New Camera. PD 170 or DSR-250?

DVCAM and DV are identical in terms of quality. DVCAM operates at a slightly different pitch and faster turn, but this doesn't equate to a better picture, only a lower error rate.
As a curiosity, why are you staying SD, given that the future isn't SD?

Hi Spot

Good question. HD/SD. The technical stuff I do for Railroads is still MPEG-1 on CD. I've never seen such redundant, backward systems except on railways. Most of their network computers don't even have QT installed let alone DVD players.

The other reason is I'm waiting for my final grade for a test I recently took to be a Certified Legal Video Specialist (CLVS). I hope to be getting into deposition work and eventually court-room work. The bulk of that video is still also MPEG-1 on CD although many are upgrading to DVD and MPEG-2. Most times the video is synced to the transcripts. Also while the industry is trying to get away from VHS tapes to CD's and DVD's, some lawyer's and courts still require them.

So while I had thought of going HD and just shooting in SD, I can't see if it's justified in my case at this point. Also I've heard that the low-light capability of the HD cams isn't as good as some of the SD cams (VX2000-PD170) and also I may be wrong but focusing is more critical and harder.

So that's why I'm posting in many forums trying to get ideas and suggestions. The Legal Video forum is still 90% SD (MiniDV, DVCam, DVCpro etc).

Volki, Thanks also for your imput. Tapeless would be the way to go. I thought of that Panasonic P2 system.

Also at depositions most all are recording/encoding on the fly to a DVD and maybe VHS right at the depo. The general thought is to have 2 to 3 recording mechanisms for backups. I don't know, if I had the Z1 or V1 how I'd do a simultaneous recording to a DVD recorder, unless it doesn't make any difference to the firewire connection, or analog out to a VHS recorder.

I'm still investigating, learning and asking questions.

Thanks
Allen

One way to go for depositions is DVD recording, Sony has small portable DVD recorders which will record from FireWire or Analog, you can take the output of a cam via analog or Firewire and have a finalized DVD minutes after a disposition or will with all legal entities present, you can make certified copies with a laptop also in a short time, there are some folks which will only take analog tape recordings as the detection of skulldugary is supposedly? easier.

I've used Pana PQ83 min tapes for a long time in various VX, PD and DSR cams with no problems, usually i've been doing multicam shoots for two hour programs that have a mid-break but being impromtu performances the performers get carried away, so I always have one wing cam loaded with 83min tapes in case of over runs so I can switch tapes on other cams with no loss, if the performance runs on time I copy the tapes to shorter ones rewind and degauss for another use, I have used the same tape up to 3 times before having to archieve the tape because of over-run with no problems, years ago when I first stsated to use miniDV tape I took some 83 min tapes and some 63min tapes, recorded, played back, rewound, and degaussed 50X in the same area of the tapes with no dropouts on either tapes, Later on I repeated the same test on 63 tapes for more than 250X with the same results, There has been internet mis-information about tape lengths, using different brands, wet/dry lubes on tapes for years

[Allen Zagel] "LV forum about using the 83" tape in a PD-170 as that camera was designed for DV-CAM and runs somewhat faster. Or does it know which tape is inserted?"

I always had the menu on the PD set to DV SP, never tried to put a 83min tape in the cam in the DVcam mode, if you notice there maybe a identifier on the tape cassettes as most 80+ min cassettes have metalic contacts on the cassette like the memory chip ones.

Model #VRD-MC5DV - Direct

This is the best so far that I know of. B&H's got it at a good price.

JVC INTRODUCES SR-DVM700US TO PROFESSIONAL COMBO DECK LINE-UP
Deck Offers MiniDV, DVD and 250GB Hard Disk Drive


http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101650

Do you do legal work?
Allen


ASX Media Productions
http://www.asxvideo.com