Decks compatible with Sony HVR-V1U?

newmediarules wrote on 4/5/2007, 7:03 PM

Anybody got any ideas? My client will be handing me raw HDV footage on mini-DVs shot with the Sony HVR-V1U. Is there a "cheap" deck or cam that plays these kinds of of tapes?

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 4/5/2007, 7:25 PM

All of them.
The 24p stream is enclosed in the 60i stream, so virtually any HDV deck can play them back. That's the benefit. It depends however, how they shoot. Vegas will read the stream whether they shot 24p or 24pA (no, the pA mode isn't the same as the Panasonic DVX100 PA format).
I'd recommend the M10, M15, or M25U from Sony. We have the M10's and an M25. Both are great.
None of the Sony HDV tapes can be used in the JVC BR50 deck; it's 720p only. Canon doesn't make a deck, so that effectively locks you into using the Sony-branded players.

John_Cline wrote on 4/5/2007, 7:27 PM

There are no "cheap" HDV decks, but any of the low-end Sony HDV camcorders should work just fine. The HC5 can be had for under $1,000 or perhaps you can find a clean, used HDV camcorder on eBay. (Although, eBay is inherently riskier.)

John

newmediarules wrote on 4/5/2007, 8:15 PM

So the HDR-HC5 will definitely play back HDV tapes recorded with a Sony HVR-V1U?

Spot|DSE wrote on 4/5/2007, 9:17 PM

yes, it will

newmediarules wrote on 4/5/2007, 9:35 PM

But I think I'm phrasing the question wrong. I just read that the HDR-HC5 did NOT record in progressive scan. So I'm assuming that it couldn't play back an HDV tape recorded in, say, 24p, even if the footage was recorded on an HVR-V1U.

Is that correct?

Spot|DSE wrote on 4/5/2007, 9:57 PM

The V1U is the only one of the Sony HDV cams that shoot progressive. But the stream is packaged in a 60i stream with flags that tell Vegas to remove the pulldown.
No, the HC3/5/7 are not progressive, but they can be used as a deck for the V1U-acquired footage.

Oops, I forgot, HDV isn't an "aquisition format." :-)
Either way, no matter what the format, it's OK to play back the 24p in any Sony HDV camcorder or deck. Vegas will do fine with it.

farss wrote on 4/6/2007, 2:12 AM

I think the M10 is now discontinued which is a bit of a pity as it was the only HDV VCR that'd run off a battery and had a LCD.

My advice is to go for the M15 (upgraded my DSR-11 to one) or if you are cashed up the M25.
The transports in both those decks are way better than anything in the cameras and they handle R50 and R60 formats as well as DV and DVCAM and the D5 shell tapes. They're even better than the transport in the DSR-11!
I don't know how significant it is but only the M25 will clone a HDV tape.

Bob.