Hi

What's the cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? Is it even worth trying?

Thanks
Matt

I was looking for a similar solution for a fx1000 that's collecting dust here and that I'd like to give new life and I don't want to use mini-dv tapes, I have looked at the new ninja star from atomos which looks like a cheap solution but not sure if it's compatible, guess you need a hmdi out on the camera which the fx1000 has, not sure about the fx1? Otherwise you could attach a recorder that has firewire connectivity, I think the HVRMRC1K from Sony has that? Not sure if they still sell them.

Both the DR60 (HDD) and the MRC1 (CF) have been discontinued, as it seems the need for them has diminished with the widespread use of cams that record to these formats internally. But you can still find them on eBay.

The Z1 doesn't have HDMI, so you're limited to models like these with FW (i.Link) inputs.

I use a DR60 on my Z1 and it works great, about 4 hrs of recording. They are discontinued but the demand is still high, can't buy then cheap even on ebay. Same for the MRC1.

At the moment there are three DR60s on eBay, all under $700 (and one currently at about $350 as I write this), which is considerably less than they went for new.

There are 5 MRCs there, with one as low as $500, which is also quite a bit below the original price.

So it's not at all true that they can't be found cheap on eBay.

Here's an interesting thread. Suggest you also check out the appropriate subforum for more info.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-hard-drive-memory-card-recorders/474770-hvr-dr60-vs-hvr-mrc1.html

Ah right, probably be cheaper for me to wait and purchase a new camera, I reckon.

Not mathematically. The cost of getting a used MRC or DR60 will be far less than the price difference between what you could get for your Z1 and the price of a new cam.

But whether the extra features and abilities of the new cam are worth it is your call. If you're happy with the Z1, why dump it?

fx1, z1 was one of the good 3 CCD. No problem with pan, flash, vertical movement.
just for that there is a good reason to keep these cam.

I used the Citidisk by Shining Technologies. Shining Technology CitiDISK FW1258XD-CF + 32GB (1000X B&H Photo

The disk was mounted on a hotshoe, and I rigged a power cable from a Coco similar to this
Bebob Engineering COCODVLII Power Converter BE-COCO-II-DVL B&H

which has D-tap output. Firewire from the camcorder to Citidisk. Shoot the Z1 with tape, and whenever you start and stop, the Citidisk will also start and stop with it.

As a matter of fact, I still have these laying around somewhere if you you're interested! My units were the older generation, Citidisk recorded directly to internal drive instead of CF card. Coco is a single battery holder instead of double battery.

I was thinking about how I could possibly prolong the useful life of my still very good condition HDV cameras. I was hoping to be able to use the Atomos or similar to actually record in improved resolution directly from the cams' sensor. Apparently, the native recording of the Z1 & the A1 is actually 1920 x1080i. Is there such a recorder on the market ?
cheers

You have no SDI out on a Z1...the FW out is feeding the HDV datastream, which is 1440x1080i 1.333 PAR.

Honestly, the Z1 was a great camera for its time, but trying to extend the life of your old gear by adding someone else's old gear to it doesn't seem like a great gamble to me to do paid work.

Hi Tim,
yes, that's the sad & expensive reality of it all. I suppose it has to 4K now to future proof for at least 18 months.
I was simply getting my hopes up when Atomos stated "for some of the older HDV cameras".
Ah well, it's that "which camera do I buy" time again.
cheers