Using the dvx for playback/capture = bad?

C

carlovee

New member
Hello all,

New dvx owner here, excited to start fiddling with some footage.

I've heard that its not a good idea to use your camera to export dv tape footage, extra wear and tear and all that. Can some more experienced users clue me in on how bad an idea this is? Should it only be done in emergencies? I'm having trouble coming up with an alternative.

fyi...I bought a used dvx100a with relatively low hours (240).

Thanks in advance,
T.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum...

If there is any cheap miniDV camcorder around you, yes u better use that instead the dvx.
If not...you dont have to worry...nothing will happen to your dvx if you use it for capturing.
Yes the hour meter of your dvx will count more hours but the wear and tear of the heads is realy minimal.
I would be more worried about connecting it all the time through firewire...and at that point you should be realy careful...
NEVER connect it when it is ON, even better have both your PC/DVX OFF - connect - turn on PC - turn on DVX.
 
I've never heard of anyone, anywhere, wearing out their heads in the nearly 8 years of the DVX's existence.
 
Hello T.

Welcome to this very informational forum. I have been a member for about half a year and it has tought (and inspired) me so much. Just by reading around alone you could multiply your knowledge (and ambition).

I capture by just using my DVX100. I want to buy a small secondhand miniDV camera for behind the scenes footage. If I get that I will probably be using that to capture (better safe than sorry). But if that would never happen I wouldn't bother either. (I've read the comments about how the heads can take somewhere between 1000 and 2000 hours easily and I tend to believe that.)

Talking about safety, one thing about the firewire issue:

lyrov said:
I would be more worried about connecting it all the time through firewire...and at that point you should be realy careful...
NEVER connect it when it is ON, even better have both your PC/DVX OFF - connect - turn on PC - turn on DVX.
Click to expand...

...but if you use a firewire cable that is 4 pins (the smallest connector) there isn't going to be any power on the cable. If you use a cable that has the small connector at both ends of the cable there isn't any risk.

Jasper
 
Agreed with David, the DVX100's been out since late 2002, and I don't think we've ever heard a report of anyone having to have the heads replaced. Not saying it hasn't happened, of course, but it's obviously pretty infrequent if we've never heard of it here.

As for firewire safety -- if using a 6-pin to 4-pin cable, there's potential danger there. If using a 4-pin to 4-pin cable, there's no danger. But 6-to-4 can absolutely blow up the camera's firewire port.

It appears that what the issue is, after much hearsay and rumor-sifting, is that if someone attempts to plug in the 6-pin cable upside-down it'll short out the power and blow up the camera's port. So a recommendation that SHOULD lead to complete safety, would be to always plug in the firewire 6-pin side first, before attaching the 4-pin side.
 
Thanks much for the replies.

I was unaware of the potential issue with the firewire, we are indeed using a 6 to 4 pin firewire cable so I'll be careful.

I'm sure you'll hear from me again. We are currently taking on a project and I'm already feeling over my head. I really appreciate having this resource.


cheers,
Tom
 
Yes, the 6-pin is the much larger connector. The 4-pin is the one on the camera. Well, depending on the camera; some cameras like the HPX170 have 6-pin connectors. But a DVX100 has a 4-pin.
 
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