tape drive for mini DV tapes?

[getting2it]

I would like to be able to read the DV tapes using a tape drive instead of the camcorder, but cannot find a supplier. Any suggestions please? Thanks.

[pbhalerao]

Welcome to the forums.

Do you mean miniDV tapes?

If you mean to read them on a VCR like device then it is not possible as consumer oriented miniDV VCRs are not available (as yet). If you are likening this to old VHS-C tapes which had an adapter in which you could fit them and play on a standard VCR then again there is no such adapter available.

Studios have professional equipment that can directly read from DV tapes. Such equipments are usually very expensive.

[turk690]

There is the Sony DSR-11 which can play back PAL and NTSC. But it's true, as pbhalerao says, even this is at least US$2000. A better bet is a miniDV/S-VHS combo deck like those from JVC. Although I've seen it in the stores and in ads as I didn't pay much attention I don't know the model, but I remember the price tag: US$999. Still, Sony also has a DV tape drive meant to be installed in a 5.25" computer bay, to be linked via an internal FireWire connector. For transferring miniDV tape contents to the HDD to be used in a NLE this capture method has to be tops.

[canadateck]

Sony also has a DV tape drive meant to be installed in a 5.25" computer bay, to be linked via an internal FireWire connector.

This sounds Nice,I tried to look for it on the Sony site couldnt find it,Where did you see it?

Thanks

[DaveS]

JVC HR-DVS3U is a combo deck - VHS on one side and miniDV on the other -- firewire i/o also..that model is the consumer version and there was also a professional version...a few more features .. that model is a year or so old, so there may be an updated version...b&h photo should sell whatever is the current version....surf the jvc web site and then price it at a few places incl b&h ( www.bhphoto.com )...and, that unit is certainly a minidv VCR...it can record to minidv off of RF (cable), from svhs / composite (no component input)..dub from vhs to minidv and the other way around...