Digitzing - can I use a cheap DV Camcorder

D

danstanbury

Active member
Hi
I've been offered a cheap DVX100a but the firewire port does not work. I've alsoe been told that its best not to use the camera to upload footage onto computer.

I understand a proper digitising deck is very expensive, more than the camera so it has been suggested that I buy a cheap DV carmcorder and use it just for this use.

Does anyone have any advice on this, would it affect the broadcast quality? Any recommendations for a cheap camcorder to do this job, I believe it must read timecode?

Thanks
Dan
 
Is this the camera I just saw on ebay? I wouldn´t buy a faulty camera, because if the firewire port is gone, I wonder how long the rest will last etc. Therefore, I´m not bidding for the camera I saw, it is too much a gamble for me.

However, your question is interesting and I would like to know the answer. If I could just use any cheap DV camera for the playback, it might be sensible to use a cheaper camera for the job and hope it would make the DVX last longer.

Good luck!
 
Yes must be the same camera and i am nervous about the fault but working on a low budget. Also when I do buy a good camcorder don't want to run it into the ground.
 
Thats, great and is the quality the same ie up to broadcast? What cheap DV camera do you use? What do you think I should be looking for in a camera?
Many thanks
Dan
 
sorry just thought of another question, I have a cheap Canon camcorder but its NTSE, can I use it to play a pal recording? Is there an easy way to check if it reads timecode?
Thanks
Dan
 
i use a Panny GS-2 cheapie w/ DV out(firewire)...thats all you need..190.00 on eBay.
or you can spend 1000-ish for a deck. your call.

e
 
Sorry but I'm new, new, new, na na na na new to the game here. But are you saying I could shoot in 24p on my DVX 100a and capture it from my samsung?
 
Yes.

DV is DV. that simple.

It's like asking if you can use a a cheap VHS deck to watch a movie made on an expensive VHS recorder at a commercial duplication facility... Blockbuster anyone?

As for mixing NTSC and PAL, they are 2 different formats, and most cmaeras will only work in their native format, but some do sometimes read the other to some degree or other, your milage may vary. (just like VHS actually..)

- Mikko.
 
danstanbury said:
Hi
I've been offered a cheap DVX100a but the firewire port does not work. I've alsoe been told that its best not to use the camera to upload footage onto computer.

I understand a proper digitising deck is very expensive, more than the camera so it has been suggested that I buy a cheap DV carmcorder and use it just for this use.

Does anyone have any advice on this, would it affect the broadcast quality? Any recommendations for a cheap camcorder to do this job, I believe it must read timecode?

Thanks
Dan
Click to expand...

Yes, an inexpensive mini dv camera (providing its in the same format as your DVX...Pal vs. NTSC) will work perfectly. And, it's way cheaper. I bought a cheap 1 chip Panny about 6 months ago JUST to capture footage. I've never even filmed with it. Also, what I like about getting a Panasonic 1 chip is the batteries are compatible with the DVX. And, it will probably come with a battery charger. It's great to have all the charged batteries you need on a set, but it's also nice to have TWO battery chargers working on TWO batteries at the same time if need be!

Rick
 
the main advantage of using a cheap camcorder/deck to capture from is that itll save the heads on your good cam. everybody who has an additional came should. i avoid even watching footage on my cam in VCR mode.
 
Clarification of terminology: You do not DIGITIZE you video when you capture it from the camera to PC/MAC. It is digital on the tape and you just COPY the digital video to your hard disk. There is no D/A and then A/D conversion involved, thank god. What would be the point...

Maybe this misuse of the word stems from the time analog, when analog video was digitized using a special video cards. Now we just copy the digital material, no different from copying files from one disk to another.
 
Petrus,

That'd be CAPTURE - good point!

I'm going to start a new thread for this and hopefully the mods will make it sticky.

e
 
however, as I have posted before, I just bought a Panasonic PV-GS9 cheap camcorder on the poor theory that using a Pany cam would cause the least problems that another manu.

how naive I am. the great dvxuser.com users taught me the error of my ways. older Panys work, but newer ones for some reason don't read the timecode, and thus dont' work well for digitizing.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V3/showthread.php?t=37974

in that same thread someone said that maybe Cannon shows problems with Apple and FCP. i just sent the Pany back and have a JVC on order. i'll report back if there are any problems.

art
 
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