HV30 sony tape playback and vs. Sony HC9
 

I'm making the tough choice right now between purchasing an Sony HC9 or a HV30. I'll be shooting a lot indoors so I'm definitely leaning towards the HV30 since it sounds like it's significantly better in low light.

That being said, I have a Sony FX1, so it would be a huge benefit for me to be able to use a little camera as a tapedeck rather than hooking up my giant FX1 to my computer all the time to upload video.

So my questions is:

Would the hv30 be able to playback and upload my video shot on my Sony FX1?

Also,

Is it a fact that HV30 is significantly better in low light than the Sony HC9?

I'm personally not concerned about the 24 p mode since I'll be shooting at video rather than film speeds.

Thanks for answers from a video guru around here.

Michael

You won't have any issues as long as you use the same brand of tape to record and playback with.
I use 2 FX1's for event work and capture with a Canon HV20 with no issues. I have always used standard Sony Excellence mini DV tape. The HV20 will give you the same results as the HV20.

And besides being a good alternative for tape capture, it also makes a great personal camera.

I don't have problems capturing Z1 shots from HV30 no matter what brand tape I used. Panasonic, Maxell, TDK. And those are plain miniDV recorded as HDV not anything expensive.

Michael,

Will the HV30 downconvert HDV footage from a Z1/FX1 (just like those cams will)...?

Thanks,

Lee

I don't use the HV30, but rather HV20, but they are virtually identical.
The answer is yes, you can capture and downconvert footage form the FX1/Z1, as long as you don't shoot in the Sony CineFrame mode.

Playback shoudl be compatible - I swapped tapes between Z1, FX7, HC7, HC1 and an HV20 when testing them side by side briefly... no problems I could see.

Low light... hmm, the HC9 improved on the HC7, which was pretty close to the HV20 in "real world" situations, neither is spectacular, but with a small add on light, either is usable in most situations. The image from the HC9 is more likely going to be a closer match to your FX1 - the Canon had a different look about it, not necessarily better or worse, just different (although I wasn't that happy with vibrant reds with the Canon without a bit of fiddling).

HTH

Downconverting w/ the HV30
 

"I don't use the HV30, but rather HV20, but they are virtually identical.
The answer is yes, you can capture and downconvert footage form the FX1/Z1, as long as you don't shoot in the Sony CineFrame mode."

Is it safe to assume then that the HV30 also effectively downconverts (in-camera) HDV/24f shot on an A1 for SD capture?

I did have one dropout I did not experience on my HC7 on the HV30. The two's heads are aligned differently, so I also had trouble seeking (REW/FF) through HC7 footage on the HV30 most likely due to the head alignment.

Kinda of old post, but i'm in the same situation and i am looking between HV30, HV40 and the HC9

Primarily i want it as a HDV deck to transport the tapes to the PC. It will serve as a back up or as a second camera (when something light is needed)

The camera i use now is the Sony Z5

So, is anything changed in favor of th HC9 or should i stick to everyones favorite HV30 / 40?

Me I was faithful to sony since a 2100 i had, that only went 13 months before the color going and that and all the sony cams [4] since have given poor servise, i have a HV30 and like it a lot i also have a fx7 which is a second replacement but it is far more prone to dropouts and it is still fairly low mileage.

Thanks Martyn!

I cannot make my mind.... :(

With the HC9 i will have a more "family" look when par with the Z5

Canon seems to be everyones favorite on the other hand...

On the price they have a 100euro difference here (GR) witch is next to nothing actually.

While the Canon is a poular favorite, you can't fault the build quality of the HC9, the audio being at least usable without augmentation, although the HV30's can be had pretty cheap in the US and the HC's are hard to find.

The HC9 isn't a bad camera by any means, especially if you need a small cam for a deck for other Sony cameras. One other consideration is if you need a LANC/cabled remote, only Sony has it.

Plus its picture quality is better than my previous sonys 2100, hc1 ,fx 7[ still have one ]and sr12.
and none gave more than two years [sr sold]and the fx is dying now.

This was some useful input guys, thanks a lot. I think i will actually go for the Sony.

My previous small cam was also a Sony, the PC-120E. Excellent cam, it just failed (dropouts) after a good run over the years...