What options are there for those that don't want to use the camera as a deck?

[DavidBeier]

Ok, I've spouted my mouth of several times involving the fact that I've heard one pretty much has to use the XL H1 as a deck for capturing as its HDV tapes don't work with anyone else.

If this is the case, what options are there to get around this (besides spending upwards of 10k on a notebook and special deck for SDI output while shooting). I'm blown away by this camera's resolution but the idea of having to use the camera as a deck is simply unacceptable to me (i've had so many horror stories involving heads breaking and such).

[Barry_Green]

There is no other device that can play back an XLH1's tapes.

If you want to record to tape, and then digitize that, there are no alternatives.

If you get a FireStore, you could record direct to the firestore and then you wouldn't have to digitize tapes.

(unless you want to stick to 60i; if you're only shooting 60i, Sony cameras and decks can play that back)

[Elton]

Shane Realm does the Firestore HDV stuff and swears by it. It's kind of like having a Cineporter for the H1. Just plug the drive into your computer and edit. (Vegas actually can edit 24F m2t's without conversions, I'm told)

[DavidBeier]

Out of curiosity, does the Firestore work the same way it does with the HD100U? In other words, do I still have to have a tape in the drive to make it work (meaning if my deck broke down for other reasons, I'd still get stuck with a 9k paperwieght?) I assume it still has the HDV compression too.

[Elton]

I'll ask Shane about that.

Yes, it's HDV out the Firewire.

btw, despite wanting one really bad, I'm holding off on the Firestore. That's somewhere in the neighborhood of $1800 (80GB version) that could go towards a portable SDI solution that I think is right around the corner.