Data Rate-How important? at DVinfo.net

Mac Treouser · February 15th, 2009, 11:34 PM

Hi,

How important is the Data Rate for a Camcorder? How do the Data Rate Work? The highest the best?

Perrone Ford · February 16th, 2009, 12:02 AM

All else being equal, higher equals better. Higher data rate means less compression, which should yield a cleaner image.

However, if I am using codec "X" in my camera, and you are using codec "Y" in your camera things get a lot more difficult to say which is better.

A data rate of 100 on codec "X" may be equivalent to a data rate of 15 in codec "Y". And even determining what the equivalent numbers are is pretty hard too.

Mac Treouser · February 16th, 2009, 02:34 AM

Wow...is this really an asnwer?:P
haaa...i'm getting more complicated on it now...
:D

Jurij Turnsek · February 16th, 2009, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac Treouser

Wow...is this really an asnwer?:P
haaa...i'm getting more complicated on it now...
:D

he meant to say, higher is better. but you have too look at the highest possible bitrates for your codec: avchd has a 24mbs top, so this is the best you can get... there are some other less spread codecs that can go higher, but you have to know how high they can go...

Michael Murie · February 16th, 2009, 12:06 PM

Usually, the higher the rate, the better...but there's some exceptions:

1) If the quality of the image captured by the camera isn't that great, the higher bit rate will basically just mean that the noise is being captured more accurately! In other words, it's possible that a camera with a lower bit-rate MAY produce video that looks better than another camera with a higher bit-rate, so you shouldn't go on bit rate alone.

2) As the bit rate increases, the improvements in image quality can be less obvious. Camcorderinfo reviewed Canon's HF11 (captures at 24Mbps) and noted that the difference in image quality to the HF10 (17Mbps) was barely noticeable:
Canon Vixia HF11 Camcorder Review - Canon Flash Memory

February 15th, 2009, 11:34 PM	#1
Mac Treouser Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 43	Data Rate-How important? Hi, How important is the Data Rate for a Camcorder? How do the Data Rate Work? The highest the best?

February 16th, 2009, 12:02 AM	#2
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	All else being equal, higher equals better. Higher data rate means less compression, which should yield a cleaner image. However, if I am using codec "X" in my camera, and you are using codec "Y" in your camera things get a lot more difficult to say which is better. A data rate of 100 on codec "X" may be equivalent to a data rate of 15 in codec "Y". And even determining what the equivalent numbers are is pretty hard too. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

February 16th, 2009, 02:34 AM	#3
Mac Treouser Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 43	Wow...is this really an asnwer?:P haaa...i'm getting more complicated on it now... :D

February 16th, 2009, 12:06 PM	#5
Michael Murie Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 205	Usually, the higher the rate, the better...but there's some exceptions: 1) If the quality of the image captured by the camera isn't that great, the higher bit rate will basically just mean that the noise is being captured more accurately! In other words, it's possible that a camera with a lower bit-rate MAY produce video that looks better than another camera with a higher bit-rate, so you shouldn't go on bit rate alone. 2) As the bit rate increases, the improvements in image quality can be less obvious. Camcorderinfo reviewed Canon's HF11 (captures at 24Mbps) and noted that the difference in image quality to the HF10 (17Mbps) was barely noticeable: Canon Vixia HF11 Camcorder Review - Canon Flash Memory