Here is the products I'm researching for my camera upgrade.

Sony HVR-Z1U

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=357486&is=REG

JVC BR-HD50U

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=389736&is=REG

I'm pretty well read on the Z1U, but I've never had a VCR on steroids before, so I'm not sure if this is the best match for the Z1 or not. I did like some of the featrues of the JVC such as the continuous tape recording function. I would be open to opinions. I've pretty much made the decision to go with the Z1 for it's wide array of features. I'm just reasearching a deck now, since my ghetto way of using a mini cam for a vcr will not work.

Thanks for any input.

I'm not sure if this is the best match for the Z1 or not.HDV tape compatibility is somewhat of an issue. Everyone’s cameras and decks record a slightly different format to tape and some will playback on others while some will not. I don’t know about that particular JVC deck but the specs say it only records 720p and the Z1 only records 1080i so it doesn’t sound like they are the best match even if by some chance the JVC will tolerate playback of the Z1 tapes.

You asked what is the best deck for the Z1 and that, of course, would be the Sony HVR-M10 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=357487&is=REG) which was made for it. With the current $400 rebate, it is cheaper than the JVC deck and if you are buying both from B&H they have great package deal (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=368544&is=REG) that makes it even cheaper. That would be my choice.

~jr

You asked what is the best deck for the Z1 and that, of course, would be the Sony HVR-M10 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=357487&is=REG) which was made for it. With the current $400 rebate, it is cheaper than the JVC deck and if you are buying both from B&H they have great package deal (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=368544&is=REG) that makes it even cheaper. That would be my choice.

~jr

Good point, forgive my missing the obvious.

The JVC deck is completely incompatible with the Sony camera, so yo definitely don't want to try pairing those two together.