I want some feedback for DVD Camcorders.

. So you are saying that DVD-RW/DVD-RAM also require a finalisation (point 2). I have to set DVD-RAM aside since I only briefly touched it years ago. It's an older technology and I will not be using it in any foreseeable future so can we dismiss it? And with that in mind, the finalizing or closing of the session is only needed if you want such to play on your garden variety DVD player. A Macintosh/PC may be able to use/play such, but is so dependent on software selection that no firm answer can be found. What works for Joe will not work for Sally. 2. Sorry, my 3rd question was confusing - what I meant was can I connect the camcorder output to my VCR (through a Scart or S-Video output socket) and play the DVD-RAM in the camcorder and record the output in a Video Casette (Magnetic) through the VCR. Sorry, but English being what it is, can you? I know that it should work and has been a method I've used to move from camcorders (all types) to VHS for years. What would stop you? I don't see a technical reason unless the camcorder has not ANALOG OUTPUT. 2. Do the DVD Camcorders provide the output port to be connected to the VCR (as the Mini DV ones) ? There is NO firm answer here. I've seen some DV cameras with no analog output. You'll have to specify a make and model. 3. Re point 4, do you mean that you just copy the files to the Computer through the Software and then burn them back ? If only it was so simple. I do the capture over firewire to some media file. Then it's a simple matter of creating the DVD with the DVD creation software. There is some confusion in that a few people seem to want to burn these files to the DVD. That would be a lot of work to create all the proper structure and files to play in your set-top garden variety DVD player. If you want to do this, I do not want to write about it because it's like building a house without a hammer. In short, I run the DVD creation software. Drag the clips I want into it. Create menus and such as I want, then select the create DVD or files and let it process the whole thing. I hope you understand that creating a DVD in another fashion is possible and I do know how, but I'd rather you just look such up on Google since there are web sites about such. No need for me to type in it and duplicate that. Besides, it would just create some dozens of questions about where to get the MPEG2 encoders and more... 4. Can you burn them using the Computer's DVD-RW/DVD-RAM Recorder and can you burn them using the Camcorder (onto Mini DVD). Since we don't know the make/model of the camcorder or if it has a dv-in as well as dv-out, all is up to that make/model. I suggest that you'll have to read it's specifications. For me, I would just use the PC's DVD recorder. 5. Sorry for asking basic questions, but I am new to this field. These are no basic questions. Its how it appears to be since the salespeople are completely clueless on the products they sell. And they can't answer

Thanks for the quick reply. So you are saying that DVD-RW/DVD-RAM also require a finalisation (point 2). Sorry, my 3rd question was confusing - what I meant was can I connect the camcorder output to my VCR (through a Scart or S-Video output socket) and play the DVD-RAM in the camcorder and record the output in a Video Casette (Magnetic) through the VCR. Do the DVD Camcorders provide the output port to be connected to the VCR (as the Mini DV ones) ? Re point 4, do you mean that you just copy the files to the Computer through the Software and then burn them back ? Can you burn them using the Computer's DVD-RW/DVD-RAM Recorder and can you burn them using the Camcorder (onto Mini DVD). Sorry for asking basic questions, but I am new to this field. Thanks and Regards

My non-authoritive answers are: 1. Can the DVD-R be played on the Camcorder without finalisation? I'll write no. This is based on one comment by an user plus numerous experiments with DVD+R, DVD+R/W and such formats. 2. Does the DVD-RW / DVD-RAM need a finalisation ? Can the DVD-RW / DVD-RAM be played back on the camcorder/DVD Players/Computers without finalisation ? Based on my experiments with DVD recording and the 3 DVD players I have in the lab, the answers are yes and no in that respective order. 3. Can the DVD-RAM be played in the camcorder and output recorded in a standard VCR Casette ? The media played in the camcorder but placing the media in the VCR doesn't work since it's a phyical media issue. 4. Can the DVD-RAM/DVD-RW be played in the camcorder and the output captured in a computer and then burnt back on the DVD-RAM/DVD-RW or Computer CD/VCD ? Sure, but my method skips the play and re-capture. The files on the media are just placed into the DVD creation software and a new DVD is recorded.