On 18 Apr 2002 07:39:20 -0700, tedbragg@msn.com (Ted Bragg) wrote:

>Why mess with tape anyway? Are there any dv cams out there that use
>harddrives instead?
>
>I mean, it seems like it'd be a natural fit for folks who use the cams
>with video editing computers...
>
>Or would there by chance be a 'tape-drive'...a harddrive, encased in a
>DV tape housing? Instead of magnetic tape in the housing, they'd have
>a pick-up device to send the signals to the HD. Kinda along the lines
>of the CD to car-cass. player adapters...
>
>20 gig hd's are common on notebooks now...it'd be a cinch to fit one
>of those into a DV cam. Not too practical for tape-addicts (ie
>general consumers) but it'd be great to have.
>
>Are there other mini-dv cams out there that have variable capture
>rates? Canon XL1 is known for it's 24fps, Panasonic will be releasing
>their 24fps, but what about faster frame rates? 60? 120?

The XL-1 *PAL* version is 25fps, not variable; tape offers
a convenient, inexpensive, small/light "pre-backed-up"
format - without it, where would you store the HD contents
for archiving? On tape, perhaps...?;-) I see no advantages
for an internal HD storage system for most DV, and several
disadvantages...