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What are the Best Digital Video Formats to Use?
Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders
Whether you're interested in making your own full-length independent film or you simply want to capture your child's first steps, understanding the best digital video formats can be a challenging task. However, taking the time to decide which format is best for your project before you begin will help ensure the highest possible quality for your footage.
For home-based filmmakers, cost and convenience are the two most important factors to consider when discussing the best digital video formats. In many cases, MiniDV will be the format of choice. MiniDV was created as a replacement for home video formats such as VHS, VHS-C, and Hi8. Today, it is used for everything from home movies and student documentaries to feature film releases. If you want to edit the footage on your home computer, however, you'll need to hook up your camcorder to your computer and import the necessary files. This process occurs in real time, so importing long videos is a task best left to the evening hours.
Digital video enthusiasts who are very concerned about quality and not worried about sticking to a budget may find that Digital Betacam is among the best digital video formats for their needs. This format is used with high-end professional equipment and offers extraordinary image quality. In fact, Sony created the Digital Betacam format as a digital upgrade to Betacam SP.
If you'd like to make a video that will be primarily shared using email or the Internet, frame size, frame rate, and bit depth are important factors to consider. It's also helpful to remember that most people who view videos over their computers are working with an 8-bit screen of 160x120 pixels and 10-15 frames per second. For sharing video over the Internet in this manner, Windows Media Video (WMV) is a great choice. Almost all Window users and most Macintosh users already have access to Windows Media Player software.
WMV videos can be viewed using Internet streaming or progressive encoding, making them a very convenient and user-friendly option. According to Microsoft, WMV 9 provides a compression ratio that is two times better than MPEG4 and three times better than MPEG2. If you're interested in converting old VHS movies into WMV format video files, you can accomplish this by hooking a VCR to your computer and using the Hauppauge WinTV Video Capture Card.
Dana Hinders
Dana holds a B.A. in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa. She has loved being part of the EasyTechJunkie team ever since discovering the joys of freelance writing after her son was born. Dana also hones her writing skills by contributing articles to various blogs, as well as creating sales copy and content for e-courses.
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Dana Hinders
Dana holds a B.A. in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa. She has loved being part of the EasyTechJunkie team ever since discovering the joys of freelance writing after her son was born. Dana also hones her writing skills by contributing articles to various blogs, as well as creating sales copy and content for e-courses.
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![Front and back views of MiniDV cassettes.]()
Front and back views of MiniDV cassettes. -
![Mini DV camcorder.]()
Mini DV camcorder. -
![If you'd like to make a video that will be primarily shared using email or the Internet, frame size, frame rate, and bit depth are important factors to consider.]()
By: Haider Y. AbdullaIf you'd like to make a video that will be primarily shared using email or the Internet, frame size, frame rate, and bit depth are important factors to consider. -
![VHS tapes were popular in the 1980s and 90s.]()
By: Volodymyr ShevchukVHS tapes were popular in the 1980s and 90s. -
![Early camcorders used Betamax or VHS tapes.]()
By: nikkytokEarly camcorders used Betamax or VHS tapes.
Discussion Comments
I am curious if people have any recommendations for great software to edit my work filmed in a digital video format?
I want to produce a high quality travel documentary on a minimal budget. I want to start working from home on videos I have filmed during my travels, and would like something that is free, or low-cost. Also, it would have to be user friendly because I am new to editing my own videos.
Also, is it easy to add captions, background music and audio, as well as simple special effects like fades to digital video?
Digital video camcorders are probably the best for home use. You don't have to struggle with any sort of tape anymore and can save all of your images directly to a SD flash drive. These come in many different sizes and are very portable due to their tiny size.
The great thing about these camcorders is that you don't have to struggle with settings. You can record in HD to get great quality, perhaps for a special event or an independent film.
They also give you an option to view various quality settings if you need to film for a longer time or if you are just making a video for web use.
Even established filmmakers are starting to make the switch to digital. Inland Empire, directed by David Lynch - who you might know from directing films like The Elephant Man, Mulholland Drive and the TV series Twin Peaks - was shot entirely on standard definition digital video. He claims he'll never shoot on film again.
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