I have a Canon HV10 and I've shot a lot of home video of my kids which I then sent to my parents across the country. Bought two camcorders off ebay but neither one works –Â*or so I thought. Now it occurs to me that the problem may be the format in which the video was shot. So I need to buy a used (cheap) camcorder off ebay that will be able to playback the MiniDv tapes. I probably shot the footage in high-def mode. Do you know what cameras/brands will play back these tapes other than Canon? Or including low-end Canon camcorders? Thanks for any help you can give.

As long as the camcorder has HDV capabilities, you should be able to playback your footage.

__________________
I want a Red One but I will settle for a Red Scarlett

I'll try using another HDV camera. Hopefully it doesn't have to be Canon.

If you shot in DV mode, any DV cam will do. If you shot in HDV mode on the HV10, any Sony or Canon HDV cam will work. JVC and Panny likely won't -- most of them shoot a different flavor of HDV (although some will play back but not shoot the type they don't natively support).

While it's possible that neither of your cams work properly -- especially if you bought them off eBay -- it's also possible you have them set wrong for playback. Make sure you're playing back in the same format you shot. For example, if the cam is in "DV" VCR mode it won't play back tapes you shot in HDV mode, even on the same cam.

When you say they don't work, what exactly do you mean? Are you getting a blue screen on playback?

__________________
Adam
Proud owner of 8, no, 7, no, wait, now NINE Sony HDV cams. Checking into rehab next week.
"There are no experimental failures. There's only more data."

I really appreciate the advice about getting a Sony or Canon HDV. The cameras I bought on ebay showed blue screens EXCEPT the second one I bought played an old DV tape perfectly – which confirms your statement about the HDV being an issue. (I feel a little bad now for returning the first camera because it "didn't work." The second guy was a total nut, but I got the camera for a steal and I'll resell it for more than I bought it for.) Thanks again for the advice.

Okay, so if you get a blue screen on HDV playback but DV plays okay, you need to set the VCR output mode. Page 37 of your manual. Make sure it's set to HDV.

__________________
Adam
Proud owner of 8, no, 7, no, wait, now NINE Sony HDV cams. Checking into rehab next week.
"There are no experimental failures. There's only more data."