HD DVD Camcorder/What to BUY

Can anyone give me some advise on purchasing a HD DVD Camcorder which records to mini DVD cassettes? I had some 1080i HD video taken on a Sony HD DVD Camcorder which records to cassette the cassettes were given to me. I need to transfer the video to my external hard drive I understand that I can purchase an "inexpensive" HD DVD Camcorder to do this. I am using FCP PRO 5, I am on a G5 Mac. I understand that it has to be 16/9 ratio so that I not lose the quality of the video I have had taken and it also needs to be a HD Camera. By inexpensive I mean is there one under $500.00????

I would appreciate any recommendations.

Okay, first off...your terminology is off.

You mean HDV. HD DVD is a dead format -- it was the high-definition disc technology that had lost out to Blu-Ray. And there's no such thing as a "DVD cassette".


www.derekmok.com

Huh what's a 'mini DVD cassette'? What's 'HD DVD'? Those are some confusing terms you're throwing out there...

Noah

Final Cut Studio Training, featuring the HVX200, EX1, EX3, DVX100, DVDSP and Color at [www.callboxlive.com]!
Author, RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera available now at: [www.amazon.com].
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Noah, Derekmok

OK I stand corrected it is HDV
The tapes I have are mini DV digital video cassettes

I want to transfer them to my IMac in FCP and I understand the only way I can do this is to purchase a HD camcorder - I would appreciate your help.

You can rent one (?)

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

I checked not in El Paso, Texas.
Also I heard there is something called a Sony tape transfer piece of equipment that does the same thing as a camera, do you know where I can purchase one and are they less expensive than a camera.

I have been quoted a price of $50 an hour to have someone transfer the video for me since I have 9 hours of video it seems to me that it would be best for me just to buy the camera.

You should have this done for you by a professional. The cost is trivial compared to your time and trouble.

There are HDV decks out there, that's probably the "Sony tape transfer" thing you mentioned. Expensive.

Search a place like the B+H website for HDV camcorders to check the pricing: HDV Camcorders on B+H. Under $500? More like $800. So it might be cheaper to have someone else do it. $50/hour is actually a pretty good rate.

Since capturing from tape is a pretty basic function in FCP, can we assume that you're a beginner here? Your confusing terminology certainly indicates that. My suggestion would be to take a class, or perhaps purchase one of the many excellent FCP DVD tutorials out there. It will make things a lot clearer for you.

HTH, JK

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SCQT! Self-contained QuickTime ? pass it on!

If you feel the need to buy a deck (or a camera would work for that matter), there's always ebay:

[shop.ebay.com]

[shop.ebay.com]

A little diligent searching goes a long way. GOOGLE (and Ebay) are your very bestest friends.

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

I'm sure there's someone in El Paso who can do this for you for a reasonable fee. Try Craigslist.

Noah

Final Cut Studio Training, featuring the HVX200, EX1, EX3, DVX100, DVDSP and Color at [www.callboxlive.com]!
Author, RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera available now at: [www.amazon.com].
Editors Store- Gifts and Gear for Editors: [www.editorsstore.com]

Noah, grafixjoe, John K , Jeff Harrell
Thank all of you for taking the time to respond, yes I am "learning" the site with the cameras is great, I figured it would be best for me to buy my own equipment because obviously I will need to transfer again in the future and it adds up real fast.

You can go on CraigsList LA and find miniDV cameras for nothing. I find it best to playback on a device made by the same manufacturer as of the camera the tapes were recorded on (Panasonic + Panasonic, SONY + SONY)... but the potential exists that all will work fine. Just get a camera or device that has FW and is controllable.

If you're archiving, you can go to Target and get a $100 DVD recorder and burn DVDs (and makes VIDEO_TS) of your tapes, or get the $200 SONY machine that burns as AVCHD.

Independent photographer, film maker and Producer. In the wonderful UK.

Nick, I think he has HDV tapes so a regular MiniDV cam won't work. Craigslist may still be his best bet though; I haven't seen any consumer HDV cams at all in stores. Everything at that price point has moved to solid state storage.

JK

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SCQT! Self-contained QuickTime ? pass it on!

Please don't confuse people...miniDV is NOT a compression format...miniDV is just a tape size, folks. DVCAM, HDV, DVCPRO-NTSC, Digital8, etc ALL record on miniDV tapes. a "miniDV camera" could be anything. Please be specific.

Thanks !!

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

Change this forum from FCP Troubleshooting to "What kind of camera should I get?"

How often must we see a post like this in an editing forum?

Kevin Monahan
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I hear you Kevin...I heeeeeeear you. I have lobbied for a "what to buy" forum to get this and other equipment purchase suggestions / questions OUT OF THE CAFE. It gets hard to find the trouble shooting questions sometimes.

Hope all goes well with that "thing" (May The Force Be With You )

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.