page_title: DV
section_title: DVCAM
hierarchical_section_title: DV / Variants / DVCAM
caption_attribution_description: English: This is a compatibility logo for DVCAM video recording format
context_page_description: DV is a format for storing digital videos. It was launched in 1995 with joint efforts of leading producers of video camera recorders. It is the foundation of the MiniDV format.
  The original DV specification, known as Blue Book, was standardized within the IEC 61834 family of standards. These standards define common features such as physical videocassettes, recording modulation method, magnetization, and basic system data in part 1. Part 2 describes the specifics of 525-60 and 625-50 systems. The IEC standards are available as publications sold by IEC and ANSI.
  In 2003, DV was joined by a successor format HDV, which used the same tape format with a different video codec. Some cameras at the time had the ability to switch between DV and HDV recording modes.
  All tape-based and optical disc-based video formats have become obsolete as cameras recording on memory cards and solid-state drives have become the norm since they offer increased ruggedness, speed and storage space which allows for higher bitrate and resolution video, although the DV encoding standard is sometimes still used.
context_section_description: In 1996 Sony responded with its own professional version of DV called DVCAM.
  Like DVCPRO, DVCAM uses locked audio, which prevents audio synchronization drift that may happen on DV if several generations of copies are made.
  When recorded to tape, DVCAM uses 15 μm track pitch, which is 50% wider compared to baseline. Accordingly, tape is transported 50% faster, which reduces recording time by one third compared to regular DV. Because of the wider track and track pitch, DVCAM has the ability to do a frame-accurate insert edit, while regular DV may vary by a few frames on each edit compared to the preview.
caption: DVCAM compatibility mark
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