Using a Panasonic PV-DV53 as a deck for my DVX100?!
 

I was thinking about picking up a Panasonic PV-DV53 miniDV camcorder to use as a deck to log and capture my DVX100 footage to save wear and tear. The cam only goes for $359.95 w/ free shipping on B&H so I figured it'd be a viable alternative to buying a pricey DV deck!

Does anyone know if there will be any problems logging and playing back footage filmed in another camera?

Also...don't the accessories for the PV-DV53 work with the DVX100- meaning the battery and charger. I figured it'd be a good way to pick up a second charger and battery as well.

I guess no one is doing it. Let us know how it works for you and if indeed the accessories interchange with the DVX100.
WW

Will do.

Yeah I'm suprised no one replied. I would have sworn I wasn't the only one doing this. DV decks are just too pricey for what they do. I figure I can save $1,700 or so and settle with a less sophisticated alternative...yet just as effective. Honesty I couldn't believe the price I didn't know DV went that cheap I thought sub $500 range was for Hi-8 and VHS-C.

I know what you mean... I got a Samsung SCD-80 MiniDV camcorder for only $339 at B&H, which I'm going to use as a deck for my DVX100. I'll let you know how that works out...

Hey hey, you people with JOBS and lots of MONEY! Heh, I just have a Panasonic DV52 (just as my camera =/, because i'm a broke 14 year old). Not only would it make a good deck (I rewind and replay the crap out of this one, and i've wrote over tapes atleast 8 times, with no dropouts) but if you need a smaller camera, a 2nd "action" camera, or a traveling camera, it would make a good one of them also...I got a comment today about a video I showed at school, the kid was like "that looks just like a real movie"...I was like.."uhh, yeeeeaaahhh"....probably from the oversaturated colors and the framerate drop, and all the other fancy "effects" I did in vegas. :D You may actually be surprised at the video quality, especially for the price you can get it for. The only thing that is bad about the video, like with most lower end (lower resolution, mainly) cameras, is the way they handle things like telephone wires and any other type of object like that...it just looks really ugly. Other then that it's pretty good, the audio is surprisingly good as well, none of that annoying hiss crap found on other cheap DV cameras.

Jaime, I probably would of went for a Panasonic personally, especially just for use as a deck...hopefully it works good for you though...

Oh yeah, Glen, about the battery, the included one is crap. It lasts on the camera no more then 45 minutes with the LCD, probably less on the DVX100...I picked up a Power2000 D-16 (or something like that) battery at B&H for only $45, when I bought my camera. It works well, I get about 4 hours out of it.

Alex, do you know if the charger is universal. I could use an extra one.

What do you mean? Are you asking can you use it to charge other batteries of the same type also? If so, then yeah, I use it to charge the Power2000 battery I got from B&H.

Been using the PV-DV53 Panasonic digital camcorder as my deck for the DVX since about Thanksgiving. It has been working GREAT.

The only thing I would like to say is that I wish the DV53 had S-Video Out so I can work with crisp color when doing color correction in my video editor.

Yes, the Dv53's charge is compatible with the DVX batteries. YOu can even plug it into the DVX and use it as a power source.

Cheapo Deck
 

All:

I've been using a throw-away mini-dv deck for quite a while now...

I personally use the Canon ZR60 cameras (around $300 on ebay)... though the batteries are not DVX friendly - my two little hummers do a great job (but I'd imagine any mini-dv would do).

And, the ZR60 has s-video in/out (nice).

(I also these throw-aways to record off my old 700 line pro/eng camera via svideo - sweet images, convenient edit).

- Rob

That's exactly what I do. I use a DV53 as a deck.
At a street price of ~$300, they are disposable.

I use a DV852 that I used to shoot with before I got my 100a. At the time about 1.5 yrs ago, the 852 was $1000 but now alas it is discontinued and runs for about $500 on BH. It's treated me well as a reliable deck so far.

I picked up a DV53 and not a single one of my computers (PC Win 98SE/XP and 2.5 G5) will detect it. Not what I expected from a brand new camera. Panasonic pretty much said they don't make it anymore so they can't help me.

I've been using a sony TRV65 as my deck. I picked it up for home use, and shoot regularly with Canon GL2's and 1's and play back with no problems with the Sony.

What about 24p stuff shot on the DVX-100? Wouldn't you have to play back with the camcorder as well for the built-in pull-down? What about other frame rates?

Jeff Patnaude

Hey everyone, Canon has a new minidv camcorder that is selling in the low 300 range. I wonder if that's any better than Panny's cheapest camcorder.

I use my Sony TRV30 as a deck and it works great.