How do I get computers to recognize Sony MiniDV Camera?
March 1, 2010 8:33 AM Subscribe
Why can't I capture video from a Sony MiniDV camera's firewire (i.link) port?
I bought a used Sony PDX10, and I'm trying to capture a MiniDV tape to my Mac Powerbook G4 with a brand new firewire cable. First, I tried daisy-chaining the camcorder to my Firewire drive, and it beach-balled. Second, I tried plugging the firewire directly into my laptop. The laptop doesn't recognize the device (in iMovie and FCP). When I run System Profiler and click Firewire, it says 'Firewire Bus:' or 'Firewire Bus: Maximum Speed Up to 400 Mb/s'. I tried this all in a different Mac, and I got the same result. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Could it be a bad cable? Bad camcorder?
I bought a used Sony PDX10, and I'm trying to capture a MiniDV tape to my Mac Powerbook G4 with a brand new firewire cable. First, I tried daisy-chaining the camcorder to my Firewire drive, and it beach-balled. Second, I tried plugging the firewire directly into my laptop. The laptop doesn't recognize the device (in iMovie and FCP). When I run System Profiler and click Firewire, it says 'Firewire Bus:' or 'Firewire Bus: Maximum Speed Up to 400 Mb/s'. I tried this all in a different Mac, and I got the same result. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Could it be a bad cable? Bad camcorder?
Response by poster: should be on "play" and not "rec"
When I was researching this problem, I saw that posted on another board. I assumed that they meant 'VCR' not 'Camera.' Is it a different setting?
posted by sswiller at 9:21 AM on March 1, 2010
When I was researching this problem, I saw that posted on another board. I assumed that they meant 'VCR' not 'Camera.' Is it a different setting?
posted by sswiller at 9:21 AM on March 1, 2010
Best answer: If System profiler doesn't see it (and it doesn't)....it's only one of three things:
The firewire port on the mac, the firewire cable, the firewire port on the camera.
If you've tried it on another mac, then it's the cable or camera. Try a different cable.
If you're tried a different cable and mac...it's the camera.
posted by filmgeek at 9:22 AM on March 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
The firewire port on the mac, the firewire cable, the firewire port on the camera.
If you've tried it on another mac, then it's the cable or camera. Try a different cable.
If you're tried a different cable and mac...it's the camera.
posted by filmgeek at 9:22 AM on March 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by now i'm piste at 9:11 AM on March 1, 2010