[WOZZIE]

Im upgrading my old HI8 to MINI DV as I feel this is still the better pitcure quality and ease of editing .

Which is the best model MINI DV to buy as of today that has DIGITAL PASS THROUGH as I want to convert all my old analogue tapes .

Whatever the price , just need the advice . I figure I saved tons for not upgrading this old faithful one of mine over the past 10years.

thanks

[redsox_mark]

You can get camcorders with AV-in (digital pass-thru) at various price points – so budget does come into it. In terms of the conversion function itself I would not expect much difference in quality across the models. But the camcorders themselves will vary in the quality of video they shoot.

The cheapest one I know with this feature is the Canon MV960 (around £250). It is a decent camcorder for the money, though some people report issues with motor noise effecting the audio.

If you look at the Sony lineup, you have to go up the range to the Sony HC96 (around £450) to get AV-in… but this will get you a camcorder with a larger 1/3” CCD and better lens than the Canon.

Panasonic has some nice 3 CCD camcorders (GS300, GS500)… neither has AV-in though.

Or… if money is no object.. get a HDV camcorder (Sony HC3) for around £750.. it doesn’t have AV-in, but then also get one of these http://www.dv247.com/invt/23453 to do the AV-DV conversion. or if money is really no object one of these http://www.dv247.com/invt/23454/

[WOZZIE]

REDSOX MARK

THANKS FOR THE REPLY

I WAS UNDER IMPRESSION SONYs HC-94 DID NOT HAVE AV - IN
I HAVE READ REVEIWS WHICH STATE IT DOENT HAVE DIGITAL PASS THROUGH.

I WOULD PREFER SONY AS MY OLD ONE HAS NEVER HAD ONE PROBLEM

[redsox_mark]

You are correct that the HC94 does not, but the HC96 (which I suggested) does.

I have a Sony DCR PC 55E and according to the specs it has video-in, there is a mini firewire connection on the cradle. I have tried connecting my old Sony Vidoe 8 and playing a tape, and then connecting the cradle (with the PC55E in it, of course) to the TV, but I get no picture either on the TV or on the screen of the PC55E. How should this work? What should I be doing differently?

Steve

[redsox_mark]

You need to connect the video output of the analogue camcorder to the video input on the PC55 - and there is also a setting on the camcorder (AV-DV out) you need to set if you want to do a pass-thru conversion.

I bought a Canon MV250i & transferred all my old Sony tapes no problem