[bens1901]

Hi.

I'm new to digital video, so this may be a simple question.

I own an iBook that's running OS 10.2 Jaguar. I'd like to have a video camera to record home videos and then put them up on my computer. I purchases a Panasonic PV-L453 camera. It records onto those little video cassettes (not digital). The guy at circuit city told me that I could plug it into my Mac and transfer the video. So far, no luck. I was told to get this cable that has one connector that goes into the camera, and the other end of the cable splits into the Yellow-Red-White connects. I was then sold another cable that takes the Y-R-W wires and puts them into a USB connection that would go into my iBook.

I recorded some video, connected my camera to my iBook, opened iMovie, and told the video camera to play the video. I saw the video in my camera's lens, but the iBook didn't do anything with it.
Can this be done? The iMovie program says "No Camera Attached."

The iMovie Help mentions a FireWire cable...do I need that, or can I use a USB cable?

Should I buy a different video camera? Can the tape version feed into the computer or do I need to get a digital camera?

Are there any cameras that you would recommend? I'm looking for an affordable camera that will work with my computer.

Thanks in advance for any help.

-Ben

[jcarr]

iMovie will only import video via the FireWire interface on your iBook. Have a look at Apple's compatibility list.

it sounds like the guy at CircuitCity fed you a line of bull. You should be able to get the full purchase price back towards the purchase of a FireWire camera.

I suppose you could look at a USB or FireWire video capture (analog to digital) solution, but the price difference should almost get you into a genuine MiniDV camcorder in the first place.

[wilsonX]

USB is too slow for video transfer. Sony digital 8 cameras are an excellent choice. They have backwards compatibility and therefore double as analog to dv converters. You could probably pick one up for what you paid for that panasonic thingy. Take it back to the circuit city guy. I agree, he gave you a line of bull.

check out this link for more info on a sony digital 8 camcorder
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...ntentItemPage=

[hadocon]

Wow! Sounds like you are a real newbie. Good luck, and enjoy learning! I think you will soon find that it is all pretty easy if you have the right tools.

[hadocon]

I see that you have a MS in CS.... and are interested in HCI issues. I am working on my MS in CS particularly in the HCI feild.

Check out the human media lab if you want to see what I am up to...


cheers!