Transferring DV tapes onto computer without using the camera?

Question

I've heard that using the camera to transfer DV tapes onto computer can be bad for the camera heads.
Is there an alternative such as perhaps a DV reader or player which could transfer the clips?

Any help would be much appreciated! Cheers!

Answer 1

There are couple of ways that you can go about this (both are mentioned, but with some extra advice).

Your concern about wearing out the heads on your camcorder are good concerns. The fact is that any time you use the camcorder (i.e. recording, play back, rewind/fastforward, etc) you are inevitably wearing it out. The other fact is that they are made to do these functions over and over again.

However, with that in mind, the thing you should ask yourself is how many tapes do you have? 2, 5, 10...? For home use, I wouldn't worry about purchasing a separate device such as below. If you are doing this for business and will be rewinding and transferring hours of tapes a day, then read on and consider some of your options.

One is to purchase a MiniDV player/recorder like this one here (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=401569&is=REG&addedTroughType=search).
They are expensive ($1,300) but have other features such as a built in hard drive and DVD player/burner.

The second option, and one that I think is the most economical, is to purchase an inexpensive MiniDV camcorder, one without all the bells and whistles ($350). Someone earlier said that you might loose quality by using a cheap camcorder. This isn't true. The only factor that determines quality is the from the camcorder that recorded the video. In fact you could transfer it back and forth to your computer and camcorder all day (without compressing it into MPEG) and you wouldn't loose any quality. Using this method the inexpensive camcorder is just a tool to save your camcorder.

Good luck!

Answer 2

There are miniDV tape readers/players but they are expensive (US$800) when new. You may be able to pick up an old one from some studio, but it's a long shot. It would be cheaper to buy a camcorder (cheaper one than the one used for shooting) but you may suffer some quality loss.
Transferring your video to computer just involves playing them back on your camcorder. If you do it properly, it should only take one playback. Get a big hard disk and store your clips so you don't have to transfer repeatedly. Use good branded tapes and get a cleaning tape. This way you don't wear out the camera's heads unnecessarily.

Answer 3

I've never heard this - not sure why any one should suggest it is the case as the transfer is in real time - i.e. the tape isn't speeded up. I have never heard of, nor seen adverts for, a reader or player for DV tapes. All camera handbooks for those using DV tapes advise transfer via the camera connected to the computer via a firewire lead.

Answer 4

Ah, suck it up. I have a canon gl2, and I use it for transferring. If the heads are dirty, I clean them. Maybe a rewinder is a good idea, but come on, you dont need one to transfer, the camera itself will do. Digital isnt like analog. The signal is either there, or not. So if its there, then your okay. If its not, get a cleaning tape. If you try to save the heads on your camera, it will be a pointless cause. Chances are, before they actually wear out, you'll be getting a new camera. I mean I've had mine for like 2 years and its still doing great. So dont worry about it, and if you spend any money, get a rewinder. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Sims card

Answer 6

como estoy apasionada del mundo de los ordenadores me gusta hacer mi propia configuración de ordenador, como todos las otras componentes los he comprado de sitios web y han sido excelentes, el hard disk también lo compre aquí, el hard disk es exactamente como esperaba, muy buena compra.

Answer 7

I found some on ebay. here's a link to them

Answer 8

Don't believe everthing you hear.