what is a mini dv?

The first two people are wrong; a mini DV is a type of digital camera that records video. DV stands for Digital Video - and is not the same as DVD which stands for Digital Versatile Disc, not Digital Video Disc as many people think.

DV cameras need mini DV tapes to record on; each one is about half the size of a credit card and will give you between 60 and 70 minutes of recording time (Standard Play).

I hope this helps :) Kinda like a mini DVD...remember the 5 or 6 inch CD? Same sort of thing, but for DVD Small dvd usually found in camcorders digital video , camcorder i think A mini DV is a smaller version of a DV. Digital Video (DV) is a digital video format launched in 1994, and, in its smaller tape form factor MiniDV, has since become a standard for home and semiprofessional video production; it is sometimes used for professional purposes as well, such as filmmaking and electronic news gathering. The DV specification (originally known as the Blue Book, current official name IEC 61834) defines both the codec and the tape format. Features include intraframe compression for uncomplicated editing, a standard interface for transfer to non-linear editing systems (FireWire also known as IEEE 1394), and good video quality, especially compared to earlier consumer analog formats such as 8 mm, Hi-8 and VHS-C. DV now enables filmmakers to produce movies inexpensively, and is strongly associated with independent film and citizen journalism.