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Advice on Canon MD205 Camcorder

  • 08-01-2009 7:37pm
    #1
    Princess Fiona
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21 ✭


    Hi all, just wondering if anyone would be kind enough to give me some much-needed advice....

    Just got one of these camcorders, 1st camcorder I've owned so pretty clueless.

    Firstly, I was surprised to discover that it uses tapes - thought these had been more or less replaced with discs/memory cards at this stage but obviously not? Are there re-usable tapes available to buy (like CD-RWs) or can cassettes only be used once?

    I'm hoping to transfer videos to my laptop, but am I right in thinking I need a firewire port on my computer? I don't have one of these, but I read somewhere that you can get a firewire hub/card if your computer doesn't have a firewire port?

    Presumably I also need a firewire cable then?

    Re. drivers, software etc., should the drivers be pre-installed on my Windows XP system?

    Someone mentioned to me that I might need Windows Movie Maker software, I thought Windows Media Player might've been enough but maybe not? I'm not going to be doing much editing - basically just looking to play what I've recorded....

    Thanks in advance!


Comments

  • #2
    AnCatDubh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,393 ✭✭✭AnCatDubh


    Hi fiona - I'm going to move this over to the video forum. While there are a few over here that dabble in video its mainly a photography forum so I reckon you might get better quality answers from the video forum.

    Note to mods on Video forum - I think this is better on your patch - if not send it back.

    As to your query and my very basic knowledge of the area. The tapes are probably Mini DV - completely reusable and you can get them from any electrical store or video outlet (think i've even seen some in Xtravision). I think the Mini DV tapes are older technology but still very much in use.

    Your camcorder will have an interface. Mine had a firewire port which I connected to my laptop's firewire. You can get expansion cards for your PC with firewire. You could try a maplin or currys maybe.

    Windows movie maker works a treat. Media player will only do the player thing so you'll need some other programme. Windows movie maker is part of Xp and Vista now. It is basic but to do a basic editing job with a few transition effects and a bit of titling, then its fine. Easy to use but I doubt that those in that business would even rate it.

    I don't recall needing specific drivers for mine when I connected it up (but that was a while ago). It may well be plug and pray, eh.... play. I think generally if there is a driver disk with it, then have it at the ready.

    Anyway i'm sure far better information and opinion will ensue when I move the post.


  • #3
    Princess Fiona
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21 ✭Princess Fiona


    Thank you for that, and apologies for posting in wrong forum!


  • #4
    southernman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9 ✭southernman


    Princess Fiona wrote: »
    Hi all, just wondering if anyone would be kind enough to give me some much-needed advice....

    Just got one of these camcorders, 1st camcorder I've owned so pretty clueless.

    Firstly, I was surprised to discover that it uses tapes - thought these had been more or less replaced with discs/memory cards at this stage but obviously not? Are there re-usable tapes available to buy (like CD-RWs) or can cassettes only be used once?

    I'm hoping to transfer videos to my laptop, but am I right in thinking I need a firewire port on my computer? I don't have one of these, but I read somewhere that you can get a firewire hub/card if your computer doesn't have a firewire port?



    Presumably I also need a firewire cable then?

    Re. drivers, software etc., should the drivers be pre-installed on my Windows XP system?

    Someone mentioned to me that I might need Windows Movie Maker software, I thought Windows Media Player might've been enough but maybe not? I'm not going to be doing much editing - basically just looking to play what I've recorded....

    Thanks in advance!
    Hi Fiona
    Tapes are reusable although they are cheap I am inclined to keep them as masters. you will need a firewire port on your computer. you will need a DV to firewire cable available at most computer stores. PC world has them.you can buy the card with movie making software my recommendation would be Adobe premier although windows movie maker is a good way to start
    I think this is free to download on msn.
    What ports have you on your computer?
    Drop me a pm for further info


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