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Anyone here use the Sony GV-HD700 HDV player?
I’m considering getting this small clamshell-model Sony player to bring in HDV footage to FCP. I anticipate using the component outs to run the data through my Kona 3 card in order to convert to 720p.
This is the low end of Sony HDV playback decks. I’m a bit reluctant to invest in a more expensive HDV deck right now despite the widespread acceptance of the HDV format. I just don’t know how successful the format will be in the long run. But I am getting a fair amount of HDV material in house now and I’m tired to renting a camera to capture it into my edit system.
I’ve also looked at the more expensive Sony HVR-M15U and M25U.
Any thoughts about this from you folks who have used these decks?
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4 Replies
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We have one, but we only use it in the field. If you’re getting a lot a HDV you might want to look at the Sony M35U. That deck will play all flavors of HDV including Canons 24f mode. Since all HDV isn’t the same this is the only deck currently that is a swiss army knife capable of playing back all HDV derivatives.
I can certainly understand your reluctance in investing in the format though.
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Thanks Jeremy.
I would prefer to go with a higher-end deck, of course. But this gets back to my concern as a one-man shop, investing $3-$4 K in a format that I’m not entirely convinced is here for the long run. So, one follow-up question: If you were getting in just a few HDV tapes from time-to-time would you feel comfortable using the HD700 to capture that material into FCP (through a Kona 3)?
Do you find the deck sufficiently reliable to do that small — but very important — amount of work? Is the image quality everything it should be? And has the tape transport mechanism been sufficiently reliable to give you confidence about running your field masters through it?
Thanks for taking the time for this.
— Ron
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The deck is fine as long as your working with 60i footage. As we do outdoors programming (hunting, fishing, shooting), we have really abused our deck pretty good and it keeps ticking right along.
We used the DV clamshell decks before moving to HD. I believe, (but I could be wrong) that the transport in this deck is the same transport as in their camcorder line, Z1, Z5, Z7.
You’d probably be as well off buying a cheap HDV camcorder and using that as your deck. Then you’d have the added benefit of being able to use it as a camera in pinch. Both would have component outs that you could run through your Kona card.
The bigger screen size of the deck is nice in the field though.
Like I said in the early post the biggest thing to worry about would be what flavor of HDV are the tapes coming in. This should dictate what you get.
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Thanks, Jeremy.
Your points are all very well-taken. Much appreciated!
— Ron
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