Hello!
Another thread on what to buy, but please be gentle. While I usually search extensively on items I'm interested in and can make up my own mind, this has me at a loss, so I'm asking for more information and user experiences. One is a DR680 for 750-850 dollars with warranty (about 1200 new in Sweden), and a D50 with accessories which is asking for 500, but I would be offering 400 (750 new).
I'm interested in one of these as primarily a field recorder for film dialogue, and while I know that's not what most of you are doing, since you test all equipment quite thoroughly you might give me some insight. I will probably get a more professional multichannel recorder (SD, Zacxom etc) when I get bigger and more serious jobs, but I'm looking for something to use in the meantime and for smaller gigs (it would later become a backup, and maybe in the case of D50 a plant recorder/mic).
The DR680 would give me 6 channels with phantom power, pretty low noise, and decent ergonomics in a bag. An external power source would be required for maybe an extra 100 dollars. It's quite a new product though, not a very sturdy build, and I've read a lot of scary stories about malfunctioning units (but most owners here seem to agree that they would still buy it again for the amazing value). Maybe it's not worth it if it would ever slow down a shoot becouse of malfunction, and I don't know how long I can expect to be able to use it. 2 years? 5 years or longer?
The D50 has 2 channels, good running time on AA-batteries, decent preamps with high gain (good enough with somewhat quiet mics and low dialogue? Some nature recordists find it a tad noisy), but it would require an external box for phantom power, adding 50-80 dollars. The ergonomics is a bit worse, but I could probably find a way to get good monitoring of the meters in use, and if I get a mixer in the future this would not be a problem. It's been around for about 4 years, and seems to be quite sturdy in build and reliability, so I think I could expect a long time running it. Since I already have a Zoom H2 that I use quite frequently, the portability and internal mics of the D50 would also make it an upgrade and replacement to that.
So, regarding feature vs cost, the DR680 offers amazing value, but the question is if it's reliable enough? Am I better off with only 2, but more dependable, channels on the sturdier D50?
Thanks in advance!
This question has also been posted by me in on the dvxuser forum - those interested can look at those responses too.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?265004-Best-long-term-investment-Sony-D50-or-Tascam-DR680#post2454483