Using Cheap Mini Dv Cam As Vtr

scorsesefan

scorsesefan

Veteran
I was thinking of picking up a bottom of the line Canon mini dv cam or something and using it to rewind tapes and capture in FCP. Kind of a dumb question here: If I watch dailies shot on dvx on a consumer cam, will I still get 24pish look?
:dankk2: in advance
 
Ram S.O.S said:
Yes.
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I asked about the same thing, using a cheaper Mini Dv camera for VTR and
capture. I was told by vendors that sure but you'll get more drop out and the
camera will wear out in a year. Maybe so what to that -get another one-
but you don't want the drop-out.
 
filmtovideo said:
and the camera will wear out in a year.
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Nah... they'll last a lot longer than a year. I've been using one I bought USED for over three years with no problem, and I log in roughly 6 full tapes a week.

Only time I've had issue's with it is when shooting in 24PA. As mentioned, it sometime's gets a "break in cadence", and I have to rewind the tape a bit, and recapture.
 
A videographer/editor I know uses cheap camcorders as firewire VTRs. He buys the cheapest miniDV camcorders. He gets the advance replacement warrenty and when he wears the heads out he says they just gave him a new camcorder. He says he has done this twice already. I don't know how many tapes he is running through them to wear ut the heads that fast, though. Anyway, I see www.ecost.com has a $149 jvc (refurb) if you are looking for bottom dollar...
 
Thanks for responses. I picked up a Samsung scd453 open box for $139 at Circuit City (usually they suck, but sometimes you can find a deal if you look hard enough). ******* One follow up question: I played back some footage shot with my Panny and a 16:9 adapter, on my monitor, which has underscan. It played back fine in regular 16:9 mode, but in underscan there is a bright blue line on the left side of the frame. Anyone know why, and will this be a problem when I capture into NLE?

:dankk2: again.
 
filmtovideo said:
I asked about the same thing, using a cheaper Mini Dv camera for VTR and
capture. I was told by vendors that sure but you'll get more drop out and the
camera will wear out in a year. Maybe so what to that -get another one-
but you don't want the drop-out.
Click to expand...


You won't get more drop out and the heads on cheap sony cameras last a long time i know because I have used one for years and captured from it literally hundreds of time with no problems.
 
my cheap sony cam does a flawless job acting as my deck...I've actually had a lot of problems with the JVC decks at my school, but not a single problem with my 4yr old sony cam.

I really wanted to get an actual deck, but after the problems on campus I've held off.
 
I'm using a JVC GRD372US (about $150 NIB on ebay) for the purpose, and it works fine...although I have read that certain firewire cards don't like the JVC cameras and can't lock them up. Fortunately, my machine can...
 
rcbrown23 said:
Only time I've had issue's with it is when shooting in 24PA. As mentioned, it sometime's gets a "break in cadence", and I have to rewind the tape a bit, and recapture.
Click to expand...

I capture with a Samsung SC-D363 camcorder, and I've had to recapture before but never knew how to describe the problem. A "break in cadence" is a good way to say it... it just sort of doesn't look right. It's aggrivating, but can be fixed with recapturing. - I use 24pa as well.

-Kyle
 
I had a question about the whole mixing tapes thing...

If I have a panasonic tape in the dvx, and then put it in an old sony camera (where a variety of tapes have been) will it change the panasonic tape so when I put it back in the dvx it might mess up the heads because of the whole wet/dry lube?
 
i just purchased a Canon ZR500 to use as my deck. i already have a Sony Hi-8 cam to use for those not so professional times...so this will probably be a permanent deck, and only get use recording if it is needed for a multicam shoot of some sort.
 
Lil Blu Bunny said:
i just purchased a Canon ZR500 to use as my deck.

How is the ZR500 working for you? Does it display Timecodes on the LCD and
do you have the option to display them on a television screen or NLE? Does it have a firewire port?

I've been torn between the ZR 500 and the PV-GS29.

Bill
Click to expand...
 
i just purchased it last night, so i dont have it in my hands yet....but i will let ya know how it works. i do know that it does have a firewire port.
 
will do :thumbup:

things are good here. i work in ft worth, and want to try and do some shooting down there just as tests. or maybe something at joe pool lake.
 
Issues Capturing in 24fpA

Issues Capturing in 24fpA

I recently purchased my a dvx 100b and I have been shooting a film in 24fpA and some other footage in 24fp. I was initally capturing on it using vegas and everything was fine. I just brought my fiancee a consumer panasonic for like 180 on black friday. When I play the tapes in my fiancee's camera, it plays just like it would in the dvx. However when I try to caputure with it, it has a drop off. It doesn't have a significant drop off, however it is noticable. I've tried capturing in both vegas 6 and ppro 2. I'm going to try capturing with the avid hd pro before I look for other methods. The picture quality is a little better in ppro 2 but it is still a drop off. What can I do, because I definitely don't want to recapture on my son (or dvx 100b, lol)
 
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