Sony handycam DCR-HC18E

lemonade_lifestyle

Hi,

Need some advice. We have a sony handycam which takes mini dv tapes. We have alot of footage on these cassettes and wanted to start producing DVD's. I hoped i could download footage onto computer (run vista) then edit it and burn it to dvd. However this model of sony camcorder is not compliant with vista and i can;t seem to be able to find a solution on any website.

Is there any other way around this, or do i need to buy another mini dv camcorder which is more up to date and compliant?? BUt then if I was to go down that route would I be better buying a new one with memory as opposed to a cassette???

I am desperate to get this sorted before christmas, got a nativity play to video so i can send it to my Father in australia!!!

Thanks
Lol xx

vyseyboy

According to Sony support,

http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/camcorders/dv/dv.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&m=DCR-HC18E

you don't need a driver for this handycam... just plug it in and go, for Vista. You might need some appropriate software for making up a DVD that is readable by standalone dvd players (for that, I can recommend DVDflick,) but other than that, the cam is just a standard TWAIN device.

Edit: there is a driver available for download from the first link I posted... maybe this will stop it looking for a driver?

poker_face

First of all you need to connect it to your computer using Firewire. This should not need drivers, then you need some sort of capture/editing software. I suggest Windows Movie Maker, which is free and may already be installed with vista, but if not there should be a free download from microsoft. You can then capture in real time from the camera, edit the video, then save it to your computer and/or burn to DVD

lemonade_lifestyle

Thanks for your suggestions, have tried them but still saying the USB driver can't be installed for this version of windows!!

Think I'm gonna have to look into getting another camcorder, even thou there is nothing wrong with this one!!!:mad:

Donnie

lemonade_lifestyle wrote: »

Thanks for your suggestions, have tried them but still saying the USB driver can't be installed for this version of windows!!

Think I'm gonna have to look into getting another camcorder, even thou there is nothing wrong with this one!!!:mad:

I don't think that you have followed the advice given to you on this thread, notably the advice given by poker_face.

That is the solution. You need an iLink/Firewire cable to connect the camcorder to your computer. You might need to fit a iLink/Firewire interface to your computer. An example here with cable here.

lemonade_lifestyle

Ok, I have one of these but how do I attach this to my computer???

Donnie

lemonade_lifestyle wrote: »

Ok, I have one of these but how do I attach this to my computer???

Have you the ability to follow the links and read the information given.

So, far you have been given links to the manual for your camera as well as a solution if there is no existing Firewire/iLink connection on your laptop.

Try reading and digesting the advice that has been given thus far.

lemonade_lifestyle

Ok, so i am quite capable of reading the links. But this is not what I wanted. I quite simply asked if i could connect this to my computer. I didn;t want to add extra bits into my computer to do this!! I have read the links to the sony website quite a few times, to the point that i now know that they have recently added a download for the picture package which is compatible with windows vista!! I am also aware from reading the sony website that this camcorder wasn't compatible with windows vista!!! I was just asking for other ways around it, not thinking that i would have to add onto my existing computer. So yes I now realise that probably the only way to do this is with a firewire card in my comp!!

I wanted advice not criticism. But thank you.

poker_face

Have you actually looked to see if there is firewire on your computer already? There should be, there are 3 sizes of firewire and I would be surprised if yours doesn't have one of them. You don't need sony software or drivers to use your camera for video. You only need it for photo's. And installing a firewire card is alot easier than you think, and much cheaper than a new camera.

lemonade_lifestyle

Thank you. I am really struggling to find one. There just seems to be loads of USB ports. I kinda know what I'm looking for, but...

Even trying to look on the internet for the spec for my computer, but its liking I was asking someone to give me a million pounds.

I have a Philips Freevents HEPC7501 comp.Tried looking on THe Tech Guys website, the only info they have with illustrations a similar model that does show a firewire port. I've tried and tried.....

Millionaire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FireWire

You will need to purchase the firewire card for it if nothing resembles the pictures. Alot of desktops do not have firewire as standard.