Does anyone successfully downconvert using i.LiNK with this camera.

ok I have HDV1080i video shot with my Z1 on a miniDV tape in the camera ready to play.

1] I set the camera to VCR.

2] in the IN/OUT REC menu VCR HDV/DV is set to AUTO

3] i.LINK Conv is set to "ON"

The blue light for i.LINK output is illuminating HDV??? NOT DV as would be expected if the camera is set to DOWNCONVERT.

Does this i.LINK CONV setting do ANYTHING? What am I missing?

Craig,

according to the user manual page 77 your step 2 is wrong - it should be set to HDV and not auto.

You must have a different manual. My page 77 is of a different topic entirely.

ON page 70 of my manual... under the heading "Note"

It reads "at [HDV], an HDV signal is converted to an audio-locked signal; a DV signal is not output."

AND

"at [AUTO], an HDV signal is converted to an audio-locked DV signal; a DV signal is output as it is."

I don't have a paper manual as I am still a few days/weeks away from my FX1, I was looking at the online manual: http://www.docs.sony.com/release/HDRFX1.pdf#search=%22sony%20fx1%20owners%20guide%22

pg 77 in the online manual is refering to importing pictures and this page has nothing to do with Downcoverting video.

I'm sorry Craig, I think page 77 DOES refer to downloading video to your computer since it's under the title "connecting to a computer". Sony is using a strange terminology (for example, at the beginning of the manual they say "recording movies" instead of "recording video"), but the first paragraph on page 77 makes it clear that it reffers to capturing video and not still photos.

But you are right - it should work with your settings. According to page 70 (dubbing to another camcorder) it should work with VCR HDV/DV set to auto and the iLink convert ON. And again, the term "picture" is clearly used for video!

I was just trying to help. Anyway, I hope you will eventually sort it out... It won't hurt if you try to set it to HD instead of Auto...

Edit: OOPS, I just noticed, you are talking about a Z1 and not an FX1 - although the process should be the same...