[Kbee]

The TRV-720 uses memory sticks to store it's still picutres on. This is then hooked up to a PC via a DB 9 serial cable and uses PictureGear 4.0 software to download the pictures to a PC. Can I do this on a mac? The following solutions are inaccpetable; using Virtual PC with mac to DB 9 serial cable, using iMovie to capture single frames (as that defeats the purpose of a digital still/video camera). Basically I need to know, is there a memory stick reader for Macintosh, or can I use Firewire/USB to access the memory stick in the camera. Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Kbee.

[bradoesch]

I basically have the same problem you do. I have a TRV-510, but it's memory is built-in. Too bad we couldn't get the pictures through FireWire, eh?

[Apple_John]

you can buy a memory stick reader/writer from sony, MSAC-US1. It is usb and support os9.~$80

There is a few aftermarket memory stick readers 20-30% cheaper.

[ph@lmi.net]

hi,

i was just able to capture a memorystick-based image from my trv-520 into final cut pro. i do not have my g4 right now [long story], so i can't test imovie for you, but you can indeed capture memory stick stills through firewire using a sony digital 8 camera [at least the 520, i'd assume any].

i used a firewire direct fw/usb card on my 7600 G3/380 512MB system for this test.

i set the camera to memory mode and fcp to log and capture. it made a qt - you just have to export 1 frame and that's your 720x480 still photo. [well, you have to copy-paste the frame into photoshop from a sequence viewer in fcp]

perhaps a usb memory stick reader would be more practical, but imovie is free - i did once use it to capture D8-based stills. it made nice 7-second qts of each, splitting them on its own! try setting the memory stick to play mode while capturing, it could work.

but then again, DV captures have an on-screen graininess that may be averted by using the card reader.

i'd say if you got the cash, get the reader. it's simpler and prolly better quality. otherwise, put that imovie to use!

[Kbee]

Thnaks to everyone for your help, I returned thae camera, and bought a canon with origin's Photo DV. It does just what I'm looking for.

Kbee