DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

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If I buy a DVX-100 will I be able to use it to play/digitize my old tapes shot in DV-Cam and Regular Mini DV modes on Vx-100's and PD-150's?

Very curious-

kalisti@earthlink.net
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

yes.. the DVX uses the same NTSC format your other cameras do..
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

You will not be able to play back DVCAM tapes from a PD150. You can play back the DV-format tapes, but not the DVCAM-format tapes.
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

yeah he mentioned that he was using regular MiniDV mode so I think it should be fine. Ironically, I only used DVCam tapes in my DVX for the first 3 or 4 months.
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

But in the memo, he specifically says DV-Cam in the title and also in the body of the memo. I just want to make sure that he knows -- the Sony cameras can play back DVCam, and the PD150 can record DVCam, but the DVX is not going to play it.

If you have DVCam tapes, you can dub them through firewire to make DV copies of them, and the DVX could play them back.
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

Once again, I concur with the vocal stylings of Mr. Green.  ;)

In his post, Mike mentions he DOES have tapes recorded in BOTH regular mini DV AND DVCam modes.

DVCam tapes are basically the same as mini DV tapes.

However, DVCam record mode is an ENTIRELY different animal from mini DV record mode. Just as DVC Pro is a different record mode from regular mini DV.

A normal 60 minute mini DV tape can be used in a PD150 recording in DVCam. But, You'll only get 40 minutes record time on that tape. And it will not play back in a regular mini DV camera or VTR (DVX).

Conversely, you can put DVCam tapes in a regular mini DV camera (DVX) and record in regular mini DV mode. Therefore, it will play fine in a regular mini DV camera or VTR.
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Despite my choice of verbage in the above statement, I do NOT consider the DVX to be a "regular" mini DV camera. ;D
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

Yep. Correct on all points, but with one clarification: the mini-DVCAM recording won't play back in regular DV equipment, UNLESS IT'S SONY EQUIPMENT. I believe every Sony camera and deck ever made, except the original VX1000 and VX700, can play back DVCAM recordings. I know I have an old TRV8 handycam, and it plays back mini-DVCAM recordings just fine. I don't know of any other brand that can, except for the JVC DV3000/Panasonic 2500 decks, which play back DVCAM as well. I am certain that Canon cameras, and Panasonic cameras, cannot play back DVCAM recordings.
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

yes indeed... good to cover all bases. I just re-read the post again and seemed to have missed the DV-Cam part on the first round.

You can use DVCAM tapes in your DVX100, to record and play MiniDV. You cant however play or Record DVCAM footage on the DVX100.
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

That's interesting, Barry. I didn't realize that Sony mini DV cameras and/or decks could play back DVCam-recorded material.

I knew, at least, that other manufacturer's mini DV devices would not.

I have such a hodgepodge of equipment that I would never be able to stumble upon that scenario.

I have a JVC DV500, Sony PD150, Panasonic DVX100A and use a Sony DSR-30 DVCam VTR for my G4/FCP NLE setup.
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

I wouldn't say the DVX100 plays DVCAM well, but...

If it really really really is your only choice, the DVX100 can play the DVCAM tapes for you. I've done it a few times. The thing is that the playback will be jerky/dropped out about once every 2nd minute or so, so if you're capturing from it you'll have to do alot of recapturing. I guess if what you need to capture is only a short sequence or it can be worth it, if not i wouldn't bother.
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

The DVX100a (did not test with DVX100 yet) played back my DVCAM tape, recorded in DVCAM mode when i had a PD150, very correctly, at least in the viewfinder. I never tested it on a monitor though... But it cannot record in DVCAM mode.

anyway, there is not a .0000001 % picture quality difference between those 2 formats...just the tape speed is 50% faster with DVCAM.
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

Actually, I had the understanding that there was NO difference in quality of the IMAGE...just of the RECORDING, so that DVCAM tape lasts longer than MiniDV, but the image quality is 100% the same
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

Well, basically yes (but also a little bit no).  The bitstream is identical, except that DVCAM incorporates locked audio, whereas almost all DV cameras use unlocked audio.  The DVX is one of only two cameras I can think of that incorporates locked audio.  Because the bitstream is identical, you can do a firewire transfer of a DVCAM signal onto a DV tape (and vice-versa).  It's also why some cameras and decks can play back both formats, and a few can actually record both formats too.

The "no" part comes in a small correction: DVCAM tape lasts a shorter time than DV tape does.  For an equal length tape, you'll get 50% more recording time in a DV camera than you would in a DVCAM camera, because DVCAM runs the tape 50% faster.  That higher speed means the recording gets spread out over more surface area of the tape, giving better dropout protection. A 184-minute DVCAM tape will last 276 minutes in a DV camera. And a 60-minute DV tape will last for 40 minutes in a DVCAM camera.
 
Re: DVX-100 and DV-Cam Compatability

and the DVcam mini tapes come in such nice little books :)
 
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