Minidv camcorder analog-to-digital converter vs Canopus ADVC

[rayban]

Was wondering if the quality of the conversion to digital dv on minidv camcorders equipped with the capability are just as good as those produced by the Canopus ADVC series analog to digital converters? Anyone have any experiences or know if there is a noticeable difference?

I am about to purchase a Canon ZR65MC which has the capability for around $450 w/shipping. I need to purchase a minidv and also want to convert my analog 8mm tapes over to DVD. Any thoughts about this camera (I'm on a strict budget) or anyone use this method of converting from analog to digital?

Thanks in advance for any comments or feedback.

[FL350innh]

My friend does it through his Sony.. Keep in mind the wear factor. If you got the camera as a combo solution then I say go for it!

[yg1968]

As far as I know, the results should be very similar if not identical using a passthrough feature of a DV camcorder or the Canopus ADVC-100.

[alenhard]

Too bad your minidv camera can't defeat macrovision like the canopus!

[doug1937@hotmail.com]

I'd say go for it. I had a Sharp analog Viewcam and bought a Canon ZR45MC...it works great. I pipe my 8mm video from my Viewcam to my ZR and from there to the PC over my Firewire connection. Quality is superb, though I had to use software other than what came with the camera to capture via the pass-through. ScenalyzerLive and Pinnacle both work great.

$450 is a great price...I paid $499 for mine back in December and it can't do everything that your ZR65 can do.

However, you don't say whether your ATI AIW has a Firewire input. My ATI AIW 128 Pro doesn't have one...it's strictly analog-only. If you don't have a Firewire input then you won't gain anything via the passthrough...heck, your old camcorder could work with an analog AIW card (like mine). (I use an Adaptec Firewire card for capturing digital.)

--Doug

[Jester700]

My friend does it through his Sony.. Keep in mind the wear factor. If you got the camera as a combo solution then I say go for it!

I think you can passthru without having a tape in. No wear.

[yg1968]

Incidentally, the Sony digital camcorders' passthrough feature defeat macrovision. The Canon's do not.

[rayban]

Thanks for the replies! I bought a firewire card also for the minidv purpose. I guess if I want to copy old vhs tapes over to dvd, I would need the Canopus card. But since I can copy DVD's, I guess I won't need to convert the old VHS movies anyway.

Anyone else have any experiences with the Canon ZR series?

Thanks again!

[xxiangg]

I used CanonZR40 to convert analog to DV. I do not think there is
a problem to use it to convert old VHS tapes. But it you use it to
convert DVD, there may be a problem because of macrovision, unless
your DVD player has macrovision disabled.

The advantage I heard to have ADVC-100 is 1) it can convert video
source with macrovision. 2) its connectors are more durable.