Cheap MINI DV camcorder as DV deck only

G

gossamer

Active member
Rather than continually using my DVX as a VTR deck after shooting, I've been searching for a stand-alone Mini DV VTR to transfer footage to my computer for editing and from the computer to send out to TV stations/transfer to Beta SP.

Since stand-alone Mini DV VTRs are getting hard to find, I'm considering buying a cheaper Mini DV camcorder to use 90% for transfering from tapes to NLE and then transfer finished projects back to Mini DV when needed. Basically just using the VTR and Firewire I/O portion of the camcorder.

The pros to this for me are:

- less wear and tear on the DVX
- free up the DVX for shooting while my partner uses the Mini DV camcorder to log/capture back at the studio

I'm looking at something like the Panasonic PV-GS150 or Canon Elura 80 just for the Mini DV transport/VTR functions.

My question is this. For these firewire-equipped camcorders is the transport/VTR portion of the machine capable for doing the basic transfer to NLE?

Anything I should watch out for (drops? problems? etc?)

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
hey
I got a cheap panasonic PV DV-103D off of ebay for about $120. It was the camera only but it takes the same battery as the DVX, and I had a video cable that worked with it already. There are two on their right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-PV-DV...ryZ20332QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/PANASONIC-PV-DV...ryZ20332QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have had no problems with the camera so far working as a deck. It has even been pulled off my desk many times by my cats and still works fine. No drop outs or anything like that. I transfer to Vegas and Pinnacle studio. Its just like any other camera that transfers by firewire. I would think they all work the same in that way.
Brian
 
I bought a "damaged" gs-120 on fleabay for $45...the LCD was cracked and the bottom third was all black. Have been using it as a transporter/inputer since Christmas 2k4 w/o any problems.
 
If you're using final cut pro, stay away from the Canon Elura series, i have heard from several editors that they have nasty problems (and often just won't) communicating with FCP.
 
I personally use a Panasonic GS9 to handle all my deck functions, but this does not have TC abilities. Normally I am just capturing everything so it doesn't bother me at all.

I have a GS120 for sale in the marketplace. Could work as a deck, but also as a nice 3ccd back up camera (sorry, couldn't resist shamless self promotion)
 
Good stuff.

Not to beat a dead horse (I'm sure it's been covered in posts past), but how would other panasonic models work as a deck? I am not seeing the models listed above on ebay...but am seeing PV-GS14, PV-GS16, PV-GS19, PV-GS32, etc.

Thanks in advance for any advice yuz have for me.


Specifically, I love how Hectorxd said:


"I got a cheap panasonic PV DV-103D off of ebay for about $120. It was the camera only but it takes the same battery as the DVX, and I had a video cable that worked with it already"


...Do any other gs models share their battery with DVX? Several of the ones on auction are missing their batteries (and are therefore much better deals.)
 
Hey,

Just to add on, I personally have been using a Sony DCR-TRV 18 as the "deck" when I capture video into Fincl Cut Pro HD and have had no problems at all. Other than your typical, loss of timecode on a tape if it wasn't black and coded properly. Maybe you'd have luck with a cheap (or older) Sony with firewire.

I think it's a great idea to use a mini DV cam for that purpose. I guess just make sure that whatever tape you use can go in both your DVX and "deck" cam, to prevent the whole "contamination" thing. It's for that reason I decided to go the "wet" tape route and use Sony in my DVX. Good luck man.

-Larry
 
I personally use an old Panasonic DV53 as my deck, and I love it. Got the little thing off ebay for $149. Works beautifully and even came with a charger that works for my DVX (both cameras use the same batteries)
 
Pale Rider - So you can verify that the timecode that is recorded with the dvx is read and outputted fine when you playback with your dv53? Thanks,

TJ
 
TJ,
I have had no timecode issues whatsoever with my handy little dv53, but I'm editing with Premiere, and it seems to find timecodes when other systems (*cough* vegas) don't.
 
alfini said:
I have been using a JVC GR-D270 to capture. The timecode works fine for being a cheap camera. I heard that the cheaper panasonics have a problem with timecode sometimes. I have had no problems so far with the 270.
Click to expand...

Does this camera do digital to analog conversion for the ability to do full screen previews? And if not, does anyone know a cheap mini-dv amera that does for sure do full screen, as well as read timecode in Premiere pro?
 
Hi!

I use Final Cut 5, and considered for a while to use my old Sony DCR-TRV17E as a deck.

But won't there be a quality loss when capturing DVX footage from a lower quality device?

None whatsoever?
 
It's digital , so there shouldn't be any quality loss

I was considering getting a small cam, I do have a sony PC4, but I use sony tapes with it so I can't use that one.
or maybe I can just switch to other tapes with the sony
 
I'm about to buy a cheap Panasonic NV-DA1 for this same purpose. If anyone knows of any reasons I should'nt please speak now?

thanks
Dan
 
does anyone have experience with the pv-gs150? it isn't listed as compatible with fcp 5, yet seesm like it should be, and seems a great deck/second camera to the dvx (3 ccd's and Leica glass!) Has anoyone used this cam for capturing in fcp5? Any timecode issues?
 
I can't find any of the above recommended camcorders on the UK ebay. Does anyone know if the following read timecode / would make a good deck?
PV-GS14, PV-GS16, PV-GS19, PV-GS32, NV-DS29B, NV-DS60, NV-DS11B
Cheers
Dan
 
I was thinking of buying a ZR100 this week to capture my footage. Should I get it or should I go for a cheap Panny, like the GS19?

Kev
 
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