Convert mini dv to a hard drive camera?

B

Barry Landis

Member
Is there a "tape" adaptor or another way of converting my Panasonic DVX a hard drive camera..ie records to a hard drive instead of to a tape?
 
You mean just record to a plain external HDD? No.

But, you can use something like the Firestore, or you can record through software on a computer/laptop -- most NLEs would be able to capture a live stream. Or you can use very good live capturing software like Adobe OnLocation.
 
You are saying that it must involve a computer of some sort? Sounds heavy. Is there anything made special for this purpose? I was imagining some sort of adaptor that fits in the mini dv slot...or attached to my firewire.
 
I remember wanting to do this before but after I saw the price of the firestore I just passed.....
after all, mini-dv tapes are the best!
 
Firestores are very expensive. I actually just ordered a little pocket DVR off ebay that will arrive soon. It is a $150 alternative. It has a live screen and shoots to SD cards. Now it is no firestore, but I am hoping it will work. It records at either 30 or 15 fps at 640x480 or 320x280 to MPEG-4. So all 24p footage will still have to be tape but I mainly shoot stuff at 30p so yay! It doesn't give any model number and I lost the link but if you ebay search external sd video recorder, there are still 8 available and it is grey and looks like a pocket point and shoot digital camera.
 
Firestores are not good value when you consider how often the files fail. I was told by a rep to tape down the cable, even when tripod mounted. It seems that a breeze can disturb a recording. For $675, they couldn't include a clip (and a warning)?
 
jordandov said:
Firestores are not good value when you consider how often the files fail. I was told by a rep to tape down the cable, even when tripod mounted. It seems that a breeze can disturb a recording. For $675, they couldn't include a clip (and a warning)?
Click to expand...

To add to that, the one I am getting is over analog so it would be much harder for the cable to come undone.
 
Well on really important shoots like docs, music videos and one-time only footage, then i would record to tape as well for back up. But I shoot a lot of action sports and that sorta stuff so if it drops, oh well. Reshoot.
 
Just got it in the mail. Shot one stupid pointless shot in squeeze to see if it adds any jagged lines to the footage since it only shoots 4:3. Good quality I was hoping for!!! Unfortunately, I can't shoot my 24pA to it since it only accepts 30 fps or 15 fps but it will come in handy. I will post some footage shortly.
 
Update: Ok please do not get this thing. The first test i did was just a video test. Today i shot some short stuff with audio. First, the audio sounds like i took my cell and recorded sound from the tv. The video quality is good but it is really hard to work with avi files on a mac. No returns. I just wasted $150 for a piece of crap that I can't return.
 
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