Just got a mini DV cam... now what?

[ChillPhatCat]

Well after 4 years I finally got my Associates degree in Engineering... long story short I got a digital camcorder for my graduation present... picked up a Canon ZR80 MiniDV cam for $360 at best buy.

My only question since it is unclear in the manual and anywhere I've looked online... how do I transfer the videos to my computer? Do I need a peripheral card of some sort? Do they make IDE DV readers? Through firewire supported by software? I have absolutely nothing to go on.

Thanks for any help!

[SavageBasher]

you need a firewire card and a firewire cable. You can rip the video through windows movie maker and other video editing software.

[webfanatic]

If I'm not wrong your MB should have firewire onboard, so there is no need to buy an extra firewire card. Just get a ~ $5 firewire cable and a video editing software which can capture from firewire.

[twEEkerAreUs]

Alright here is exactly what you need to do

Firewire Cable - Connect to camera and then to Firewire Port
Firewire Port - "Firewire Card or on Motherboard or on Soundcard"
Ulead VideoStudio 8 - Very easy and professional program

Turn DV Camera onto "VCR Mode" should flick/turn to it with a button. Plug everything in and WinXP should find a new device connected and whatever video editing program your using should either turn it on and or be able to control it from the program it's self.

[ChillPhatCat]

Ok, I just needed to connect the dots there... yeah I've got 3 firewire ports onboard... Although that motherboard died on me just last week... not sure what I'm gonna replace it with yet... probably a Gigabyte 7n400 Pro2 which also has 3 firewire ports.

[BPM]

Don't forget the minor (important) detail that I forgot...

Make sure you get the appropriate 4 pin or 6 pin Firewire cable. I have a Canon ZR-60 so I'm assuming the ZR-80 has the same Firewire configuration, which is 4-pin. My PC accepts 6 pin, so I needed a 4 pin to 6 pin wire.

After you get the wire connected to the PC, just turn on the camera (play mode), and if you have Windows XP, it will detect it and prompt you for an action (Open in Windows Movie Maker, etc.)