop the shutter, ghosting every where. Now ive done a search on the web about Grain and Digital cameras and it aint good reading as lots suffer from it in low light....DO YOU EXP IT ?

Secondly, when I film day the bonnet (hood if American) of my White car I get very very fine horizontal lines appear....I figure im seeing the scanlines....what is it and is it normal...I can sent you pics..

Help please

I can only answer the 'white' aspect I think digi......most cameras (Especially if they use auto focus) need a white test done before you shoot. Something like a car bonnet is ideal although most folks use a white A4 piece of paper. Contrast or brightness too high and the 'white' image will appear to bleed. Too low and you get 'streaks'. Ya gotta adjust manually till its perfect and then shoot from there using the auto focus.

'S all I know!!! Sorry mate.

Ben

Thanks Ben but I know about White Balance ...I have found out a bit more...most digitals stink at low light and are worse than old Hi 8s unless you throw money on a 3 ccd chipped model....its depressing, bloody.... digital

Its all smoke and bloody mirrors...I should not believe the the "what camcorder reports"

Well digital cams have the disadvantage that they indeed record electric noise as well. Optical cams do not. In addition they have a quite limited resolution and the detectors (I guess usually CCDs) are subject to other electrical problems such as breakdowns (e.g. A bright sun might show up as black circle). Where such as the scan lines come from I cannot tell but also the electronics behind may create artefacts as well as compression and processing of the image. It would help perhaps if you post a part of the picture (must not be the whole one).

I would like to but where to post ? Ive used S VHS and HI8 and they resove better than my digital...OK after editing and copying that is involved in it you get a softening BUT still my Digi is a dissapointment..

Can't you post it here as attachment or put it on the web somewhere and link to it? If it is too large you may cut a piece out of it... I guess that would be enough to see the 'lines you are speaking of?

I will have a go at uploading..trouble is if too small an image you cant see aborations....