Camcorder Tip
Jul 14, 2019 12:30:34 #
I don't know how many of you shoot video with camcorders, but I discovered something yesterday.
We've always used Sony camcorders. They work well, and they are very durable. What I don't like is their preference for their software. A related problem is uploading the video to a computer. I have to connect the camcorder to the computer via USB cable - no big deal, except when it doesn't work. I usually have to try several cables before I find one that works, but that cable probably won't work the next time. After making the connection, the camera and computer should start talking to each other within seconds. Instead, it shows "Connecting" on the LCD indefinitely.
Yesterday, I realized I could insert an SD card into the camera and copy the files on the internal memory onto that. Just like uploading video, it's slow, but it works! From now on, we're shooting directing onto an SD card.
We've always used Sony camcorders. They work well, and they are very durable. What I don't like is their preference for their software. A related problem is uploading the video to a computer. I have to connect the camcorder to the computer via USB cable - no big deal, except when it doesn't work. I usually have to try several cables before I find one that works, but that cable probably won't work the next time. After making the connection, the camera and computer should start talking to each other within seconds. Instead, it shows "Connecting" on the LCD indefinitely.
Yesterday, I realized I could insert an SD card into the camera and copy the files on the internal memory onto that. Just like uploading video, it's slow, but it works! From now on, we're shooting directing onto an SD card.
Jul 14, 2019 13:09:17 #
Great find Jerry, I to have several Sony camcorders from 8mm to Hi8 and a digital tape one.
Jul 15, 2019 03:33:30 #
First I NEVER use transfer software - just asking for problems - nor cheap, skinny USB cords. Have only durable ones with solid connections on both ends so they don't "wiggle" and lose contact. But if a PC I use a much simpler, fool-proof way. Plug camcorder (or camera) into computer and Win 10 (or Win 7) will show it as another drive. Now you can click on it, go to folder with video clips, then I simply Copy & Paste to folder on my PC. Easy, peasy, works every time.
Jul 15, 2019 19:39:10 #
This is why I gave up on the four camcorders in my closet (Sony, Canon, Samsung).
Using my Lumix GH4 is a completely satisfying experience. I use very high speed 64 GB SDXC cards and a USB 3 card reader. With a 2TB SSD in my iMac, transfer of even 4K video is faster than was FireWire 400 transfer of low res standard definition DV files from tape.
The side benefit is that the same camera and lenses create both high quality stills and high quality video. I carry one kit, not two. I had one short learning curve. I have a very simple workflow.
Using my Lumix GH4 is a completely satisfying experience. I use very high speed 64 GB SDXC cards and a USB 3 card reader. With a 2TB SSD in my iMac, transfer of even 4K video is faster than was FireWire 400 transfer of low res standard definition DV files from tape.
The side benefit is that the same camera and lenses create both high quality stills and high quality video. I carry one kit, not two. I had one short learning curve. I have a very simple workflow.
Jul 15, 2019 21:33:08 #
Jul 16, 2019 13:31:14 #
I have a DVD recorder.connect the canon camcorder to power,connect it to the dvd recorder,place a blank dvd,hit play on camcorder, and hit record on dvd recorder.
Jul 18, 2019 14:47:13 #
Stardust wrote:
First I NEVER use transfer software - just asking for problems - nor cheap, skinny USB cords. Have only durable ones with solid connections on both ends so they don't "wiggle" and lose contact. But if a PC I use a much simpler, fool-proof way. Plug camcorder (or camera) into computer and Win 10 (or Win 7) will show it as another drive. Now you can click on it, go to folder with video clips, then I simply Copy & Paste to folder on my PC. Easy, peasy, works every time.
Yes, that's exactly what I try. The camera stalls trying to make a connection.
Jul 18, 2019 14:54:21 #
Some 14 years ago at work, I had a Sony DV (tape) camcorder. It was never reliable. I had to shut down my Mac, turn off the camcorder, connect FireWire cable, boot the Mac, start iMovie, then turn on the camcorder and MAYBE it would connect — half the time, it didn't.
But if it makes Sony users feel any better, I had the same problems with a Canon GL2 DV camcorder.
Thank the engineers who came up with SD, SDHC, and SDXC technologies. They saved us from tape! Not only do files spool into the computer at several times the speed they were recorded, but they work every time.
But if it makes Sony users feel any better, I had the same problems with a Canon GL2 DV camcorder.
Thank the engineers who came up with SD, SDHC, and SDXC technologies. They saved us from tape! Not only do files spool into the computer at several times the speed they were recorded, but they work every time.
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