cameramonkey 0 #1 January 27, 2003 Ok, here's the deal. I need a firewire to composite video converter. My sony PC5 does it great. HOWEVER, I dont usually have the time to leave it in place in order to do what I want to do. I need a dedicated solution. So I am looking to buy (cheaply) a digital video camera, that still powers up and works, but the tape mechanism is dead, the battery mount broke off due to riser strike, etc. As long as it will power up and stay up under ac power, I'll be satisfied. Since I am not using tapes, it can be either digital 8 or mini DV. Looking to buy for no more than a couple hundred bucks. Anyone know of one out there? I figured somebody either has one, or knows someone who has one sitting on a shelf somewhere that doesnt want to pay to get it fixed, but doesnt think they can sell it broken. Thanks!Two wrongs don't make a right, however three lefts DO! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newshooter12 0 #2 January 27, 2003 Have you thought of a DA converter? There are all types out there and then you could use it for input, or output, of just about any video format. DA-Max makes a good one. Just my $.02 You could even get a Dazzle, or equivilent, breakout box for probably less then a couple hundred and do the same thing. matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cameramonkey 0 #3 January 27, 2003 I need to do real time conversions... the dazzle products are designed to take any input and put it into the hard drive, then output the video back to a cam, vcr, etc in any format. I need to go from firewire, convert it on the fly to composite and input that into my vcr as it records. Basically, I am going to move to a laptop (possibly a mac) for my editing, and want to be able to dump out the firewire directly to a VHS vcr. Using my cam isnt an option, because if I have somebody editing for me, I cant jump because the cam is busy acting as a DA converter. So far the two options I found are a low end DA converter for $500, or a high end vcr with firewire for $1000 plus. I am sure I can find a semi-useable camcorder for $150 or so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n2skdvn 0 #4 January 28, 2003 my digital 8 craped out on me a while back(tape side) ill see if it can still work on the vtr side give me a few days (camaras in mississippi)if my calculations are correct SLINKY + ESCULATOR = EVERLASTING FUN my site Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cameramonkey 0 #5 January 28, 2003 No hurry... I've still got 3 months before I need to put it into production. Damn winter... its gonna be a high temp of 12 today *grumble* anyway, as long as it will sit indefinitely in vtr mode, and display the audio and video out the analog port that is coming in thru firewire, it will work for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #6 January 28, 2003 Hey Roy: You could always head to BestBuy, OfficeMax, Sams Club, or anything like this and see if they have a floor model or something like that they are looking to sell. To buy something like this, you really need to time it right. (Getting a new model or not carrying it anymore.) Or, you can see if they have had something returned due to someone breaking it or something like that. Good luck, man. See you at the DZ soon !http://www.brandonandlaura.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cameramonkey 0 #7 January 28, 2003 nice try, but if its working, you cant get THAT good of a deal. the key is that if its dead, its worth no more than $150-200. Good luck finding a working digital cam for that. BB tends to sell them or only a hundred or two off as floor models, missing parts, etc. I'd end up paying at least 2 or 3 times what I can get a broken one for. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #8 January 28, 2003 Home Shopping network just had a Digital8 one on for $299 a few weeks ago. Nice working camera for second angle shots or places you don't want to risk a nicer camera (like in the middle of the beer line)Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
konradptr 0 #9 January 28, 2003 I have a PC9 that I am trying to figure out what to do with. The deal with the camera is that it doesn't rewind or anything in the VTR mode, but it records and does everything else just fine... Don't know how much some one would be willing to spend on a PC9 that they have to take the tape out and put it in another camera to playback, but maybe this will help you out somehow? ------------------------------------------ Getting banned isn't that bad...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cameramonkey 0 #10 January 29, 2003 I am looking to spend around $150-175 for this solution. if you are willing to part with your cam for that, then yes I can use it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #11 January 29, 2003 Actually Sams Club had a brand new JVC (several of them) miniDV cameras for like $215 or something like that. They were getting rid of them and they marked them way down. You can find those prices, you just have to know where to look.http://www.brandonandlaura.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsbbreck 0 #12 January 29, 2003 I just copied and sent your post to a friend of mine who isn't on DZ.com. He has the perfect PC for your needs. Old PC5 which had a riser strike and demolised the lens. Sony said it would cost him $800 to fix, so he just bought a new one. Hopefully he still has it and get's back to you soon. DavidDavid "Socrates wasn't killed because he had the answer.......he was killed because he asked the question." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
