I am looking to pick up a cheap (read as cheap) Analog to Digital pass through camcorder. I know the ZR80 has it, but was wondering if other camera of the low-end Mini-dv range have it as well.

Analog Digital Pass Through means that the camera has a input/output for analog video.

Thanks

The Canopus ADVC 110 (http://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC110/index.php) video converter runs around US$200.

I am looking for cheaper still, thank though.

How about the ADS Pyro for $135? Doesn't get a whole lot cheaper than that, and it even has component input/output.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/462758-REG/ADS_Technologies_API_558_EFS_Pyro_A_V_Link_Bidirectional.html

ZR series is a good bet and you can find them for around $200 on ebay, etc.

Or a converter like above.

No real way to get it any cheaper than that at all.

You could look on eBay. I got a very cheap one that I needed for a replacement LCD for a very expensive one!

Even one that's got problems with the optics and/or tape mechanism would work for you.

That's a good point. Look for one that doesn't use a battery or has a broken LCD. Cheap, and no problems for you.

All of the ZR canon series has it? Really? Ok, I am going to look for BestBuy and CC as well as Ebay. Thanks

Double check on that before buying.

I have the ZR600 and I think it does this, though I haven't tested it. It certainly would allow you to record to tape on the way, if not.

Ok, a question about this:

If I record :
1) VHS>record to miniDV tape > and then to computer (at a later date, let's say or from a deck)

2) VHS > miniDV (without taping) > straight to Computer (via Firewire)?

Is there any difference in image quality from one to the other?

In the past, I recorded with the (1) first option before my firewire died on my camcorder, so now I only have the option of recording to miniDV tape and then from a deck via firewire.

There'll be no difference (unless you get drop-outs on the tape due to dirty heads/bad tape etc).

No difference at all, and the weakest link in that by far is VHS, so not to worry.

The signal through the firewire is the same that is recorded to the miniDV tape (digital tape, digital signal).

It is interesting though - when I have done it in the past by going

VHS -> DV -> computer

during this time, the tape doesn't record or get touched. It is a very cool feature. Therefore, the signal is completely digital out to the computer, right?

But you are telling me that is going to be the same quality as if it went

VHS -> DV TAPE -> computer/deck

I always thought if you put something to DV tape, it would be less quality than for example; a live feed from a camera straight to a computer or something like that through firewire...
Interesting - I didn't know there was no difference between recording onto tape and recording straight to the computer...

No, no difference.

Footage on a miniDV camera is compressed to DV format (720x480, 4:1:1, 29.97fps, DV codec) and recorded as bits onto the tape. It's digital tape, not analog, so there is no loss*. Then that same signal is transmitted to the computer.

*The exception here is any blips in the signal from loss of data on the tape. It does, however, repeat bits on the tape so it can recover in most cases. Once in a while, you'll get some artifacting but more often than not on the beginning/end of clips, not in the [important] middle.
This isn't much of an issue, though, especially if you don't let the tapes sit for too long before uploading to the computer.

This isn't much of an issue, though, especially if you don't let the tapes sit for too long before uploading to the computer.

FYI, I have MiniDV recordings from 1998 that play just fine - apart from the first 10 to 20 seconds. Of course, I never record anything critical there anyway (color bars usually) - the same practice employed for many years with analog.

Wow, that is good to know. I will try to record to tape and switch the tape to my deck. I was a bit worried because of the quality loss already with VHS analog signal...thanks for the info, maybe I won't have to buy a digital pass through camera now...

Yep. Should be fine.


John, that's fine. I wasn't saying that older tapes would always have problems, but they could get dust in them or something. Not going to happen if it's an immediate transfer. We've all seen those DV artifacts, though. Sometimes it's just dirty tape heads anyway.

One added benefit of going VHS-DVtape-PC is you now have a timecoded mastertape, something you do not necessarily get going thru a converter.

I received any interesting note from Canon today :

"Thank you for your E-mail inquiry regarding Canon camcorders.

Currently none of the Canon ZR camcorders have the Analog to Digital
Converter feature. If you require a ZR camcorder with this
feature I recommend searching for a ZR700. Although the ZR700 is no longer a
current product you may still be able to find one on the shelve of a
local dealer."

Does this mean Canon is unaware of the feature?

I have the ZR600, so I don't know about newer models. The 600 is fine. And probably, the 700. Just get one from ebay. Not sure what is different about the 800+, etc.