The OP is exactly right - this can be a good working SD camera - no need of HD at all.

The trick is getting the accurate timecode to a be acceptable in a court of law. Several different avenues one can take.

1) Lowest cost most ecocomical - is use a good working SD camera that shoots DV video and use VegasPro to extract timecode from the media. This is a marriage of tech made to be used. When you do this - you can produce the streams to DVD Architect Pro for a frame accurate time display burn across the video - where-ever you want it.

2) Another use of SD DV video is to use an app like VDTS timestamp - then no need of VegasPro - but app produces its own video stream burn which you then take to a DVD author system.

3) Some modern cameras in HD will output timecode - but the more sophisticated - the higher the price. The options vary overall the place. Some thru certain outputs may output the display directly from the camera, this can then be cabled to a DVD recorder for direct record. But you will have to really research the combo pieces that you want to do this. I would use option 1.

it is been awhile since I spoke to someone who does this kind of work, but, if memory serves me, the requirement is that picture, audio, and on-screen Date/Time must be fed from a composite/audio (Firewire?) out to a DVD recorder. This creates a simultaneous and identical record in the camera and in the form of a DVD. The DVD is made immediately available to the attorney of the person being deposed. The deposing attorney then gets a record of the deposition either in the form of the tape from the camera, another DVD burned from that tape, or both. Before DVD burners I believe that tape was rolled in the camera plus a VHS recorder or on two separate VHS recorders. As I said, it was a long time ago that I had this conversation, but that is the way I remember the process.

Responding to SecondWindSK comments - there is one salient point to be made - the rest of the thought is pretty much ancient history. And yes my first depostion business was doing timecode in VHS years ago.

Aha, the salient point I was going to make - whatever system you choose has to be contained and producing on-site of the deposition. For example from my post above all things work out when you bring a laptop equipped with available software such as VegasPro or VDTS on a power laptop. Then the product you produce is nearly immediate on site - for example using VDTS app for burn-in - from DV source to capture - the stream can be burned immediately to a video file on an installed DV burner. Whatever combo you use - has to be powerful, quick, and troublefree to guarantee that you don't look foolish.

Time code is not what the op needs. I use a Sony Z5. I would think you could find a used one at a reasonable cost. My Z5 has time date out. I record to tape and a Firestore. You could also use the attachable cf recorder that sony makes. I have not found burning real time dvd to be secure enough. This is not an area you want to make mistakes in.

And you'll have a great camera for other projects.

My son (Matt) has been using a Sony DSR-200A since he began his business three years ago. This camera does exactly what's needed: it prints date/time to tape and reliably passes date/time through to a DVD burner that records simultaneously what the camera is recording. It also shows date/time on an external monitor as taping is in progress, a necessity for establishing times when the deponent and attorneys are on or off the record.

At this time he is on his third camera. The technology is old, the tapes expensive, the cameras unreliable and expensive to repair. Recently he has twice had to resort to his back up camera when the primary quit in the middle of a deposition.

His storeroom contains dozens of tapes which he must store for one to six months. He also shoots other work -- construction, day in the life, etc., using a borrowed camera when necessary.

His goal is to enter the digital (tapeless) world, shooting to memory card and storing the shoots on a hard drive for as long as necessary, with a camera he can use both for his legal work and for other jobs as well.

Since I originally posted here, Sony has recommended the PXW X70, which appears to fulfill all his requirements. Any caveats here?

I appreciate everyone's responses.

Jack

X70 should be fine if it does burnt in time-code not just HDMI out timecode, I'd be surprised if it didn't, but make sure. If the Canon XA20 does BITC that would work and be in the sub-$2000 price range. I have a Canon XF100 for depositions, a bit pricier than the XA20, does do BITC. Haven't had any problems at all with the camera, the DVD recorder is another story. An additional advantage of these cameras is you can have dual slot recording, not just for backup but if two parties are present you immediately can provide the card record to each party, looks professional and you don't have to worry about storage, it's their problem.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=wishListDetail_NEW.jsp&A=wishlistDetail&Q=&li=677D5D9219

Try the link above for a wish list of time/date cams at B&H.