HVX200A Playback at DVinfo.net

Jason Chang · January 29th, 2010, 12:27 AM

Forgive me for asking this newbie question: What is a good consumer camcorder I can buy to use as playback deck for my HVX200A? Most of the Panasonic camcorders record to SD cards now. Since I shoot weddings mostly, P2 cards are way too expensive. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Daniel Epstein · January 29th, 2010, 08:24 AM

If you are shooting on tape then you are shooting DV not HD so you should be able to use a variety of camcorders although I recommend staying in the Panasonic family if it is a camcorder. Not sure why but the camcorders don't always playback other manufacturers DV correctly. Of course you could just use the HVX-200A if you don't have another option.

TingSern Wong · January 29th, 2010, 09:36 AM

I used my Canon XL2 to playback Sony's consumer grade DV cameras without any problem. I also used my Sony professional tape deck (DSR-25) to playback DV tapes taken on Canon XL1, Canon XL2 and Panny's HVX202 (PAL version of HVX200) - all without any problems. Why not take your DV tapes (recorded on HVX200A) to a store, and try it out on a consumer grade videocam of your fancy and see if it plays back normally. Of course, the best bet will be a Panny's own consumer grade DV cam.

Question for original poster - why you buy a HVX200A if your aim was just to use the tape recorder? Even if it were weddings, I still shoot in HD - and then downgrade to SD during post - the colours are a lot better quality. AND if you use a 64GB P2 card, at DVCPRO HD (720p), you can easily cover the entire wedding without changing tapes, and consume less battery power as well. The E-P2 cards are much cheaper than previous A series P2 cards.

Daniel Epstein · January 29th, 2010, 11:01 AM

Ting Sern,
A deck is a good recommendation if Jason has the money but somehow I doubt he wants to go for that much money. The reason I told him to stick with Panasonic for DV is I have found incompatibility between Canon and Panasonic DV camcorders while Sony decks were able to play both. My DVX-100a could not play back DV tapes made by my Canon XLH1 in DV and vice versa. Mostly audio issues. My DSR-45 could play them both. The newer Sony HDV decks can playback most tapes no matter the format but the earlier ones didn't playback Canon 24F 30F style tapes.
Of course a 64gigE card would cost more than some small DV camcorders but would be a relatively easy transfer shooting in either HD or SD (at DV quality about 4 hours of Recording)

Jason Chang · January 29th, 2010, 10:14 PM

Thanks for the advice. It looks like Panasonic has figured out a way to squeeze more out of its customers. Now all I have to do is to find a good online store for P2 cards.

TingSern Wong · January 30th, 2010, 05:17 AM

Since you already have a HVX200, you might as well explore the possibility of P2 cards. Assuming you have a compatible Video Editor that can understand P2 MXF format, you find that once you use P2 cards, you save a vast amount of time doing post - using tapes, you still have to acquire that tape into your computer. If you have 5 hours of tapes, you have to spend 5 hours doing the acquisition. With P2 cards, you can forget about that nonsense. It can easily pay you back in terms of time saved in 3 months (like in my case).

January 29th, 2010, 12:27 AM	#1
Jason Chang Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Diego, CA USA Posts: 163	HVX200A Playback Forgive me for asking this newbie question: What is a good consumer camcorder I can buy to use as playback deck for my HVX200A? Most of the Panasonic camcorders record to SD cards now. Since I shoot weddings mostly, P2 cards are way too expensive. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

January 29th, 2010, 11:01 AM	#4
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Ting Sern, A deck is a good recommendation if Jason has the money but somehow I doubt he wants to go for that much money. The reason I told him to stick with Panasonic for DV is I have found incompatibility between Canon and Panasonic DV camcorders while Sony decks were able to play both. My DVX-100a could not play back DV tapes made by my Canon XLH1 in DV and vice versa. Mostly audio issues. My DSR-45 could play them both. The newer Sony HDV decks can playback most tapes no matter the format but the earlier ones didn't playback Canon 24F 30F style tapes. Of course a 64gigE card would cost more than some small DV camcorders but would be a relatively easy transfer shooting in either HD or SD (at DV quality about 4 hours of Recording) Last edited by Daniel Epstein; January 30th, 2010 at 09:33 AM.

January 29th, 2010, 10:14 PM	#5
Jason Chang Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Diego, CA USA Posts: 163	E-P2 Card Thanks for the advice. It looks like Panasonic has figured out a way to squeeze more out of its customers. Now all I have to do is to find a good online store for P2 cards.

January 29th, 2010, 08:24 AM	#2
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	If you are shooting on tape then you are shooting DV not HD so you should be able to use a variety of camcorders although I recommend staying in the Panasonic family if it is a camcorder. Not sure why but the camcorders don't always playback other manufacturers DV correctly. Of course you could just use the HVX-200A if you don't have another option.

January 29th, 2010, 09:36 AM	#3
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	I used my Canon XL2 to playback Sony's consumer grade DV cameras without any problem. I also used my Sony professional tape deck (DSR-25) to playback DV tapes taken on Canon XL1, Canon XL2 and Panny's HVX202 (PAL version of HVX200) - all without any problems. Why not take your DV tapes (recorded on HVX200A) to a store, and try it out on a consumer grade videocam of your fancy and see if it plays back normally. Of course, the best bet will be a Panny's own consumer grade DV cam. Question for original poster - why you buy a HVX200A if your aim was just to use the tape recorder? Even if it were weddings, I still shoot in HD - and then downgrade to SD during post - the colours are a lot better quality. AND if you use a 64GB P2 card, at DVCPRO HD (720p), you can easily cover the entire wedding without changing tapes, and consume less battery power as well. The E-P2 cards are much cheaper than previous A series P2 cards.

January 30th, 2010, 05:17 AM	#6
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	Since you already have a HVX200, you might as well explore the possibility of P2 cards. Assuming you have a compatible Video Editor that can understand P2 MXF format, you find that once you use P2 cards, you save a vast amount of time doing post - using tapes, you still have to acquire that tape into your computer. If you have 5 hours of tapes, you have to spend 5 hours doing the acquisition. With P2 cards, you can forget about that nonsense. It can easily pay you back in terms of time saved in 3 months (like in my case).