miniDV camera as deck

T

tonydvcoste

Well-known member
I just priced minidv decks and they're really, really expensive. i gots to thinkin': couldn't you just use a cheap one chip minidv camera as a deck? you can buy those off ebay for 150 bucks, and save yourself over a grand! but only if it works, has anybody done this?
 
As long as the camera you want to use as a deck is the same tape as your shooting camera, you should be fine. Just make sure that the shooting camera isn't like 1080i or 720p HDV and the deck camera isn't like some 5 year old piece of crap using the same tapes. Then it won't work. But i do the same thing with the DVX as my shooting camera and a Sony DCR-HC21 as my deck camera.
 
JCal11379 said:
Just make sure that the shooting camera isn't like 1080i or 720p HDV
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Does this really matter? All the playback/capture does is transfer a binary code. If a tape is recorded in SD, wouldn't even an HD camera just communicate the code written in SD?


I'm asking because I'm considering getting something like a canon HV20 both for backup shots that I would downsize/downres as well as using it as a capture device.
 
I use my old Panasonic PV-GS59 as a tape deck for the DVX; just saw one on e-bay for $20. If you have firewire on your computer then be sure the cheap deck has it also.
 
Yes, that would work. The only limitation is your deck has to be capable of recording the same frame rate/resolution as your footage, so an HV20 will capture almost anything.
 
HBlack said:
Yes, that would work. The only limitation is your deck has to be capable of recording the same frame rate/resolution as your footage, so an HV20 will capture almost anything.
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Kind of what I was thinking. Thanks for the info guys.


Vidular said:
I use my old Panasonic PV-GS59 as a tape deck for the DVX; just saw one on e-bay for $20.
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Wait........nevermind:D
 
I thought that even if you shot 24p with your dvx and then imported with a cheap mini dv camera (which doesnt shoot 24p) it would still import correctly? Also, what are you HD guys doing for decks or are you just using the HD camera itself?
 
I don't have one, but I'm pretty sure the Panasonic HD can only be recorded to P2 cards or the equivalent, so no deck.
 
HBlack said:
Yes, that would work. The only limitation is your deck has to be capable of recording the same frame rate/resolution as your footage, so an HV20 will capture almost anything.
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Any MiniDV cam can run the DVX's 24fps back to the computer b/c it is NOT recorded as 24 it is recorded as 29.97 with a 2:3:3:2 cadence flagged.
 
"it is NOT recorded as 24 it is recorded as 29.97 with a 2:3:3:2 cadence flagged."

that's right, this is why when it comes time to edit 24fps you have to do it in a 30fps time line. remember, it's digital not film. awesome guys, this saves the production company over 1000 dollars! this might be the best site on the interweb.
 
tonydvcoste said:
that's right, this is why when it comes time to edit 24fps you have to do it in a 30fps time line. remember, it's digital not film. awesome guys, this saves the production company over 1000 dollars! this might be the best site on the interweb.
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Actually you should edit on a 24fps timeline assuming you are using 24pA. If you're on FCP you'll need to use pulldown removal as your capture setting. The point I was making before was that 30fps will be recorded onto the tape regardless of what frame rate you choose on your DVX. The only difference w/ 24p footage is that each second several frames are "flagged" to be removed later by FCP. (ie. pulldown cadence)


This all being said, yes you can put regular 24p (no A) footage on a 29.97 timeline, in fact many people do in order to do slowmo footage.
 
Wow, i have learned a lot from this post. If you import your 24p or 24pa footage without the pulldown, does this basically make it 30p footage? Sorry for the off topic questions but there is some much information to be learned and i am trying to learn! Thanks guys!
 
stupid newb question i have read a lot but do you set the sequence preset to 24fps or 23.98fps when editing 24pa.
 
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