MiniDV question again..

[UnholyB0b]

When looking for a miniDV cam for the soul purpose of taping shows and transferring onto cd/dvd. What should I look for in a cam for best looking playback? Higher CCD? More lines horizontal resolution?

I'll be playing this back on a big screen TV and want to know if the 680k CCD will look good or should i go for the 1.33M CCD..

[FulciLives]

The CCD is for the lenz only. So if you are only gonna be using it as a "VCR" using the line in inputs then just about any Digital camcorder will work (including Sony Digital8). Just make sure the camcorder has analog inputs that support pass thru.

Most models do have this but usually not the very cheapest models.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[FulciLives]

Hello again

You may want to consider the Canopus ADVC-100 or the DataVideo DAC-100 both of which are pretty much the same thing.

It is a small "box" that has analog video (composite and S-video) along with RCA stereo jacks. You can input any analog video source using these connections. This magic box then converts the analog video/audio to the DV format and transfers it to your computer via the FireWire ports.

So basically the box connects to your MAC or PC via FireWire and then your cable box (or any analog video source) then connects to the box that does the conversion REAL TIME using HARDWARE in the box.

Basically just like having a DV cam but without having a TAPE in the process or a lenz to shoot with.

The nice thing is the CANOPUS ADVC-100 can be bought for around $250 and the DataVideo DAC-100 can be bought for around $180

Check out PRICEGRABBER.COM for the latest prices.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
Many users here consider the CANOPUS ADVC-100 to be amoung the best "capture cards" on the market. The DataVideo DAC-100 appears to be the EXACT same box ... just sold under a different name by a different manufacturer.

[UnholyB0b]

Thanks for the quick response.
Could anyone comment on the cap quality of the Canopus ADVC-100 campared to say JVC's GR-DV800US MiniDV. Sorry I've felt the burn from buying a poor quality high priced cap device before.

[FulciLives]

Thanks for the quick response.
Could anyone comment on the cap quality of the Canopus ADVC-100 campared to say JVC's GR-DV800US MiniDV. Sorry I've felt the burn from buying a poor quality high priced cap device before.

Bob just look at the "Capture Cards" over on the left hand side of the screen here. There are user comments on ALL kinds of makes and models. You will see how highly regarded the CANOPUS ADVC-100 is as a capture device.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[yg1968]

If you are going to buy a digital camcorder, I would get a camcorder that has a passthrough feature such as most Sony (or Canon) digital camcorders. If you get the passthrough feature, you will have no need for the Canopus or DAC.

[Craig Tucker]

The availability of the passthrough feature depends on where you live, very few DV camcorders have this feature in the UK due to a higher tax levy for it.