WOT: Camera for Capturing Mini DV

Dan Sherman wrote on 9/13/2013, 7:39 PM
My Sony Handycam, used I think to film the discovery of fire a few years before I was born, is now finally dead.
But I am not.
A round black thing fell out as I was loading a DV tape of original footage from the signing of the Magna Carta.
I have hundreds of Mini DVs and I need to capture video from time to time.
In place of the trusty Mini DV Digital Handycam with this model work?
Found it on Kijiji for 75 bucks.

JVC Digital Video Camera GR-32u

Or are there compatibility issues that anyone knows of.

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 9/13/2013, 7:49 PM
I have found Canon ZR series for around $20 at thrift stores. They seem to run forever unless they've been abused. There was a viewfinder defect so check for that. Check the transport with a tape you don't care about. They also do A->D passthrough for analog devices.
Dan Sherman wrote on 9/13/2013, 8:10 PM
Should have kept my old DVX100!
Worked for pass through too.
Maybe stay away from the JVCs?
musicvid10 wrote on 9/13/2013, 8:37 PM
Probably nothing wrong with jvc.
just that i can put the zr down for a couple of years, hook it up and it works.
Arthur.S wrote on 9/14/2013, 5:10 AM
Well, any MiniDV cam will do the job. One possible problem could be tapes recorded as 'LP'. The quality is the same as 'SP' (unlike the old VHS LP) but it took the tape technology to it's limit. Sometimes, LP tapes were only playable on the cam that they were recorded on.
Dan Sherman wrote on 9/14/2013, 7:11 AM
They aren't LP, so should be good.
Found a camera on Kijiji for 75 bucks.
Should work.
Thanks guys!
Editguy43 wrote on 9/14/2013, 10:35 AM
I bought a canon ZR 850 from a friend for $25 and it was practicly brand new and works great for transfers. Hope that helps.

Paul B
Dan Sherman wrote on 9/14/2013, 12:59 PM
Here's hoping Sony Capture recognizes this JVC-gr-d850u-camcorder!
I love living on the ragged edge!!
Steve Mann wrote on 9/14/2013, 10:30 PM
Use Scenalyzer
http://www.scenalyzer.com/