2013General Discussion forum
Comparison of downconverter options for video rigs
13 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- The Decimator 2 is a widely used downconverter option.
- The Blackmagic Heavy Duty converter works reliably but is larger and heavier, making it less ideal for rig mounting compared to smaller battery-powered models.
- Older Blackmagic converter models had a power sensitivity issue where they would fail if supplied with voltage exceeding exactly 12 volts.
- The AJA HD10MD3 is reported to perform reliably in professional use.
- AJA provides strong customer support, including warranty repairs and replacements even for used equipment purchased secondhand.
- The AJA UDC (stripped-down model) offers similar functionality to the HD10MD3 at approximately 300 dollars less cost.
- Some users have reported reliability issues with the Decimator 2, including failure after minimal use.
Depends on
- One negative experience with Decimator 2 warranty repair involved a disputed service charge, while a distributor later stated warranty repairs are provided at no cost, leaving this claim unresolved.
- The comparison is based on individual user experiences rather than systematic testing.
- Specific performance metrics and feature comparisons between models are not provided.
- Discussion is from 2013, so current product specifications and availability may differ.