Can I transfer from MiniDV --> PC --> MiniDV? (re: Canon TR85 camcorder)

jmk396 wrote on 3/28/2005, 7:37 AM
First off, I'm not even 100% sure I can transfer video from the camcorder to my PC because the package included a USB cable that only lets me transfer pictures. However, I was told that if I buy a firewire cable that I could then transfer the actual video from the camcorder to my PC.

Here's my questions:

1) If I transfer video from the camcorder to my PC, can I transfer it back to the camcorder (eg. will it lose quality by doing this?)

2) When I buy a firewire cable, do I need 4-pin to 6-pin? (my motherboard is a brand new ASUS A8N-SLI, so I'm sure it supports whatever is the latest technology...)

Comments

GaryKleiner wrote on 3/28/2005, 7:45 AM
Yes, you can transfer back and forth without loss of quality.

Lokk at your camcorder and find the firewire port. That will be a 4-pin connector. Look at your computer's firewire port and see if it's the same. If it's 6-pin, it will be a larger connector, kind of boat-shaped. Some mother boards have both 4 and 6 pin.

Gary
riredale wrote on 3/28/2005, 7:45 AM
If your camcorder has a firewire port, then yes, you can transfer video to and from the PC. The image quality will be unaffected, which is one of the major strengths of the DV format.

Check for the connector type on your camcorder and also on your PC. If you don't have a firewire port already, you can buy a plug-in card for maybe $20.
BillyBoy wrote on 3/28/2005, 7:46 AM
If, and this time if is a big word, your camera is capable of outputing digital footage via firewire, then in if you edit, then 'print to tape' using one of the included DV templates, there shouldn't be any quality loss. Exceptions may include if you transfer from one file type or frame size to another, do certain things like pan/crop zoom excessively, apply certain effects, etc.. Like I said IF can be a big word, generally not a problem.

Your second question depends....

Most cameras I've seen that support firewire use the 4 pin. but... most computer use the 6 pin. Yes there are cable that have the two different connectors on either end. So you got to check first. The only real difference aside from the obvious size difference is one carries power, the other only data, so 4 pin firewire devices need some external power source, 6 pin run off the supply device, usually the PC.