Good DVCam for DV passthrough?

[trock]

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive DVCam that has excellent quality DV passthrough (with no need to first record on DV tape)?

It will only be used for passthrough from analog sources so the rest of the camera features don't matter, just the passthrough quality and being inexpensive. Thanks.

trock

[dopazo]

My Sony TRV351 (Digital 8 ) works great for that. I had converted many VHS tapes to DV (without recording on a D8 tape).

But if you just want the cam for that look for an analog/digital converter like the Canopus ADC100 which i think is cheaper than a cam. I've used it and it does the same as my Digital8.

[MachineMan]

A lot of older Digital8 camcorders have this feature. I would look for one on Ebay since you only want it as a passthrough.

Open this thread and download the excel sheet of Sony Digital8 cams and look at row #89 for which ones come with Analog to DV pass through..

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t48170.html

[trock]

Thanks. Sorry, I should have mentioned that I also need to be able to play back client miniDV tapes so Digital8 wouldn't be an option.

trock

[zorankarapancev]

Are you asking for DV cam or DVCam? DV cam is DV camcorder and DVCam is DVCam camcorder or camera. Or maybe you need DV/DVCam camcorder.

[trock]

Hi zorankarapancev,

I'm not sure. I've been using a friend's JVC BR-DV3000 miniDVD player/recorder for its passthrough function and the quality is superb but it's a very expensive unit.

It's my understanding that some miniDV (video) camcorders also have this passthrough function as well as the ability to play miniDV tapes. That's what I'm looking for.

And I'm guessing that quality will vary from brand to brand, model to model depending on how much care they've put into the analog to DV passthrough circuitry so I'm also looking for one that has high quality passthrough and that hopefully doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

thanks,

trock

[zorankarapancev]

If you have customers with DVCam tapes you should buy DVCam camcorder or DVCam player. Both will play DV and DVcam tapes and will passthrough analog signals.

DV camcorders are not able to play DVCam tapes as well as full size DV tapes.

Good and more affordable DV/DVCam player is Sony DSR 11( DV, full size DV, DVCam and full size DVCam, NTSC/Pal system tapes), and for DVCam camcorder you will have to look for some Sony DSR models.
The passthrough quality is the same (excellent).

[trock]

Thanks but the Sony DSR 11 is the same price range as the BR-DV3000 ($1500). I only need to be able to play miniDV.

What about such camcorder units as the JVC GR-D33US? It has analog to DV passthrough and plays miniDV tapes and costs about $300.

That's more the price range I'm interested in and I'm hoping to hear from anyone who has similar camcorders and who uses the passthrough function and can comment on the quality of the passthrough on these less expensive units.

I'll take a look at some other Sony DSR models and see what price range they're in.

Thanks,

trock

[mwkurt]

Check out the Canon ZR models starting I believe with a ZR40. I have a ZR80 (about $300.00) and it does the analog pass thru.

[trock]

Thanks very much, I'll check them out. Have you been happy with the quality of the passthrough?

trock

[mwkurt]

Yes...works great for what I use it for. Basically converting VHS to DV and sending it to my PC.

[trock]

Thanks, looks like just what I need - and the price is great.

[vhelp]

Yes.., you're right. You'll get differenct quality results depending upon the
brand / model / make etc. BIG difference between my ZR-10 and TRV22
cams.

FWIW.. my Sony TRV22 puts out great passthrough quality. There are
times when I feel that its final .AVI quality is better than my ADVC-100 's, but
that's not something that I have ever test head-to-head yet.

But, if you want my OP on the Quality and Cam, (aka, the trueth) then the
above you can believe me on. The quality is great for passthrough projects.

Cheers,
-vhelp

[trock]

Thanks vhelp, that's what I was afraid of. Makes sense though.

I had considered the ADVC-100 but I was so disappointed with the poor quality of the ADS Pyro A/V that I was a little cautious about the ADVC-100 (although the reviews are great). Of course it doesn't solve my need to be able to play miniDV tapes.

I'll check into the TRV22. Whatever I get should have S-VHS inputs ideally.

trock

[vhelp]

I think you mean, S-Video (in/out) on the cam. All cams that support
DV have this.. to my knowledge.

But, if you're talking about DV, then you'll undoubtly want the DV ( you did
say, "passthrough" ..you know) and with S-Video, that would mean that you
are planning on "capturing" the video, (through the means of a capture card)
as the tape plays inside your DV cam, while connected from S-Video wire to
your capture card's S-video input connection.

DV connections requires a firewire card (and cable)

-vhelp

[trock]

Yes, I did mean S-Video indeed. I've done lot of DV capture (JVC S-VHS to Datavideo TBC to S-VIDEO in of DV device to firewire in on PC). As well as capturing from tapes playing in the DV player. I want to continue to do both - but not at the same time.

I only use the S-Video input on my (other) capture card when I'm going directly analog from the TBC.

I've mostly been using the DV passthrough and playback (separately) of the JVC BR-DV3000 but I don't want to spend $1400 so the TRV22 looks like a good alternative option - the prices on eBay are very good.

Thanks again for the tip.

trock

[lgh529]

...

FWIW.. my Sony TRV22 puts out great passthrough quality. There are
times when I feel that its final .AVI quality is better than my ADVC-100 's, but
that's not something that I have ever test head-to-head yet.
...

I must agree with vhelp. I also have a TRV22 which I bought after my ADVC-100. I have found that captures from the ADVC and the camcorder are indistinguisable. At this point, I still use the ADVC-100 out of convenience, but not for any performance issue.

[trock]

A quick question to those of you who have both the TRV22 and the ADVC-100 - does the TRV22 have an IRE switch (0 to 7.5 and vice versa) like the ADVC-100 does so that you can prevent the usual DV dulling?

Thanks,

trock

[jeanl]

I have a Sharp VLZ-5U, which I paid $300 for (after $50 rebate). It's decent but it does not have Firewire->Camcorder recording capabilities. It does have analog input -> firewire (what you're asking for). Just so you know.
J.