Sony HC3 firewire port dead,cheap miniDV camcorder to use for transfer?

[alegator]

I have many miniDV tapes recorded in HD with my Sony HC3 camcorder for the last 3 years. Problem is that the HC3's IEEE1394 port is dead so I'm unable to transfer video to the PC from the cam. What would be the cheapest miniDV camcorder that I could buy to use it as a deck to transfer all these tapes to the PC? Would this one serve the purpose? Thanks
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-GR-DA30US-...078771&sr=8-10

[danno78]

For tape with HDV (high definition) content you need HDV camcorder. miniDV camcorder can only play tapes with DV content (standard definition).
Solutions: the latest HDV camcorder from Sony, HC9 or camcorder from Canon HV40 or HV30.

[minidv2dvd]

it's not going to work. miniDV cams can't read HDV. they use the same tape but it's not the same format. you need an HDV deck or a new HDV cam.

[rumplestiltskin]

Would this work for you?

http://tinyurl.com/ocqtw2

(No, it's not mine. I just did a search and am trying to be helpful.)

[edDV]

Or you could rent or borrow an HDV camcorder to transfer all your tapes.

[edong]

This is just a related question.

Has anyone tried to play a Sony HD miniDV tape into a Canon HD camcorder? Any specific model/s that works? I am interested in buying a Canon miniDV HD camcorder. Thanks.

[alegator]

I called a local Sony authorized service center. They said that either the port is burned (repair around $105) or that the main board was damaged (repair around $395).Are these prices fair? They said that they will inspect the cam at no cost to me to diagnose which of the two cases might be and that I'm free to decide afterward whether I want to have it repaired.
I'm not that much concerned with the repair price (both prices are well below a new HD cam) but with the quality of the repair. My cam has very low usage, I only used it on 4 or 5 specific trips, it looks brand new and all functions other than the firewire port are working fine (even the HDMI port which is in the same panel as the IEEE1394 is working). So I'm afraid that they might repair the firewire but degrade other parts/functions due to improper handling, etc. It's a risk I'll have to take if I decide to service my HC3.

P.D.: The HDMI and IEEE1394 ports are controlled by the same mainboard or by independent boards? (both ports are physically in the same panel next to each other in the HC3) I'm asking this because if it is the first case then the board is fine as the HDMI port is working ok.

For tape with HDV (high definition) content you need HDV camcorder. miniDV camcorder can only play tapes with DV content (standard definition).
Solutions: the latest HDV camcorder from Sony, HC9 or camcorder from Canon HV40 or HV30.

danno, a brand new HC9 is around $1100. For less than that I prefer a Sony miniDV walkman that will work as a play/transfer/record/edit deck for my miniDV tapes of my HC3 or any future miniDV HD cam I might purchase.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-GV-D1000-...0148906&sr=8-1

Or you could rent or borrow an HDV camcorder to transfer all your tapes.

Problem is that nowadays very few people own a miniDV HD camcorder (except professionals), so they are hard to find. Most use DVD or hard drive based ones.

Would this work for you?

http://tinyurl.com/ocqtw2

(No, it's not mine. I just did a search and am trying to be helpful.)

Thanks rumple, but I wouldn't spend more than $100 on Ebay, it's a risk I don't want to take. I'd rather save that money for my next cam upgrade.

This is just a related question.

Has anyone tried to play a Sony HD miniDV tape into a Canon HD camcorder? Any specific model/s that works? I am interested in buying a Canon miniDV HD camcorder. Thanks.

Good point. Will any Canon HD miniDV camcorder be compatible with playing/transferring miniDV tapes recorded with a Sony HD cam?

[zoobie]

I was gonna say have it repaired...for $100 - cheap, if indeed, that's the prob
sounds like it still has a lot of life left in it...be a shame to waste it
Sony replaced the firewire port in my HC5...works great
they actually sent me an empty box to ship it in
turn around was less than 3 weeks

[alegator]

I was gonna say have it repaired...for $100 - cheap, if indeed, that's the prob
sounds like it still has a lot of life left in it...be a shame to waste it
Sony replaced the firewire port in my HC5...works great
they actually sent me an empty box to ship it in
turn around was less than 3 weeks

Hi zoobie, how much did you pay Sony for the firewire port replacement in your HC5? And what was the issue with it? Was it burned by static or just replacement due to mechanical tear and wear?

[zoobie]

I payed when I bought an extended 4 year warranty for $117 at an official SonyStyle store. It was thusly "covered" when I dummied up. The issue was: I tried to insert the analog wire into the firewire slot while fumbling around in the dark. Needless to say, it didnt work...

You can test quickly yourself in the field by simply running a firewire between any 2 ports and see if the signal transfers...

[edDV]

danno, a brand new HC9 is around $1100. For less than that I prefer a Sony miniDV walkman that will work as a play/transfer/record/edit deck for my miniDV tapes of my HC3 or any future miniDV HD cam I might purchase.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-GV-D1000-...0148906&sr=8-1

Get the port fixed.

The GV-D1000 is MiniDV only, not HDV.

The HDV/MiniDV model is this one. GVH-D700

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665192187

[birddog]

My Sony HC3 firewire port must be dead on mine too. I had been trying different software and computers for awhile trying to figure out what the heck was going on. I too have a bunch of HDV tapes now. I found this Hauppauge HD PVR that seems to work good. I've only had it a day now but it captures my HD video and converts it to a .TS file. It has Component inputs for the HD video and RCA inputs for the audio and USB 2.0 for computer connection. I think it'll be my option for now.

Check it out: http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html

[/url]

[aedipuss]

you are far from capturing the HDV off the tape. that unit may digitize the analog output of the cam from composite, s-video or component but it's a poor replacement for a digital transfer.

[zoobie]

with an older cam, it may not be that much anymore to have sony replace your firewire port...give them a toll free call and see what they say

I also saw a gently used Sony HDV cam go on eBay for $150...

[birddog]

with an older cam, it may not be that much anymore to have sony replace your firewire port...give them a toll free call and see what they say

This is off Sony's eService Repair site for the HC3 out of warranty.
The cost to repair this unit under our Flat Rate Program is $511.00, (plus any applicable taxes). Return shipping is included in this price.

I might as well add some $$$ and buy a new Cannon HV40 if I was going to spend that.
What about this dude? Look Legit?
http://cgi.ebay.com/REPAIR-service-4...01018009r29405

Wonder if I should return the Hauppauge HD PVR before my 30 days is up or is it a reasonable substitute for getting the HD video off the tapes?

[edDV]

If you email the eBay repair guy he may do the port only for less than $145.

[birddog]

Here's what the eBay repair guy emailed back:
[The only way to repair Firewire problem is to replace main PC board and that cost around $721.00 parts and labor plus Tax :-
HDRHC3 A1176207A A1176207A MOUNTED C.BOARD VC-441 SERV $576.81 Availability Add to Cart Add to My Catalog
I do not know if you want to spend that kind of money as you can purchase one cheaper .
I may be able to find a used PC board and replace it for $500.00 parts and labor.]

Needless to say, I will not be going that route. The video from the HD PVR using the Component output of camera at 13.5 Mbps isn't that bad really. I'm sure the Firewire was better, but was the HC3 true HD quality anyway. I captured a 3:39 video clip (373MB), using the PVR, burned it to a DVD that plays on my Blu Ray player. I then hooked the HC3 directly to the TV using the HDMI cable. I watched the clip from the DVD and the camera and was very close in quality, 16:9 ratio and all. I'll just have to stick with this until I decide on purchasing a new camcorder.

Hope this helps someone else as well.

[edDV]

Like Sony, this repair guy only swaps modules rather than replace the faulty component. Someone could make a business out of this.

Yes the HD-PVR (analog component to h.264) will be close in quality and has other uses such as cable/sat capture.

[alegator]

The HDMI port of my HC3 is working fine, so I was thinking that an alternate solution instead of repairing the firewire port would be using this device to capture/edit HDMI video:
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/
Any feedback?
Thanks.
UPDATE: I just read that HDMI signal does not carry timecode information as firewire does

[zoobie]

you're still goofing with this?

[edDV]

The HDMI port of my HC3 is working fine, so I was thinking that an alternate solution instead of repairing the firewire port would be using this device to capture/edit HDMI video:
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/
Any feedback?
Thanks.
UPDATE: I just read that HDMI signal does not carry timecode information as firewire does

HDMI is uncompressed 1080i. The supplied codec converts on the fly to MJPEG.

[alegator]

you're still goofing with this?

Yes, it's my life karma For one reason or another I still haven't had the time to repair it, but I keep shooting with it and tapes keep stacking up.

HDMI is uncompressed 1080i. The supplied codec converts on the fly to MJPEG.

Yes, I could read from the description that the device can compress the signal on the fly, but I'm unsure of the quality of the captured video, if it's up to the same quality I would get capturing from firewire.Also, HDMI does not carry timecode. Any thought on this?

[edDV]

you're still goofing with this?

Yes, it's my life karma For one reason or another I still haven't had the time to repair it, but I keep shooting with it and tapes keep stacking up.

HDMI is uncompressed 1080i. The supplied codec converts on the fly to MJPEG.

Yes, I could read from the description that the device can compress the signal on the fly, but I'm unsure of the quality of the captured video, if it's up to the same quality I would get capturing from firewire.Also, HDMI does not carry timecode. Any thought on this?

First thought is get the port fixed. The firewire transfer is bit for bit exactly what is on tape.

The HDMI output is a decompressed 1920x1080i upscale of the recorded HDV. MJPEG will generate extremely large files vs. DV and will need to be recompressed after editing. And yes, there is no timecode.

MJPeg would need to go to 125-200 Mb/s to maintain HDV quality. MJPeg has no temporal compression.

[alegator]

Thanks Ed, no more thinking on this...will get that port repaired. If I had to buy a new HDV camcorder, would you advise MiniDV tape or the newer flash or hard drive based ones? For some reason I still think that MiniDV tape based cameras are the choice for video professionals and enthusiasts that have quality of video as their priority. Am I wrong?

[edDV]

Thanks Ed, no more thinking on this...will get that port repaired. If I had to buy a new HDV camcorder, would you advise MiniDV tape or the newer flash or hard drive based ones? For some reason I still think that MiniDV tape based cameras are the choice for video professionals and enthusiasts that have quality of video as their priority. Am I wrong?

I still use HDV tape mostly. I like the workflow and tape is cheap (by about ~10x) vs. flash ram. Also HDV camcorders can stream live over firewire where AVCHD camcorders can't stream at all (except analog or uncompressed HDMI). Also HDV can be natively edited with smart rendering (first generation) to a Blu-Ray compatible file. AVCHD always gets re-encoded (unless cut only on I frames).

Any of the Canon HV20/30/40 will be vastly superior to your HC3. Prosumer Canon, JVC and Sony HDV models are great used bargains.

[alegator]

Sony HC9 or Canon HV40? And will HV40 play/transfer tapes recorded with HC3?

[edDV]

Sony HC9 or Canon HV40? And will HV40 play/transfer tapes recorded with HC3?

I haven't used the HC9. The Canon HV should play your HC3 tapes.

My HDV cams are a Sony HVR-Z1U and Canon HV20. Both play tapes from the other.

[alegator]

I always trust Zeiss optics over Canon's, that's why I'm a bit biased towards Sony.

[edDV]

I always trust Zeiss optics over Canon's, that's why I'm a bit biased towards Sony.

If you will

The Canon HV's have all the needed pro exposure and audio features.

[alegator]

Good news! I finally had the Sony HC3's firewire port repaired. Now I have to transfer all those recorded MiniDV tapes (1080i) to the PC. What video format would be the most pure "RAW" uncompressed to choose from in the capture process? And what software is best for achieving this? Thanks