Is there such a thing as a mini dv tape deck for video transfer ?
 

What I want to do is have a tape deck to transfer my footage too the pc from tape.
I have a Canon AH X1 camcorder and have been told I will ruin the heads if I use it all the time for swapping footage too the PC and I dont want to do that too a 4000 euro piece of kit.

My idea is that there must be a product that simply enables me to put in the tape and then use it as the transfer device.

Is there such a product ?

Yes there is but it will cost you an arm and a leg.
If you want to save wear on the XH A1 you could buy a cheaper camera for transfers and use it as a second camera too perhaps.

HV20 or HV30.

I have one, but it costs half as much as your camera. The others are right. Buy a cheap camera to do this with. It's a lot more useful. I needed some added capability but it doesn't sound like you do.

I have a sony M35E deck to do this so it saves the heads on my Z7, it cost more than the camera so as said they aint cheap but at least it will cover all my DV, Dvcam and HDV needs as well SD/HD-SDI output to digibeta and xdcam.

I don't think the Sony deck can capture 24p footage shot by an XH-A1 (not sure about 30p or 25p).

My deck will do the following formats as stated on the sony site:
HDV1080i:
60i/50i/24p/30p/25p

DVCAM/DV:
60i/50i

The HDV720p(24/25/30p) tape playback is available for a simple viewing.