- 60 GB storage capacity; approximately 4.5 hours of recording time
- Records video to disk as the camcorder records to tape for Hybrid Recording master creation
- Features HDD Smart Protection; special 3G sensor, 14-second buffer memory, and shock absorber
- Handles .m2t (HDV) and .avi (DV) file formats
- Up to 13.5 hours of run time when used with NP-F70 battery
Product Description
Sony is pleased to introduce the new HVR-DR60 HDV Hard Disk Recorder. This new lightweight and portable hard disk drive (HDD) recording unit is ideally suited for use with the new HVR-V1U HDV camcorder. Easily connected to a compatible camcorder via its i.LINK interface, the HVR-DR60 offers videographers the ability to record onto both tape and the hard disk drive simultaneously – an ideal hybrid recording solution for your customers providing approximately 4.5 hours of continuous HDV/DVCAM/DV stream recording. The compact HVR-DR60 uses a 60GB, 1.8 inch hard disk drive and weighs a mere 8 ounces (without battery), adding little weight for the cameraman to bear. Using the common FAT32 file system and adopting th… More >>
Sony HVR-DR60 60GB Hard Disk Recorder for Compatible Sony HDV and DVCam Camcorders
Elias A. Abuallis
February 19, 2010 at 1:35 pm
I just bought this product, and when I received I notice that the Battery and the charger was missing,,, That’s not fair for a U$ 1,300.00 item…. Don’t you think SONY BOY????
Rating: 1 / 5
Chris Birge
February 19, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Amazingly small and light weight, the sony HVR-DR60 is perfect compliment to the Sony V1U. I just hit record and it captures to tape as well as on disk. Saves time as I just plug in a drag off files and I am up and editing. The battery life is long and I love the fact that I do not have to charge the drive but am only limited to the number of batteries I have. I have a few as they are inexpensive.
Rating: 5 / 5
Matthew Holden
February 19, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I’ve purchased and used the Sony HVR-DR60 for about 18 months. I am not a high usage customer and it was matched to work with my Sony HVR-A1P high definition video camera and my Sony DCR-TRV19E knock about mini-DV.
Like most reviewers, I too purchased it to reduce my workflow of transfer from tape to hard drive. Sadly, Sony did not have a native plug-in for Final Cut Pro and required additional steps to convert the M2T format of the hard drive to your computer.
After 18 months of usage, we now receive constant errors and the unit is faulty. It will record for a few minutes then freeze. Complete technical breakdown ensues and to stop the drive you have to remove the battery.
Nothing has helped this situation that is made worse by Sony Australia and Sony Singapore saying that the unit cannot be repaired and, quite frankly, they don’t know how to fix it.
My advise to any would-be purchaser is “forget it”.
When you are recording those precious frames you need reliability and whilst the Sony HVR-DR60 promised it doesn’t reliably deliver.
Alternative products to consider: FS-4 Portable DTE Recorders by Focus Enhancements.
Rating: 1 / 5
Yan
February 19, 2010 at 7:05 pm
All the reviewers before me are completely correct. This device would score a perfect 5 Stars from me if it weren’t for the lack of battery and charger. You are basically paying Sony $1,500 for a harddrive. Sony couldn’t even including a batter in the box or a charger cable. This is how you alienate customers. The RED ONE by Oakley will be dropping in price and this may be the last time I buy a Sony product. WE ARE CUSTOMERS not your own CASH MACHINE Sony.
Rating: 1 / 5
H. Sansom
February 19, 2010 at 7:47 pm
I use the Sony HVR-DR60 with a Sony HVR-V1U HDV camera (outstanding camera, by the way).
IF you are using the V1U camera (or, I think, the Z1U) you can sync the camera and the disk drive so when you start the cam, the drive starts recording. And it works flawlessly (so far — about two months as of mid-April 2007). So you do not need to buy a HDV tape deck. And you do not need to worry about the tape transport of the camera failing (as happened to me with the Sony PD-170 DV camera).
BUT: two issues.
1. The camera has a (very useful) expanded focus feature, allowing to see more closely what your shooting and check the focus (not a problem if you’re on set and are linked to a monitor, but in the field this is a huge help — especially with hi-def, where all flaws are far more visible).
The expanded focus feature does _not_ work when you sync to the hard disk drive. (So you have to use the drives record button instead — again, only an issue with cameras that allow you to sync in the first place.)
2. There is a switch for camera mode (when shooting) and computer mode (when downloading to you system). The switch could have been vastly better designed. And the drive uses a Firewire 400 connector (IEEE 1394, or iLink for Sonyish). Why not Firewire 800? And the connector seems a little loose to me.
ALL in ALL — a great device with a couple of fairly minor weaknesses.
Rating: 4 / 5