Canon XH A1S broken firewire port

Question

paddymel Author

Level 1

4 points

Canon XH A1S broken firewire port

Hi Guys,

Disastrous news today from Canon repairs- the firewire out on my camera needs replacing.

The cost of the repair is close to the price of a second hand camera!

So, I am trying to think of a work-around.

One suggestion is to find a consumer-grade HD digital camera that has a firewire port

that I can use to transfer my tapes into FCE.

If the file size is the same as the copy I made from the Canon camera, then

theoretically the image quality will be the same?

I am not sure if any of the companies made some kind of a viewing device (not

a recorder) that has a firewire out on it? That would be another possibility if

such a device exists and I can track one down.

If anybody has any suggestions or ideas it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Regards to all.

P.s. My camera is PAL not NTSC.

Posted on Sep 3, 2013 5:36 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Alchroma

Level 7

23,912 points

Sep 3, 2013 2:17 PM in response to paddymel

Any HDV camera or deck will will be able to do the job for you.

A caveat may be if you used LP in SP mode, then you may have issues with playback.

HDV recorded stuff will be fine.

Al

Reply

Answer 2

paddymel Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 3, 2013 3:21 PM in response to Alchroma

Many thanks Al. I will start looking on ebay for a suitable camera. Much appreciated. Cheers.

Reply

Answer 3

Alchroma

Level 7

23,912 points

Sep 3, 2013 6:12 PM in response to paddymel

Hope you grab one.

Al

Reply

Answer 4

paddymel Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 11, 2013 5:15 PM in response to Alchroma

Hi Al,

Well I tracked down a Sony HDR HC3 which has a firewire connection, but when I put a tape shot on my Canon XH AiS I got a message reading "change tape format".

I noticed that the image could be seen as it was being fast-forwarded and fast-backwards but would not play.

I shot a couple of minutes on the Canon but changed the setting from 25p to 50i, then put the tape back in the Sony and it worked perfectly.

The problem is all of my tapes that need ingesting have been shot at 25p.

If anyone has any ideas it would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Reply

Answer 5

Alchroma

Level 7

23,912 points

Sep 12, 2013 3:37 AM in response to paddymel

Anything in the camera menu to configure that might make a difference?

Al

Reply

Answer 6

paddymel Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 12, 2013 4:09 PM in response to Alchroma

Hi Al,

The specs on the Sony website are saying that it doesn't do progressive recording.

Any thoughts?

Perhaps there's another brand of camera or deck that someone here knows about

that does 25p?

Thanks in advance.

Reply

Answer 7

Alchroma

Level 7

23,912 points

Sep 13, 2013 12:18 AM in response to paddymel

I used to have a Sony A1P and it shot P but always output to interlaced.

Maybe this camera will work??

I'll see if I can find a link to the manaul so you can do some homework.

http://pro.sony-asia.com/product/resources/en_BA/images/Brochure/BCAP/HVR-A1.pdf

Also I'd suggest tracking down a camera hire business and see if a

Canon is availble for a weekend to download the tapes.

Al

Reply

Answer 8

paddymel Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 14, 2013 3:59 PM in response to Alchroma

Thanks very much Al, I found one of the Sony cameras on ebay for $1500 which is similar to the Canon used price.

All things considered I think I will take your advice and see if I can hire a camera for the weekend.

Thanks again,

Reply