On 17 Jan 2002 06:10:39 GMT, vincia1@aol.comVince (Vincia1) wrote:

><< Looking at the specs on the
>JVC-DV500U website, it appears that there is no provision for sending the video
>directly to the computer >>
>
>Now I think this statement is entirely wrong. I went back to the specs and saw
>this: IEEE 1394 interface:
> 4-pin. This is what I need to know, right?

Yes. Though I often recommend to the
short-of-budget that they use the one
Mini-DV camera for both acquisition
and playback, in the case of the
large/heavy/awkward/expensive cameras,
it seems more reasonable to buy a cheap
one-chipper for deck-duties (and it can
serve, if good enough, as an emergency
back-up/second-camera, and as a FireWire
deck to duplicate the Mini-DV tape
real-time on an important shoot - and
its fold-out screen can be positioned for
best monitoring (since its lens is
pointed at nothing in particular...;-)
for interiors.
Most notable in your questions, though,
is that it appears you have not thought
out what *kind* of camera you want... If
you want best image in Mini-DV, go with the
VX2000/PD150, JVC, or maybe the new Panasonic
200 (short 'SPENSIVE gear...); if you
want portable/easy-use/best-auto-controls,
take the VX2000/PD150; if you want
4-channel real-time audio recording (be
aware that few capture devices can handle
it, though...) and specialized lenses
(particularly, LONG ones), consider the
XL-1s; if you prefer shoulder-mount
(without stabilizer) and manual control,
look at the JVC, Panasonic, and larger
Sonys (some of these are the similar DVCam,
but may provide longer record times....).