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My video camera
Hey, I have an old Sony DCR-PC5 video camera, and I want to start using it again, but i'm not sure how, if i can, to get stuff onto the computer. It can take both a memory card, or a small cassette. I'm not sure how to set it to record onto the memory card, but the only one I have is just 32mb. There is a cord that will plug into the "Digital I/O" port, and then into the Serial Communications Port on the computer. Any ideas on how to get stuff onto the computer?
Comments
13 years ago
. See if https://www.instructables.com/forum/TCEWZ3GF2DSDR39/ helps.
Reply 13 years ago
http://www.henrys.com/manuals/sony/DCR-PC5(en).pdf
I think page 71 of that shows what I need...but I don't really understand it..
Reply 13 years ago
. Looks to me like you have three options: S-Video, composite, and FireWire. . SV and comp will require a card (as per the iBle) or adapter (eg, vid2USB). . If your computer has FireWire, you should be good to go. If not, you'll need a card of adapter. . Are you sure your present vid card(s) won't accept S-vid or composite? Or is it/they output only?
Reply 13 years ago
. Oops! S-Video is _not_ an option. That was just an output on the VCR. Sorry about that, Chief!
Reply 13 years ago
It doesn't have composite ports. It does, however have one between the vga and dvi ports that looks like an sv, but it has more holes. And since I have a pc, I don't have firewire.
Reply 13 years ago
. If you can figure out what type of port that is, you may be able to find an inxpensive adapter. It may take a standard SV/comp signal, just an odd connector.
Reply 13 years ago
It looks like the svideo, but it has 4 holes on top, and 3 holes on bottom, instead of the 4 holes that an sv has.
Reply 13 years ago
> has 4 holes on top, and 3 holes on bottom
. You lost me there. Looks like we've reached my limit. :(
.
. As westfw pointed out, a IEEE1349 card is pretty cheap. Check out http://pinouts.ru/ for info about building your cable.
Reply 13 years ago
Well the camera has a firewire thing on it, so I should be able to get a standard one, right? If I did get that, what kind of software would I need?
Reply 13 years ago
No. The camera has a DV port. This is a miniature version of Firewire. You need a DV to Firewire cable and a Firewire card. With that setup, you'll be able to import the digital video directly into your computer with no loss. Of course, you will need software that will handle the importing of video. Lacking anything else, you can use Quicktime Pro ($29US).
Reply 13 years ago
Would movie maker work?
Reply 13 years ago
Most definitely. Do get Quicktime (free version) as well. It's very convenient for quick checking of clips.
Reply 13 years ago
. I'm not very familiar with the nuts-and-bolts of FireWire. None of my computers have it. There may be one std cable, but it may also be like USB where there are 3-4 different connectors (but all configs are easy to find). . Probably cheaper to buy a cable than build one, depending on your abilities and resourcefulness. . As far as software goes, all you need is a capture app that recognizes the FireWire port (or whatever you end up using). That's assuming that the camera outputs in a standard video format, eg, AVI, MPEG.
Reply 13 years ago
It could be that it is a multi output port. My videocard has a port that looks like s-vid, but more pins because it is also composite video out. Although this might not help at all
Reply 13 years ago
The other thing is, I don't see any firewire cords in the bag.
Reply 13 years ago
Most firewire ports on the PC side are large "6pin" (data+power), while most video cameras have small "4pin" (data only) connectors, so to connect your camera you need a 6wire to 4wire cable. Like USB cables, these vary from reasonably cheap to ridiculously expensive. depending on whose name is on the bag :-(
I believe WXP comes with some basic video editing/capture software these days. Windows Movie Maker or something like that (gotta keep up with Apple, you know, even though we're far ahead...)
Reply 13 years ago
firewire cards for PCs are pretty cheap these days, even at local computer stores. Some "mainstream" PCs are shipping with firewire (they probably don't call it firewire, since that's the apple name) for video editing purposes; just cause you have a PC doesn't mean you don't have it.
$7 firewire card
Reply 13 years ago
I don't have the cord either, though..
Reply 13 years ago
It seems like that would help, but surely theres a way to connect it with out a new video card? Plus, I run dual monitors, so I would need one like that and dual monitor capibility
13 years ago
One of the NICE things about the internet is that it has made it inexpensive for right-thinking vendors/manufacturers to provide certain types of support for their products. In this case, Sony has support, including a full downloadable manual, on their web site (Yeah sony!) The camera has i.link (IEEE1394, "firewire") for transferring video, but it looks like only serial (using their special cable) for transferring stills. The video upload ought to work with standard video software (imovie, "movie maker"? My PC1 worked with imovie.) The card format (memory stick) is standardized too, and is probably readable using any card reader that supports memory stick (and perhaps you can use the digital picture frame as an upload device, if it has usb built in.) Looks like still pictures are probably only VGA resolution; you can do some interesting experiments on whether the better lens, focusing, and exposure make up for the lack of resolution...
Reply 13 years ago
Thanks for that link, I think i need to have the a/v ports. Is there any way to connect a vcr or tv to the computer without them?
13 years ago
I think the 32Mb card is only for stills (and perhaps some miscellaneous data). You need to hook-up the Digital I/O port to your machine, but it worries me that this plugs into serial as this sounds like a really old machine(?). If it does you'll need some software to capture the data stream, which should have come with the camera? Otherwise, I know as much as you do... L
Reply 13 years ago
Well the card isn't necessarily from this camera. It's been in my mom's digital picture frame lately. It just happens to be the right type. And I have no idea about software for it...This is at least 7 years old.
Reply 13 years ago
Is it VHS or mini-DV? Perhaps you have a composite video-out which would plug into your video card? L
Reply 13 years ago
mini-DV And no, I don't have a female port for composites
Reply 13 years ago
Well mine has a composite, S-Video, and more importantly Firewire. If your only option is serial(?) I'm out of ideas. L
Reply 13 years ago
I do have a composite cord for it, just no port on my pc