HC1/A1 as "Dubbing/Transfer" deck?
 

Has anyone tried to playback HVR-Z1 HDV tapes through the HC1/A1? If it works, the HC1 might make a very convenient and affordable "dubbing/transfer" deck. Will it work?

Thanks,

Jim

As long as they're the same format (ntsc tape for NTSC hc1) they play just fine. I've played Z1 tapes in both the HC1 and the A1u.
Keep in mind too, the z1 can do DVCAM, which the HC1 can't read.

Thanks for the quick response. That is precisely the info I was looking for. I should have made it clearer, though, that I was only looking to use the HC1 as an HDV transfer unit. I can use one of my other DV cameras for transfering DV, and I haven't shot any DVCAM yet. (That format would be edited somewhere else, anyway.)

Guess I'll get one of the HC1's just to spare the heads on my Z1!

Cheers!

Jim

Wow, is that true? It would be a big departure for Sony. Even their inexpensive one chip cameras can read DVCAM tapes, although they cannot record in that format....

You know, Boyd, I didn't test that, so I shouldn't have stated it as fact. I don't know if it can or can't. It may well be able to read the DVCAM tape format, and I don't have an HC1 here to test. The A1U reads it just fine...but... not sure about the DVCAM now that you mention it.

How about something like this from JVC, which is their portable HDV deck.
JVC CU-VH1US-P

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation
Now I don't believe that it can play DVCAM, but it can still play Mini DV if recorded in that mode.

I thought that this might save wear and tear on the payback heads.

I'm pretty sure that JVC deck can't grok Sony's 1080i HDV....

Correct -- none of the JVC decks can play back Sony 1080i HDV. Also, that particular deck can't play back ProHD's 24P format either.