Kevin,
you have not put your e-mail so i'm hoping you'll look at this - how much is a DV VTR and where do I get one from????
[This message has been edited by C_HERRIDGE (edited 11 August 1999).]
Chris,
I purchased a JVC GR-DVF20 in the US a few months ago (perhaps the slight difference in model number is just NTSC vs. PAL). Much to my chagrin I also learned that what I really should have purchased was a camera with an IEEE1394 ("firewire") connector. Since I didn't, I set about asking questions of the very helpful people on these boards and reading several magazines to obtain the education I should have before I purchased my camera.
The result of my research is that I'm just about to purchase a Canopus DV Raptor card for my PC (I can recommend back issues of CV and videoguys.com for good reviews of DV cards that might work for your G3) and a miniDV VCR (either the Sony video walkman or the new JVC combination miniDV / s-VHS VCR) which does have a firewire connector.
I plan to shoot with my current camera, put the tapes into the VCR and use its firewire and analog connections to the DV Raptor card to transfer to PC and edit my videos. I will then be able to transfer the finished product back to miniDV (and possibly S-VHS) tape. It involves a couple of extra hoops (and additional expense) that I had not originally anticipated but I try to console myself with the fact that:
1) I will not be wearing out the heads in my camera during editing;
2) I will be able to leave the miniDV deck permanently connected to my editing set-up and will have the camera available whenever I need it without unhooking it from the editing system;
3) I will be able to transfer video from analogue sources to miniDV using the VCR analogue inputs.
Hope this helps,
Kevin
Chris,
Sorry for the mental misfire. You will NOT need the DV card for your computer which I do since the G3 has a built-in firewire port.
Unless someone else corrects me though, I think the rest of my previous message still stands and that you WILL need a miniDV VCR with a firewire connector.
Cheers,
Kevin