I shoot everything on my HV20 in the HDV mode. I then use CapDVHS or Ulead to create HD DVDs or DVDs. Everything works great, I have no complaints for creating DVDs. But I sometimes shoot video in HD mode but don't want to create a DVD, but would rather just output the file to my computer. Because I would like to reduce the file size, is there a way to have my HV20 output the video in DV mode via firewire so the CapDVHS saves the vide in 480 resoluton? I changed the output to DV, but I get an error when I play it back saying playbck in DV STD is locked...... something like that. What am I doing wrong?

Example

DV has the same bitrate as HDV, so you wouldn't be reducing the file size at all. You'd need to compress the footage in order to do that.

DV has the same bitrate as HDV, so you wouldn't be reducing the file size at all. You'd need to compress the footage in order to do that.

Bitrate and filesize are different animals. Maybe I was unclear. I want a lower resolution coming directly out of the camcorder, without the use of software. I thought there was a setting on the camera that would allow footage shot in HD to be outputted via firewire in 480i. Which theoretically would generate a smaller file size. I am not interested in doing a different file format or compressing the file.

I think his response was intended to indicate to you that outputting in 480i would make no difference in the file size.

File size would be the same but the resolution would be 720x480 (for NTSC) instead of 1440x1080.

And yes, the cam does have a built in ilink converter to down shift the HD to SD... it will captue as DV(avi) instead of mpeg2.... read the manual.