Camcorder with DV out

whitecrook · 20 Feb 2010 at 23:07

Hi all

Wondering if anybody could recommend or point me where /what to be looking at for a camcorder, for which the primary reason for buying is to act as an interface to a FW port i.e. DV. To allow me to play a video signal into the unit and have my computer pick it up as a DV device and capture it.

Second purpose would be to have a video camera , something I have been considering for a while now.

Does it have to be a miniDV camera in order to have this feature? I'm thinking probably get a 2nd unit on ebay - are there any 'well known' units that are particularly suited?

thanks

Sirrel Squirrel · 21 Feb 2010 at 12:47

All MiniDV camcorders have Firewire/DV Out.

You say you want to play a signal through it, what's the source? Not all camcorder's have an input.

whitecrook · 21 Feb 2010 at 12:59

Sirrel Squirrel said:
All MiniDV camcorders have Firewire/DV Out.

You say you want to play a signal through it, what's the source? Not all camcorder's have an input.

Yes, I want one that can take analog in and output via FW/ilink/iee1394

Reading about ( i see simplydv have retarded their website for now, just about any useful info on the net points here) suggests that some kind of EU law/tax regarding recording devices mean few of the cheaper cameras have inputs now, so be looking probaly for an older camera.

MiniDV - is this the pro grade thing the cameras that cost a grand or 2 or 3?
Is this different to DV?

I'm only wanting to spend a couple of hundred, if that.

I found this page which is kind of useful but a bit outdated - http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/avcamcorders.htm most cameras here that I have found an ebay have analog in, but not firewire ?

the source will be s-vid output from a panasonic Svhs deck mostly

Sirrel Squirrel · 21 Feb 2010 at 13:12

MiniDV is just the tape format, DV is the codec used, there's no such thing as a normal DV tape.

As I said before all MiniDV camcorders have firewire out but not all of them have firewire in.

Can't really help you with one that has analog in, would it be easier for you to buy some sort of cheap usb capture dongle, or something like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-022-CP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=169

whitecrook · 21 Feb 2010 at 13:16

Sirrel Squirrel said:
MiniDV is just the tape format, DV is the codec used, there's no such thing as a normal DV tape.

As I said before all MiniDV camcorders have firewire out but not all of them have firewire in.

Can't really help you with one that has analog in, would it be easier for you to buy some sort of cheap usb capture dongle, or something like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-022-CP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=169

Yes, I know I could go that route. Or I could use a PVR150 that I have (after I configure a PC setup blah blah). But I've read that a good viable option is to use the on-the-fly anlog to DV - firewire conversion that many video cameras offer, the cost of a cheapish camera can be comparable to these convertors (Canopus etc) plus you get a camera thrown in to the bargain. (wanted to use my laptop which has firewire)

Sirrel Squirrel · 21 Feb 2010 at 13:18

It's only converting an analog signal to a digital one, the same thing a capture card will do.

As said though I can't really recommend a camera with analog in as I can't think of any cheap ones off the top of my head.