SD cam as tape deck for HD footage?
 

Would there be any issue with footage caught on an XHA1 being played back/transferred to PC via a cheap SD camera? Will the HD quality be maintained through the transfer?

As far as I am aware, HDV is a totally different format and will not play back on any SD only device. That is why many people choose the HV20 as their capture camera, as it is also a HDV camera, but a lot cheaper.

That is correct you can't transfer HD from an SD Cam.

You can use the SD camcorder to fast forward and rewind HD tapes, but that's all.

The HV20 was discontinued a few years ago. These days it's the HV40. B&H is practically giving them away for $650:

Canon | VIXIA HV40 High Definition Camcorder | 3686B001 | B&H

Price is good through April 30th. Normally it's $950.

The main reason I asked was I had a handful of Maxell tapes I was trying to use up. I was shooting an event, and ran out of them halfway through, threw in a sony head cleaner and switched to Sony tapes. However, now I need to transfer the footage to my pc, and I'm worried putting the Maxells back in my nice camera is going to cause problems. I don't want to have to keep running the head cleaner as it is supposedly abrasive. Is it really a big deal to put 'em in for the transfer? Will I need to run the cleaner again?

Hi

This tape switch discussion has been going on forever. I was very carefull in the beginning with my XH-A1 and only used Panasonic tapes, some kind of pro model, don't remeber. I experienced about one or two dropouts per tape in average. After about 25 such tapes I gave up and switched brands. I now use Sony, TDK, Fuji, Maxell and also cheap Panasonic tapes. I use both HDV and ordinary DV types. Result? About one dropout per three tapes. I sometimes run a cleaning tape to be on the safe side.

My experience: Cheap tapes work just as good or even better as expensive ones. Non of the tape brands or types messes up the camcorder.

This is my experience and my opinion.


Regards,

/Bo

I'm with Bo on this one. And I'd also add that you shouldn't fear tape head cleaning tapes. You'll have outgrown your camcorder years before you wear out the heads, whatever you do to them (nearly).

tom.

Funny that. I find the complete opposite.

I have Panasonic and Sony tapes and find that if I switch from one to the other without a head clean I will get chronic dropouts or the 'Clean Heads' warning will come on.