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Question

record to camcorder and preview on a laptop at the same time

Apr 15, 2014 4:25PM PDT

Hi guys,
I'm looking for a camcorder that will let me record the video normally to its memory and preview it on a laptop at the same time.
Is it possible?
Can camcorder record and output the video through firewire/USB at the same time?
Can I use the S-video/AV outputs for that? But I guess I'll need some convertes to be able to get the image on my laptop, right?


I need a preview for image processing so I need to be able to access the image data in real time.
I'd be great if preview is at lower resolution, but it's not a must. I can do downscaling before processing.

If you can suggest me any solution and example of camcorders that supports it I'd be really grateful.
The solution can include some non-expensive external converters if needed.

Thank you,
Wojtek

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I tested this for someone
Apr 16, 2014 1:47AM PDT

And it varies with the camcorder. In our last discussion I lucked out and had the devices they had so I could answer. But so far, I've never found any do this over USB. You can dismiss that now. As to Firewire, we saw that over a decade ago but it's gone now.

I think you are asking others to search for said camcorder but I'm not doing that today but if I go looking for this the usual is to call each maker's sales lines and ask. Also, why not 2 cameras? One for recording and one for the PC? And why bother with the camcorder at all if we can get it to the PC let the PC do the recording and your apps do that plus processing.
Bob

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Answer
DVD car player
Apr 16, 2014 3:55AM PDT

First FireWire is very much alive and kicking - and is still causing trouble.

I use the A/V out and feed the signal into on of those DVD screens that they sell for cars. In my case a NextBase unit. Another option is a HDMI monitor (quite expensive) Just run off the HDMI output of the camera.

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Answer
We don't know what other
Apr 16, 2014 11:14PM PDT

requirements you might have...

There's JVC's new lineup with wifi streaming...
http://camcorder.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL029213&pathId=171&page=10
or
http://camcorder.jvc.com/product.jsp?pathId=41
(where the video can be recorded directly to the computer so you skip the camera memory recording).

Firewire works great with miniDV tape camcorders. New? Not many, but higher end prosumer or pro level (Sony HDR-FX7, HVR-Z5, HVR-Z7).

AV-out can connect to nearly any monitor with AV-in. terfyn uses the portable DVD screen for vehicles. I use a portable DVD player (the rechargeable batteries last a LONG time when the DVD drive does not need to spin and the laser does not need to work). Not many left with AV-in, but you can find them... or any TV with AV-in will work. HDMI-in can work, too, and purpose-made camera mounted (bhphotovideo.com has all this gear) do not have to be camera mounted.

With AV-in to a computer, you'll need a analog/digital converter... Elgato, Blackmagic and others make these.

Panasonic has an interesting "action cam" entry
http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/HX-A100D
Uses microSD for local recording + wifi streaming.