Time Code Window Capability, NEED INFO...
 

My glee at finding a really cheap Canon mini-dv camcorder so I can dub from BetaCam Sp to mini-dv (and vice-versa) has turned to angst.

I'll now have to buy a second camcorder so that I can do actual time-code window burns. The Canon ZR series does not offer me the option to output time-code.

So, how much more money is this going to cost, I hate to sound like a tightwad, but what is the cheapest camcorder I can get that will both play DV-CAM off of mini-dv tapes AND allow me to make time-code window burns?

Are there "tweener" mini-dv camcorders in which no DV-CAM capabilities are possible but I will be able to do window burns?

Thanks in advance.

If your betaSP deck has an option to display timecode in the picture (analog output), then any mini-DV camera (with analog in) can be used to create a time-code window burn. You can then "offline" edit from the mini-DV tapes, although conforming will require manual inputting of a timecode offset or something like that. And you would need an online system that actually handles betaSP.

My working definitions are:
Offline = a cheap edit system.
Online = an expensive edit system. Full/higher quality, more storage, more real-time, more features, or handles higher formats.
Time-code window burn: The actual timecode appears in the video picture as a bunch of numbers, instead of being stored in the normal timecode track of the video format.

2- Perhaps you should focus your question a little more?

Window burns are usually for offline / online editing (edit on a cheap system, online on an expensive system). Your offline system may be something as simple as a VCR, TV, and pen and paper (to write down timecodes).

What formats are going in and what formats do you want to go to?

I probably wasn't clear enough in my previous post.

I assumed all camcorders that read time-code would also output the time-code window. I was wrong.

The BetaCam SP comment is a separate issue. I was just pointing out that I'm happy with the ZR for dubbing back and forth between mini-dv and Betacam SP, but for making either DVD or VHS window burns from mini-dv tapes, I presently have no options and was wondering what mini-dc camcorder should I buy to fill in the void.