I have an old Sony Digital-8 camcorder, and I'm planning to get a
mini-DV model to replace it. I want to be able to copy my old tapes
onto mini-DV. Having done a bit of research I know I should be able
to do this camera-to-camera if the new camcorder has DV-in and I buy
a 4 pin to 4 pin firewire cable, but there is one thing I'm not sure
about: how to make the mini-DV camcorder start recording.

Do camcorders that have DV-in enabled have a "record" button (either
on the camera or on the remote control)? My Digital-8 doesn't, but
that's because it is one of the UK models that came with DV-in
disabled, and I enabled it by doing a firmware update.

Or will the new camcorder expect a signal via the firewire cable to
start it recording (which is what would happen if copying from PC to
camcorder)? In which case, will my DCR-TRV120 send the necessary
signal when I start it playing?

The particular mini-DV model I will probably get is the Sony DCR-HC62.
(I'm slightly put off by the touch-screen controls, but there doesn't
seem to be a suitable alternative from Canon or Panasonic available in
the same price range any more.)

--
Geoff Clare

"Geoff Clare" wrote in message
...

Do camcorders that have DV-in enabled have a "record" button (either
on the camera or on the remote control)?

Yes - at least both my Canons do. They have a "VCR mode" which has the
control buttons hidden under a door in the handle. I've only ever done it
once, and the recording had to be started manually - the donor camera was
not controlling the recipient, or vice versa.

G Hardy wrote:

Do camcorders that have DV-in enabled have a "record" button (either
on the camera or on the remote control)?

Yes - at least both my Canons do. They have a "VCR mode" which has the
control buttons hidden under a door in the handle. I've only ever done it
once, and the recording had to be started manually - the donor camera was
not controlling the recipient, or vice versa.

Thanks. I managed to find a user manual for the DCR-HC62E on Sony's
website, and this confirms that the same applies to the Sony. (Although
the "button" is an entry in the touch screen menus.)

--
Geoff Clare

On Apr 11, 2:11*pm, Geoff Clare
wrote:
G Hardy wrote:
Do camcorders that have DV-in enabled have a "record" button (either
on the camera or on the remote control)?

Yes - at least both my Canons do. They have a "VCR mode" which has the
control buttons hidden under a door in the handle. I've only ever done it
once, and the recording had to be started manually - the donor camera was
not controlling the recipient, or vice versa.

Thanks. *I managed to find a user manual for the DCR-HC62E on Sony's
website, and this confirms that the same applies to the Sony. *(Although
the "button" is an entry in the touch screen menus.)

--
Geoff Clare

We have a mini-DV camera at work. The most pointless piece of kit I
have ever come across. If you want to edit your movies on a 3 inch
screen, good luck to you.

"misterroy" wrote in message
...
snip

google groups quote
We have a mini-DV camera at work. The most pointless piece of kit I
have ever come across. If you want to edit your movies on a 3 inch
screen, good luck to you.
/quote

That's what the Firewire port is for, to transfer the video onto a
computers hard disk and edit with video editing software, something
all but the cheapest of cheapo digital camcorders have had since
inception...

Let me guess, not only are you a Google 'groupie' but your ISP is
something like AOL or Tiscali, only ****-head, numsckulls and trolls
use any of them - close the door on your way out. :~(

"misterroy" wrote...

We have a mini-DV camera at work. The most pointless piece of kit I have
ever come across. If you want to edit your movies on a 3 inch screen, good
luck to you.

How big should the screen be before it's suitable for editing?

On Apr 12, 11:36*pm, "G Hardy" wrote:
"misterroy" wrote...
We have a mini-DV camera at work. The most pointless piece of kit I have
ever come across. If you want to edit your movies on a 3 inch screen, good
luck to you.

How big should the screen be before it's suitable for editing?

editing on a 3 inch screen, possibly using an onscreen display can
never be described as optimal. The mini-DV camera at work only has a
completed dvd as its output, before completion the disc is unreadable.
The one here may be different I'd stick to teh tape and edit on a pc

"misterroy" wrote in message...

editing on a 3 inch screen, possibly using an onscreen display can never
be described as optimal. The mini-DV camera at work only has a completed
dvd as its output, before completion the disc is unreadable. The one here
may be different I'd stick to teh tape and edit on a pc

It's not a miniDV camera then. It's MiniDVD.

Despite your misinformed post, I'd also suggest that your camera at work
also has a TV output so you can edit on a 50" screen - if you have one of
those at work, too.

On Apr 13, 11:04*pm, "G Hardy" wrote:
"misterroy" wrote in message...
editing on a 3 inch screen, possibly using an onscreen display can never
be described as optimal. The mini-DV camera at work only has a completed
dvd as its output, before completion the disc is unreadable. The one here
may be different I'd stick to teh tape and edit on a pc

It's not a miniDV camera then. It's MiniDVD.

Despite your misinformed post, I'd also suggest that your camera at work
also has a TV output so you can edit on a 50" screen - if you have one of
those at work, too.

what a prat I have been, the camera in question does use a tape, so
the video can be digitally edited on pc.
The camera at work does indeed have an output, but it is analogue, so
a card needed and the quality will go down a generation.
sorry for wasting time.

"misterroy" wrote in message
...
snip
google groups quote
what a prat I have been, the camera in question does use a tape, so
the video can be digitally edited on pc.
The camera at work does indeed have an output, but it is analogue, so
a card needed and the quality will go down a generation.
sorry for wasting time.
/quote

No, it won't go down a generation, that old chestnut was due to
copying to another analogue recording (the generation was the analogue
recording process), so as long as a decent analogue capture card or
analogue to digital converter is used the quality should not suffer -
it will stay at the same quality as the play-out.