Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? at DVinfo.net

Matt Thomas · May 9th, 2014, 08:27 AM

Hi

What's the cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? Is it even worth trying?

Thanks
Matt

Noa Put · May 9th, 2014, 08:41 AM

I was looking for a similar solution for a fx1000 that's collecting dust here and that I'd like to give new life and I don't want to use mini-dv tapes, I have looked at the new ninja star from atomos which looks like a cheap solution but not sure if it's compatible, guess you need a hmdi out on the camera which the fx1000 has, not sure about the fx1? Otherwise you could attach a recorder that has firewire connectivity, I think the HVRMRC1K from Sony has that? Not sure if they still sell them.

Adam Gold · May 9th, 2014, 09:56 AM

Both the DR60 (HDD) and the MRC1 (CF) have been discontinued, as it seems the need for them has diminished with the widespread use of cams that record to these formats internally. But you can still find them on eBay.

The Z1 doesn't have HDMI, so you're limited to models like these with FW (i.Link) inputs.

James E. Thomas · May 9th, 2014, 03:35 PM

I use a DR60 on my Z1 and it works great, about 4 hrs of recording. They are discontinued but the demand is still high, can't buy then cheap even on ebay. Same for the MRC1.

Adam Gold · May 9th, 2014, 05:15 PM

At the moment there are three DR60s on eBay, all under $700 (and one currently at about $350 as I write this), which is considerably less than they went for new.

There are 5 MRCs there, with one as low as $500, which is also quite a bit below the original price.

So it's not at all true that they can't be found cheap on eBay.

Here's an interesting thread. Suggest you also check out the appropriate subforum for more info.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-har...-hvr-mrc1.html

Matt Thomas · May 10th, 2014, 08:55 AM

Ah right, probably be cheaper for me to wait and purchase a new camera, I reckon.

Adam Gold · May 10th, 2014, 11:53 AM

Not mathematically. The cost of getting a used MRC or DR60 will be far less than the price difference between what you could get for your Z1 and the price of a new cam.

But whether the extra features and abilities of the new cam are worth it is your call. If you're happy with the Z1, why dump it?

Giroud Francois · May 11th, 2014, 12:02 PM

fx1, z1 was one of the good 3 CCD. No problem with pan, flash, vertical movement.
just for that there is a good reason to keep these cam.

Warren Kawamoto · May 16th, 2014, 09:09 AM

I used the Citidisk by Shining Technologies. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1006306-REG/shining_technology_fw1258xd_cf_32gb_1000x_citidisk_compactflash_digital_video.html
The disk was mounted on a hotshoe, and I rigged a power cable from a Coco similar to this
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/497125-REG/Bebob_Engineering_BE_COCO_II_DVL_COCODVLII_Power_Converter.html
which has D-tap output. Firewire from the camcorder to Citidisk. Shoot the Z1 with tape, and whenever you start and stop, the Citidisk will also start and stop with it.

As a matter of fact, I still have these laying around somewhere if you you're interested! My units were the older generation, Citidisk recorded directly to internal drive instead of CF card. Coco is a single battery holder instead of double battery.

Hubert Hofer · June 15th, 2014, 02:33 AM

I was thinking about how I could possibly prolong the useful life of my still very good condition HDV cameras. I was hoping to be able to use the Atomos or similar to actually record in improved resolution directly from the cams' sensor. Apparently, the native recording of the Z1 & the A1 is actually 1920 x1080i. Is there such a recorder on the market ?
cheers

Tim Kolb · June 15th, 2014, 06:57 AM

You have no SDI out on a Z1...the FW out is feeding the HDV datastream, which is 1440x1080i 1.333 PAR.

Honestly, the Z1 was a great camera for its time, but trying to extend the life of your old gear by adding someone else's old gear to it doesn't seem like a great gamble to me to do paid work.

Hubert Hofer · June 15th, 2014, 02:17 PM

Hi Tim,
yes, that's the sad & expensive reality of it all. I suppose it has to 4K now to future proof for at least 18 months.
I was simply getting my hopes up when Atomos stated "for some of the older HDV cameras".
Ah well, it's that "which camera do I buy" time again.
cheers

May 9th, 2014, 08:27 AM	#1
Matt Thomas Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: UK Posts: 232	Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? Hi What's the cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? Is it even worth trying? Thanks Matt

May 9th, 2014, 08:41 AM	#2
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? I was looking for a similar solution for a fx1000 that's collecting dust here and that I'd like to give new life and I don't want to use mini-dv tapes, I have looked at the new ninja star from atomos which looks like a cheap solution but not sure if it's compatible, guess you need a hmdi out on the camera which the fx1000 has, not sure about the fx1? Otherwise you could attach a recorder that has firewire connectivity, I think the HVRMRC1K from Sony has that? Not sure if they still sell them.

May 9th, 2014, 09:56 AM	#3
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? Both the DR60 (HDD) and the MRC1 (CF) have been discontinued, as it seems the need for them has diminished with the widespread use of cams that record to these formats internally. But you can still find them on eBay. The Z1 doesn't have HDMI, so you're limited to models like these with FW (i.Link) inputs. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

May 9th, 2014, 03:35 PM	#4
James E. Thomas Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Seminole Texas Posts: 45	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? I use a DR60 on my Z1 and it works great, about 4 hrs of recording. They are discontinued but the demand is still high, can't buy then cheap even on ebay. Same for the MRC1.

May 9th, 2014, 05:15 PM	#5
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? At the moment there are three DR60s on eBay, all under $700 (and one currently at about $350 as I write this), which is considerably less than they went for new. There are 5 MRCs there, with one as low as $500, which is also quite a bit below the original price. So it's not at all true that they can't be found cheap on eBay. Here's an interesting thread. Suggest you also check out the appropriate subforum for more info. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-har...-hvr-mrc1.html __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

May 10th, 2014, 08:55 AM	#6
Matt Thomas Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: UK Posts: 232	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? Ah right, probably be cheaper for me to wait and purchase a new camera, I reckon.

May 10th, 2014, 11:53 AM	#7
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? Not mathematically. The cost of getting a used MRC or DR60 will be far less than the price difference between what you could get for your Z1 and the price of a new cam. But whether the extra features and abilities of the new cam are worth it is your call. If you're happy with the Z1, why dump it? __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

May 11th, 2014, 12:02 PM	#8
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? fx1, z1 was one of the good 3 CCD. No problem with pan, flash, vertical movement. just for that there is a good reason to keep these cam.

May 16th, 2014, 09:09 AM	#9
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? I used the Citidisk by Shining Technologies. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1006306-REG/shining_technology_fw1258xd_cf_32gb_1000x_citidisk_compactflash_digital_video.html The disk was mounted on a hotshoe, and I rigged a power cable from a Coco similar to this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/497125-REG/Bebob_Engineering_BE_COCO_II_DVL_COCODVLII_Power_Converter.html which has D-tap output. Firewire from the camcorder to Citidisk. Shoot the Z1 with tape, and whenever you start and stop, the Citidisk will also start and stop with it. As a matter of fact, I still have these laying around somewhere if you you're interested! My units were the older generation, Citidisk recorded directly to internal drive instead of CF card. Coco is a single battery holder instead of double battery.

June 15th, 2014, 02:33 AM	#10
Hubert Hofer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Torres Strait - Australia Posts: 76	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? I was thinking about how I could possibly prolong the useful life of my still very good condition HDV cameras. I was hoping to be able to use the Atomos or similar to actually record in improved resolution directly from the cams' sensor. Apparently, the native recording of the Z1 & the A1 is actually 1920 x1080i. Is there such a recorder on the market ? cheers

June 15th, 2014, 06:57 AM	#11
Tim Kolb Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Neenah, WI Posts: 547	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? You have no SDI out on a Z1...the FW out is feeding the HDV datastream, which is 1440x1080i 1.333 PAR. Honestly, the Z1 was a great camera for its time, but trying to extend the life of your old gear by adding someone else's old gear to it doesn't seem like a great gamble to me to do paid work. __________________ TimK Kolb Productions

June 15th, 2014, 02:17 PM	#12
Hubert Hofer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Torres Strait - Australia Posts: 76	Re: Cheapest way to get Z1 to be tapeless? Hi Tim, yes, that's the sad & expensive reality of it all. I suppose it has to 4K now to future proof for at least 18 months. I was simply getting my hopes up when Atomos stated "for some of the older HDV cameras". Ah well, it's that "which camera do I buy" time again. cheers