OT: Cameras with External Preview

DavidPJ wrote on 11/21/2006, 3:55 AM
I'm looking for a new DV Camcorder. I need to have the ability for the camera to use the external monitor preview in Vegas through the camera which is connected by firewire to the PC. I'm doing this today with my existing camera.

How can I tell if the camera I'm considering has this ability? Can mostly all camcorders do this? Some cameras don't support analog passthrough, but doesn't that pertain to recording from analog sources? Thanks.

Comments

DGates wrote on 11/21/2006, 4:15 AM
Look for a MiniDV camcorder that allows analog and digital line-in recording with pass through. Most have it, but some don't.

I remember when the Digital8 camcorders first came out. Some had that feature and some didn't.
DavidPJ wrote on 11/21/2006, 11:21 AM
Thanks DGates. So if a MiniDV camera does not have "analog pass through", it will not do the d/a conversion for external monitor preview? Or is that just a broad generalization?

In particular, I've been looking at the Panasonic PV-GS500, which I'm told doesn't have analog pass through. And the other camera I'm reviewing is the new Sony HDR-HC3 HD camera.
DGates wrote on 11/21/2006, 4:39 PM
it's probably more of a generalization, as I'm not really an expert. I just know some do and some don't. The specs on the Panasonic and the Sony don't mention anything about analog pass through, but a cheapy camera like the Canon ELURA 100 does mention it (according to B&H).

baysidebas wrote on 11/22/2006, 8:54 AM
Analog pass through is the exact opposite of what you're looking for. It converts the analog video inputted through the AV jacks on the camera (when in VCR mode) into digital and passes the signal out the firewire connection.

What you want is to be able to take a digital signal into the firewire connection and view it on the camera's display, at least that is what I understand from your post. As far as I know, and I may be wrong here so don't stop looking, there's no such animal with the possible exception of some high-end cameras, again, that's outside my immediate frame of reference. But analog pass-thru is not the answer.
farss wrote on 11/22/2006, 11:52 AM
My far from high end D8 camera will take the firewire video and display it on it's LCD and output it on the composite and S-Video outputs. Just need to switch the camera into VCR mode. The 'camera' does a lot of work as a small, battery powered monitor.
baysidebas wrote on 11/22/2006, 2:20 PM
Thanks, good to know. I'll have to check my D8 for that previously unknown capability.
DGates wrote on 11/24/2006, 6:31 PM
..."But analog pass-thru is not the answer.

I know what you're saying, but what I meant was that the camera takes the digital signal coming out if the computer from the firewire, and then outputs the analog signal out to the external monitor through the AV cables. Some camcorders do this, and some don't.