The DVCAM Format was launched by Sony in 1996 as a Professional extension of the worldwide standard DV format. This format uses 8-bit digital component recording with a 5:1 compression ratio which is the same as DV format.
Both formats offer long recordings; DVCAM with up to three hours on large cassettes and 40 minutes on small cassettes and DV with over three hours on a large cassette and 63 minutes with a small cassette.
Sony DV Camcorders
DVCAM has a wider tape track pitch of 15 microns, whilst DV has a tape track pitch of 10 microns. DVCAM also records a tape speed that is one third faster than DV. All DVCAM equipment is capable of playing back SP mode DV Recordings and some DVCAM decks can playback Panasonic's DVCPRO25 format. This format also boasts Digital Audio performance, comparable to CD quality.
There are two selectable audio channel modes: a two channel mode with 48khz/16-bit or a four channel mode with 32khz/12-bit recording. The DVCAM Format has been widely accepted by business users, production facilities and broadcasters the world over.