Hi folks. Although I recently purchased an URSA Mini 4K, there are still times I'd like to make use of the good-old GY-HD100 we've had since 2006, mostly because of the ENG-style lens and great physical controls.

That said, has anyone had success with any modern (i.e. circa 2016-2017) options adding solid-state recording to this camera? For example, something that could take the HDV (not likely) or component analog (more likely) output and record to SD cards or SSD drives.

I've toyed around with getting one of those "game recorders" that record component video to H.264, but just wondering if anyone has found a good solution for this in the modern era.

I picked up a mint HD110 for next to nothing last year and then a Datavideo DN-60 from eBay - works well in HD 720 using the FW out of the camera.

I used Data-Video DN-60s for several years with my Canon HDV cameras. They are great recorders. But I finally had to upgrade cameras because CF cards that are compatible with the DN-60s are no longer being made. All the new cards are UDMA 7, which are incompatible with the DN-60. So, you will have to find some old cards somewhere if you need more than one card. The new DN-60s come with a 16GB card.

Again, I used my DN-60s for years on hundreds of jobs. They're great. But you probably won't be able to get any cards for them.

Sorry for the bad news.

Here's the latest link for supported cards: https://datavideocorporation.desk.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2156549-dn-60-cf-card-compatibility-list

Maybe you can find someone selling a used DN-60 who will include some working cards in the deal. That's how I sold mine.

Roger

The obvious choice is to hit Ebay for the no longer produced Focus Enhancements Firestore Firewire HDD recorder and probably could disassemble and replace the 60-100g HDD with a new larger SSD but I don't promise it will work. I have one, still works, but using it to recapture a lot of old footage. The problem with the older Firestore HDV drives is that FCPX and Quicktime can't read the footage... luckily while Focus Enhancments before they got bought by Vtech had a free app that you would drag the footage in your browser on top of the app and it would do it's wizardry (takes less than a second to adjust 100g of file footage) so Quicktime would be allowed to read it. But remember it would only be HDV still, just ready to edit when you get back to the office. Be sure to get the Firestore drive that has HDV 720p 24p/30p reading encoding capabilities. I think they all did, but they did make the one for JVC that also talked back to the camera and relayed information on your viewfinder.

V-Tech came out with some replacement gear that was similar and used SSD drives, but I don't think they make them anymore.

Other than that you need either a laptop and a analog to thunderbolt $199 Blackmagic type of box... and record to laptop while camera in live view to HDD to get pre-compressor footage. PAIN. My results where not worth the effort. Or a Blackmagic portable Component to HD-SDI or Component to HDMI portable box ($250 plus power tap) then any Atomos type recorder. Then your in the field recording a better codec and can still have tape as a lower quality backup.

IF you had I think the HD250 and better it had a HD-SDI output already and it would probably make more sense to get a used HD250 and then just get the Atomos or similar recorder to plug into the HD-SDI.

But you could certainly test the the benefit of a better codec by getting a $30 component to HDMI desk top converter and plug any of your HDMI recorders, then point the JVC HD110 out the window and live record in a less compressed format (before the built in encoder) and see if the JVC is worth the effort. I did and I was under whelmed, even though I do have the better Fujinon 17x lens... just old and clunky.. I gave up and picked up a JVC LS300 and haven't looked back (though metering with a cine meter since I still can't get anything reliable out of histograms)

I was looking at the Blackmagic Analog to SDI mini converter.. my IDX power tap might have the conversion to power it, then plug in a Atomos or Blackmagic video assist into the SDI.

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/miniconverters/techspecs/W-CONM-00

If you can't find a way to power the adapter (I think it's possible, even just pick a generic battery plate and battery combo from amazon that gives the same output for the converters input for under $70?) then extension cord and tripod and not move a lot. and get the best footage that the old JVC can live output.

are you going to mix your JVC HDV with your Ursa Mini?

the Kingston Ultimate 266X CF card works correctly with the Datavideo DN 60 and it is readily available. The support team at Datavideo recommends this particular card as being viable.

i use my DN60 with my HD 110 all the time with no issues. The only frustrating thing is the lack of time code display when not using a tape.

Best

I still have the FE drive, but because most of my recording is done on mains power (working on a tripod in theatres) practically everything now goes straight to my MacBook - I absolutely HATE the FE drive, the number of times I think it's recording and it isn't really gets to me after a while. Having to remember the sequence to make it talk to the camera, then follow the start/stop just annoys me. Hitting record on the laptop and seeing the picture works so much better for me.

hi
have you had good success recording directly to the laptop? is it a real hassle to get setup and move around etc..... thinking about
best
kf

are you going to mix your JVC HDV with your Ursa Mini?
I actually did a shoot in May where we used both cameras for different angles. The final output will be for the web, so nothing will be exported higher than 720p.

The intent was to mainly shoot with the URSA Mini 4K as a fixed master shot, which could be post-cropped as needed. The HD100 was then used for mid and close-up shots -- but also as a confidence backup, since this was my first live (non-scripted) shoot for the UM4K. Essentially, each camera was a backup for the other.

There is a HUGE different in colour rendering between the two cameras, so it will take a lot of work to make them match if I use both angles. (I haven't done the editing yet, which was delayed until some other website work was done first.)

...practically everything now goes straight to my MacBook
What software are you using for that? I still have a 2009 MacBook with a Firewire port.

while we are on the topic, is it possible,to blow the firewire port on the hd110 if only using a portable hd recorder or cf recorder like the dn60? is it still necessary to power the camera off and the recorder off when connecting and disconnectiing? or is this only applicable when connecting to a pc or laptop?
thanks

I bought a JVC GY-HD111E a couple of years ago and it came with the whole box and dice, except a charger for the FireStore or a battery that was any good.

It had a V-Lock battery and power from that was enough to run the FireStore. I took out the HD and replaced it with an SD to Parallel card and a 32GB SD card. The device sure powers up a lot quicker when it doesn't have to spin up those platters. I could have used a bigger SD card like a 64GB to more closely match the 80GB disk that I removed, but 32GB was all I had at the time.

You still have to copy off the files by Firewire and there is the whole .mov incompatibility, so I shot it with the .mts files instead and used Clipwrap to sort them. I would love to get my hands on that software for fixing the .mov, though.

Does anyone have a copy or download location for the HD File Converter application from Focus Enhancements?

Vitec seem to no longer be supporting the recorder I have and there seems to be no download link on their site for it.

Shame, I'd love to start using mine again. I has just been wondering the same about recording to a laptop or similar.
Firestores are rare in the uk, and when they do come for sale they are often with a camera.

Does anyone have a copy or download location for the HD File Converter application from Focus Enhancements?

Vitec seem to no longer be supporting the recorder I have and there seems to be no download link on their site for it.

still looking? I found my installer versions. Can't figure out how to upload to forum though.

I'm looking for a way to record to a hard drive for HD100. Any options available? Is the Firestore no longer working with this model? Options other than recording to a computer?

As with the other thread you started - the old drives were great - but you're really looking for an ancient product, so as firewire has been retired and the old camera protocols gone, it's not too surprising nobody produces a new drive for an old product. however, there are lots of them out there and drives can always be replaced, until the technology replaces those too. The good news is that the old FE kit gets cheaper. mine's very elderly now but perfectly functional, bar, as I said, the worn out connectors!

Hi folks. Although I recently purchased an URSA Mini 4K, there are still times I'd like to make use of the good-old GY-HD100 we've had since 2006, mostly because of the ENG-style lens and great physical controls.

That said, has anyone had success with any modern (i.e. circa 2016-2017) options adding solid-state recording to this camera? For example, something that could take the HDV (not likely) or component analog (more likely) output and record to SD cards or SSD drives.

I've toyed around with getting one of those "game recorders" that record component video to H.264, but just wondering if anyone has found a good solution for this in the modern era.

Not exactly solid state , but I have three Firestore FS4-HD recorders which , with a bit of experimenting with settings can be made to work at least with my GY-HD251

The obvious choice is to hit Ebay for the no longer produced Focus Enhancements Firestore Firewire HDD recorder and probably could disassemble and replace the 60-100g HDD with a new larger SSD but I don't promise it will work. I have one, still works, but using it to recapture a lot of old footage. The problem with the older Firestore HDV drives is that FCPX and Quicktime can't read the footage... luckily while Focus Enhancments before they got bought by Vtech had a free app that you would drag the footage in your browser on top of the app and it would do it's wizardry (takes less than a second to adjust 100g of file footage) so Quicktime would be allowed to read it. But remember it would only be HDV still, just ready to edit when you get back to the office. Be sure to get the Firestore drive that has HDV 720p 24p/30p reading encoding capabilities. I think they all did, but they did make the one for JVC that also talked back to the camera and relayed information on your viewfinder.

V-Tech came out with some replacement gear that was similar and used SSD drives, but I don't think they make them anymore.

Other than that you need either a laptop and a analog to thunderbolt $199 Blackmagic type of box... and record to laptop while camera in live view to HDD to get pre-compressor footage. PAIN. My results where not worth the effort. Or a Blackmagic portable Component to HD-SDI or Component to HDMI portable box ($250 plus power tap) then any Atomos type recorder. Then your in the field recording a better codec and can still have tape as a lower quality backup.

IF you had I think the HD250 and better it had a HD-SDI output already and it would probably make more sense to get a used HD250 and then just get the Atomos or similar recorder to plug into the HD-SDI.

But you could certainly test the the benefit of a better codec by getting a $30 component to HDMI desk top converter and plug any of your HDMI recorders, then point the JVC HD110 out the window and live record in a less compressed format (before the built in encoder) and see if the JVC is worth the effort. I did and I was under whelmed, even though I do have the better Fujinon 17x lens... just old and clunky.. I gave up and picked up a JVC LS300 and haven't looked back (though metering with a cine meter since I still can't get anything reliable out of histograms)

I have three Firestore FS-4HD recorders , all were originally fitted with the smaller internal drives , but I eventually found higher capacity IDE drives for them , can't remember what size now as it was years ago I upgraded them , but all eventually gave at least 10 hours record time - since I record a lot of conferences these were ideal to just start in the morning and let them run all day .

While I have used them with my GY-HD251 camera ( it is a bit of a faff with the settings on both devices , and there remains audio sync issues , because they are not the JVC dedicated version ) I bought them primarily to use with my Sony HVR V1e , with which they work seamlessly , and using Edit Ready , clips can be transcoded and joined seamlessly into a single long recording ready to drop on the timeline ( for my conferences where I just want a continuous recording of a two or three hour long session , this is so handy , rather than manually joining up clips of seven minutes or so with always a couple of frames overlap between each ) . Edit ready also converts MXF files to other formats ( for me to .mov since I still use FCP7 , but have been shooting XDCAM HD for a while ) .

The Firestores certainly got me away from connecting my JVC camera to my mac Pro , but then I picked up a BRHD50 deck , which alongside my Sony HVR-M15AE allows me to ingest just about any flavour of DV or HDV tape I come across ; still also have S-VHS , Lo-band U-Matic , Hi-8 decks and just got a PDW-F70 XDCAM HD deck so can work with a wide range of formats .

I'd think for an HD100 , a Firestore would be the best option , but even when I got mine about 5 years ago the clip on batteries were well past their best . I do have mains adaptors for each of them , but I ended up making cables to power them from the D tap outlet on my PAGLOK adaptor , and for my V1e , I bought a cage that fits under the camera and made up a PAGLOK plate which gives me a power supply - one L95 battery will run the Firestore all day .

Hey Derek - glad to see you are still using your JVC HD251 , along with the BR-HD50 deck. Still use mine also.

Finding tapes is getting a little harder lately. :)