• Panasonic Cameras

  Has AVCHD quality improved in last couple years?

  Posted by Vic Noseworthy on July 29, 2011 at 12:07 pm

  Hi folks!
  I’m considering purchasing a new camera and am wondering whether to go with HDV or AVCHD. I love the workflow afforded by the latter. However, I suspect I’d get better quality with HDV, since (from what I’ve read) it uses less compression. I currently have an AVCHD camera (an inexpensive Canon HF10) which I purchased a couple of years ago, but the signal seems a bit weak by the time I’ve finished editing and put it on DVD. I’m wondering would my final product have a stronger signal with one of the newer, 3-chip AVCHD cameras (such as the HMC150). In other words, has AVCHD technology gotten better over the last two years? Any thoughts?
  (Note: when I say the signal seems a bit weak, what I mean is that when I watch the final production on DVD, the image seems as though it’s about to start to shudder/twitch… though it, for the most part, holds together. I wonder if this is because I’m starting with an AVCHD file… and if I’d get a more robust image if I used HDV).
  Thanks so very much for your input/advice! FYI: Using MacBook Pro and Final Cut Express.
  Vic

  Noah Kadner replied 15 years, 1 month ago 3 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Guy Mcloughlin

  July 29, 2011 at 1:23 pm

  There is a big difference between professional AVCHD cameras like the Panasonic HMC-150, AC-130, AC-160, Sony NX5U, and the consumer AVCHD cameras.

  Professional AVCHD beats HDV by a mile, but you have to know what you are doing.

  Also, there are some very good high end consumer AVCHD cameras that produce a very high quality image that is close in quality to the Pro cameras: Canon G-10, Canon XA-10, Panasonic TM-700, Panasonic TM-900, Sony CX700V, Sony CX560V

  One thing to keep in mind is that all blu-ray discs use AVCHD encoding for video, so proper AVCHD video can be about as good as it gets for playback.
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  Vic Noseworthy

  July 29, 2011 at 2:36 pm

  Thanks very much, Guy. That helps me a lot in deciding which way to go. I feel like HDV is on the way out, technologically (though, still a high quality format). I don’t want to buy “old” technology, and I really like the workflow of AVCHD (log and transfer is fast and easy). Thanks very much, again. Looks like I’ll be going with AVCHD!
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  Noah Kadner

  August 3, 2011 at 10:14 pm

  HDV is pretty much out- AVCHD is definitely the modern day format. And it’s been improving and will continue to, for example-

  https://www.dpreview.com/news/1107/11071105avchd2p0.asp

  Noah

  Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio with Call Box Training. Featuring the Panasonic GH2 and GoPro HD Hero.

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