inexpensive camcorder converts firewire -> s video?

[Jon Wong]

is there a miniDV camcorder that i can input through firewire that will output to Svideo without going to tape first? i want to find a relatively inexpensive camcorder for editing, and i't like to use it as a monitor output as well.

budget is about $3-400, but any reccomendations would be good.

[Glenn Chan]

1- The information below only applies to the US. (You could update your profile to reflect where you live... this is helpful for people answering your question sometimes.)
Non-US people need to watch out for hidden fees when buying from US.

2- I have a Panasonic GS70 (Japanese) and it does what you ask. Top loading camera, analog-digital passthrough, considered very good value for a cheap camera because it gives a decent image too.

Similar cameras would be the GS120 and GS150 (next and next next generation models).

I also did some research and found that many people recommended the Optura 20 (a little over the GS70 in fact). The Optura 20 is much like the GS70 in that it top loads, has analog-digital passthrough (double check this!!!), and is good value and one of the best cams you can get in its price range. I am fairly sure these cameras have S-video output... it is pretty standard. But double check just in case.

If you are comfortable about eBay, there are some new Optura 20s you can grab off there. I would value used cameras much much less than new, because they can be half-broken/broken. Used is sketchy, as is eBay.

Deck control is another feature to look at, although it is generally good. A samsung camera I had sucked at deck control... I would generally avoid samsung camcorders.

[Jon Wong]

are you talking about ergonomics when you are saying deck control?

do all manufacturers use the term "passthrough" or are there other jargon i would see?

thanks for the info, btw

[Glenn Chan]

are you talking about ergonomics when you are saying deck control?

No. Deck control (to me) means how well the computer can control your camera via firewire/IEEE1394/iLink.

do all manufacturers use the term "passthrough" or are there other jargon i would see?

I don't think all the manufacturers use the jargon passthrough. If you can't find the information you need, you can often download the manual for a camera to check that it can do analog-digital passthrough (both ways).