Using the camera as a deck will put more hours on its heads. If you are running over a hundred hours on it then maybe you want to consider a deck. However, a replacement for your camera will probably still be cheaper than a real deck!! In professional environments their cameras are expensive and gets hundreds of hours on them so a deck is a good idea.

I don't know of any problem using it as a A/D converter.

How would a new Canon XL1s be cheaper than a deck? Or did you mean the heads? Aren't the heads like $900?

Yes, I too have an xl1s... I think compared to the $4000 on it and all its accessories i've purchased, $1250 isn't too bad. But I think I'm just going to get a cheap $300 camera and use it.

Tell me which one you're gonna get. . .I might do the same. I was looking at Panasonic Dv53s on Ebay. Some good prices. . .if you're willing to accept whatever's wrong with them. I want something that will read and acknowledge anything weird I do in camera with the framerate (30p. . .if I ever get another cam, 24p, etc.).

Many people here have consumer cameras that cost a lot less. For them, their camera is cheaper than the cheapest deck you can buy.

Sorry. . .my camera conceit got the better of me.

DSR-11
 

jeez guys, where are you going with this?

Sony DSR-11 is probably the most recommended deck in the DV world. If only it had timecode display!

Lol, thanks for throwing out an actual answer.

Any particular models? All the stuff I've seen is still around $400.

I just saw a JVC on Home Shopping Network for about $360...it's not on their site at that price, so (unfortunately) you have to sit in front of the tube and watch HSN all day...

I've been heavily using a Sony Walkman mini-dv deck for about 5 years without any problems, and it' still plugging along. It's invaluable for presentations, and making final tapes. I recommend it highly. Mike

Got a model number on that? Sounds interesting.

I'm not at my video editing station- but I think it's the GV300, without the LED screen- cost about $1000 from B&H Photo, New York. If I had to buy again, I'd go ahead and get the unit with the screen- it would be real handy as a small monitor to view work on the road while on assignment, or just to share video with others without a major hookup. Mike Rupp

MiniDV Deck for Broadcast?
 

Hello All!
I was wondering if anyone has had experience using MiniDV (Consumer) in broadcast. Specifically, my school is looking to buy a few decks to use in our (old) production van.

We still use analog video (composite) for the video throughout the van.


These will be replacing 2 Betacam SP units (a UVW-1800 and a PVW-2800), which have been (ab)used by the students. They need genlock capability. We'd like at least one of the units to have a jog-wheel (like the PVW-2800). Audio inputs would be unbalanced XLR, but we might be able to hack something to work with a different connector.

I'm eyeing the JVC BR-DV6000U and the BR-DV600UA, but they are a bit pricey. We've budgeted around $1500, but if someone can justify a higher price, we'll be able to get the funds.


So, this is what we need:
Jog-Shuttle (1 unit)
BlackBurst/Genlock Capability
XLR Audio (could be adapted/modified)
Composite Video
Low Price :)

Any Suggestions?



Hope I posted in the right forum!

The only I know is that if you have a good enough DV camera the
footage is definitely broadcast quality, no doubt about that!