[marcsiry]

Hello, I am looking to buy a DV cam that has the capability to record via and analog in port- either S-video or RCA type plug (It's for a helmet-cam). There's a camera in the Sony TRV series... 7000 I think... that looks good and cheap. Does anyone have any direct experience with this subject? Thanks, --Marc

Bought a Sony TRV315 for $799. at the Wiz.... Firewire, Analog audio/video in & out. Digital 8mm. Works great, and very compatible with iMovie and Final Cut Pro.

Basically any of the Sony Digital 8s have analog in. The only other one I know of is Canon Elura which is the one I would recommend, as there has been some problems recording back to some Sony Digital *s from Final Cut and iMovie.

I have a trv103 and the analog in works great. You first need to record onto the tape, then playback your recording to output the DV to the firewire port. Playing an 8mm (or Hi8) tape that was previously recorded in analog will spit DV straight out of the firewire port.

The only issue I am aware of recording back to tape is some weird thing about not using Metal Evaporated tapes, eg: http://til.info.apple.com/techinfo.nsf/artnum/n31150

Good info on the TR7000 is available at http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/d8/index.html

Also, did you know you can hack the Sony D8 recorders via the LANC controller port to enable extra functionality ? Lots of information on this at: http://www.iki.fi/znark/video/
and also on the Digital8 mailing list at egroups.com

I think the analog in capability of the D8 series makes them extremely good value. And, although there are some criticisms of the video quality of the D8s relative to much more expensive miniDV cameras (because they use more expensive optics) I have found that it is perfectly fine for home use (and more than I can ultimately see on my TV).

Brent

Helmet-cam, eh? Make sure you share it with us when you're done!

[bizzare]

definitly go with any of the Sony Digital 8 series. Backwards compatible with all previous "8mm" media. Analog in/out with s-video. I have one, it's perfect. Saves you a few bucks from buying one of those Sony iLink converters.

------------------
-Bizzare

Specs:
PowerBook (Firewire)
500 mHz
256 MB RAM
18 GB HD
AirPort
OS 9.0.4

[Feathers]

A word of caution on the Digital-8, great format BTW, BUT...

Confirm that the camcorder is listed as compatible as a number of the D-8's experience problems when writing back to tape over firewire. This was originally stated by Apple as a 1394 incompatibility with Firewire! (Yes, I thought they were the same thing, too) It's part of an ongoing row between Apple and Sony over who's fault it is (or rather who deviated from the standard). Apple say's (or said) that they don't support D-8 iLink only DV iLink, so check before you buy.
http://www.apple.com/imovie/gear/
http://til.info.apple.com/techinfo.nsf/artnum/n31150

[jswayze]

I bought a Canon Optura Pi for just this reason. Works perfectly, and it's a great camera to boot. One helluva display plus progressive scan mode. I paid $1349 at OneCall.

Jeff