I am using my Z-1 to do a live stream on UStream. But in order to do that, I need to downconvert to DV in order for UStream to recognize the firewire stream. My question is, if I select the downconvert, two things:
1: What goes to tape? HDV or DV?
2: What comes ot of component? Still uncompressed?

Jeff

Downconvert only effects what is sent out the firewire. HDV is written to the tape even when downconvert is selected. You can confirm this by the format indicator on the outside of the camera.

There is an A/V menu setting that controls what comes out the component. The component isn't ever uncompressed its analog.

There are actually several ways you can set this up. You can set MENU > IN/OUT > REC FORMAT to DV and that will record standard def to tape and output DV over firewire. If you want to record HDV you would just set MENU > IN/OUT > i.LINK CONV > ON.

It gets even more confusing though because there's also MENU > IN/OUT > DOWNCONVERT which only affects playback from tape which was recorded as HDV. There is also the VCR HDV/DV setting menu. I still get confused by all this myself!