Hi Ian

I can't give you a definte solution to this one from memory but I had similiar issue a while back. A couple of things to check:

Are you using the original AV cable that came with the DVC30? I once tried using the cable (with all the same connectors) from a digital still camera, no joy.

Also, be very precise about the mode settings. It seems to ring a bell that to record from AV the camera needs to be in VCR mode, no Record mode....(could of got that completely wrong)...

I'm not at my 30 right now, but you need to stay in "VCR" mode. When you have the video from the VHS playing press and hold the 2 REC buttons on the camera (with the LCD display open) and it will start recording. This will not make the video better but it may be somewhat better for archiving.

Question, if you are going through all of this why not just import the VHs video to your editing software and output it as a DVD and then it won;t go bad.

Jeff

Thanks Heaps Guys,

Mission accomplished!

DVC30 Infrared?
 

Well I Just purchased a DVC30 as a back up camera for our dvx100b. I was also looking at getting the infrared adapter to allow farther filming. Any thoughts before I order one?

I will be using the infrared for wildlife filming.

Has anyone used the infrared with this camera? Whats your thoughts?

Capturing from VCR through DVC-30 to computer
 

1st timer here. I'm trying to capture old vhs-c tapes to my computer. I tried the "dazzle" route but it drops frames like crazy. I've recorded to my DVC-30 then catured and that works fine, but the manual (and what I want to do) makes it sound like I can use the camera to turn the signal to digital and cature the footage through the camera without actually recording to tape first. But when I try that as soon as I hit capture it starts capturing the camcorder tape not the VCR tape. What's the trick, or is there one? (I hope this isn't a "if I had a nickle every time I heard that question" question)
BTW I'm using Vegas 4.0 & firewire cable.

Hi Gavin,

This is fairly easy. Just connect the AV cables that came with the 30 to the video output of the VHS player and plug the other end into the AV jack on the side of the 30.

Connect the 30 to your computer via firewire.

Turn on the VHS player and turn on the 30. Once the 30 comes up, put it in player mode.

The camera should see the signal (I'm thinking your VHS player will output a blue screen if it is not playing a tape) and switch the AV cooonection to an 'input' and show you the incoming video from the VHS player on the viewfinder of the 30. It might take a second or 2 for this to happen.

Play the video and verify the sign is passing through the 30. You shoud then be able to fire up Vegas and to a "live" capture, meaning you have to set it to ignore frame drops. I don't have Vegas so I'm not sure how. You do not want Vegas to control the 30 as you normally do when capturing from the miniDV tape.

Look through the manual for the 30, I think it is all in there. I do this quite a bit when I get jobs for transfering VHS or 8mm to DVD.

Jeff

Sorry I can not help you with the IR adapter that is available. I have only used the built in IR. It works nice but not much range. The various SMS modes are nice and it does a good job as far as picture clarity.

Jeff

OK, Vegas must be the issue. I was doing everything the way you said, now I have to figure out how to change the capture control in Vegas. Thanks Jeff. (I've recently started my own videography business and was wondering how much you charged to transfer VHS/8mm tapes to DVD)
-Gavin

If it is one tape I usually change $20. I did a whole series of hi8's amd miniDV for a friend for $60. Try not to charge too much so I get repeat busniess.

I only do this part time, weddings, other events, promotional DVD's church work. Good hobby that brings in some money!

Jeff

Success! In the capture window there's an "options" heading, clicked on that and UNCLICKED control DV device.Then when I click capture it captures the VCR feed not the camcorder tape. The other thing is to change the DV OUT setting to "ON" on the DVC 30. It's under AV IN/OUT SETUP. Thanks for the help, both camera and business, and I hope any and all this info helps someone else too!
-Gavin

I am not sure how much the IR adapter for the dvc30 costs, but if I recall, it was pretty steep. It is just an IR light -- when I bought my dvc30 a couple of years ago, there were a number of other IR lights for a whole lot less than the panasonic version. You might check B&H or ebay for infrared lights and save some money going that route instead.

THanks guys.

Have you heard of anyone using these adaptors? I am just curious if its worth the money.
you are right tim, they are very spendy. Thanks for the tip.

Glad you got it all worked ok. Have fun, the 30 is a great camera. Wish I had extra funds to get a second. Just did a wedding a week ago and had to borrow a hi8mm cam for my second. Now I have to do a bunch of color correcting.

Jeff

Thanks again Jeff! This was my first forum of any kind, and you made it a great experience. I'll be visiting much...(good luck with the wedding video!)

Tripod for DVC-30
 

Looking for a good tripod with a fluid head, for shooting sports, that doesn't break the bank. Any good suggestions?

See http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=40688 and direct any reply there please -- thanks in advance,

High Contrast Video With DVC30
 

I shot a video of kayaking and was not happy with the video. If I shot in auto it looked under exposed you could not see the peoples faces. If I opened it up for the paddlers, the falls was all washed out. I could not find a happy medium. check it out. your thoughts


http://media.putfile.com/Ohiopyle-Trailer-2007

Bob,

Most of the clip looked exposed ok except for the parts going over the falls. Maybe just way to much white for the auto exposure to handle. Once they pass the falls the exposure seems to fall back into place. I have a DVC30 but have never had this problem as I never use the auto exposure feature but use manual zebra bars set at 100% for white water. Another suggestion is to use an ND filter. Since the DVC30 dosen't have a built in filter you can use a screw on type. This will allow you more lattitude with your exposure in bright high contrast situations. You can look at some white water shots over on my website for examples.

I might be wrong but i'm pretty sure that there is a ND filter on the DVC30...you just need to enable the function in the menu (it is not easily accessible as most cameras but still, it is there somewhere).

I agree,...use zebra...you should be fine.

Oops, my bad. There is one but I believe it is automatically engaged and you can't manually turn it off and on. At least I have never found the on/off switch.

Thanks guys

I used a Hoya ND4 on all of the video around the falls. I always have this on to keep the f stop around f8 or less. I normally have my zebra bars on 80 and when shooting in manual exposed for the paddler, I will play with it the next time at 100. Someone also suggested trying a polarizer which i have. I will be testing all the above next week. I am thinking maybe the contrast range is just too great for the camera. I saw some stills from a high end Nikon 200 and they looked about the same with maybe a little more vibrant colors

IR lights & using nightshot
 

i use nightshot a lot +i use a light amplifier now this sounds expencive but in truth i did it on the cheep but its used in the context of the film in question,
night vision with the green hue great for the military look,not good at a wedding.
But..using IR lights.the way you would normal photographic/videographic lighting and swtching the cam to B&W you get a well lit not so grainy image that most clients will be more than happy with.without using visable lighting.
yes the eye problem gives away the fact you used IR but its a small price to pay for shots you would normally loose.
as for wildlife videography its the only way to go, the BBC and Bill Oddie get passable results as do i .
the cams i use are
1 SONY TRV 17E 800k pixel single CCD/NIGHTSHOT
2 PANASONIC VDR D300 3CCD 3.1 M pixel for day
3 SONY HDR UX3E 4 M pixel CMOS /NIGHTSHOT
4 A modified security cam connected to a night owl nightvision with a various sellection of second hand camera lenses from f2 basic wide angle to a 300mm @f5..
as for light and sound well ill post that later all seperated and all home made.

Take a look at this.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...att_Video.html

the problem with that one is that it requires a hot shoe, which DVC30's don't have. in other words, it doesn't have its own power supply and it runs off of the cameras battery.

Stripped tripod mount on base
 

The tripod screw hole is stripped. Has anyone had this problem and found a solution? The DVX camera's have 3rd party bases but I can't find a replacement base/tripod mount for the DVC 30.

Pana DVC-30 for sale?
 

I have been shooting with the DVC30 for a few years now and love it. Don't have the bucks to move up to HD so I was thinking about picking up a second 30 as a B camera. Anyone out there thinking about selliing?

On a side note what is the opinion of the new Panasonic HMC-40 (I think it is?) looks like a nice possible move up to Hd for poor people like me!

Thanks,

Jeff

I have one myself and I love it!

Just saw one on Ebay for US$815 and another at a starting bid of $600.00.

You should put that over here as well:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/private-classifieds/


The HMC40 is definitely the long awaited successor to the DVC30. It’ll be competing with the JVC HM100. At the mommont I have a slight preference toward the HM100 for a few reasons including pure compatibility with both Windows and Mac and the fact that it records to both NTSC and PAL. I’m sure the HMC40 will have it’s own advantages and it’s too early to give a full comparison and my preference could change. You cant go wrong with either of them and I prefer them over the V1u for many, many reasons.

If you can find one, a used JVC GY-DV300U can be an incredible bargain for a SD camera. If you were to get one, you would likely wind up using it as your primary camera and the DVC30 as your B cam.

Thanks for the replies. I have been watching eBay.

The 40 looks nice, but I have heard editing in AVCHD is a pain. I use Avid Liquid and would have to convert it before bringing it into my timeline.

Jeff

DVC30 into macbook pro
 

Here is my current setup. Canon XH-A1 & HV30 into macbook pro, recording into quicktime. With these two cameras quicktime will continue to record even if I press stop and change tapes. When I hook up my DVC30 to the mbp, it stops recording on tape changes. Is there a setting to make it so the computer records regardless of what the camera is doing?

Find anything good Jeff? I saw a GY-DV300U (looked to be in good shape) sell for $602.99 on eBay last weekend.

DVC30 IR Light
 

Anyone know of a nice IR light for the DVC30? The Panasonic model is still discontinued. I purchased the smaller Sony unit (forgot the model) but was not impressed.

Sorry Mark i had one of them ages ago and to be honest DONT waste you money i could do better with an 850nM LED torch from china and a home made battery pack,and that was the smallest light i made to test IR