Mini DV and HI8

waxycamera

waxycamera

Suspended / Banned
Messages
181
Name
Lewis
Edit My Images
Yes
Don't know if I will get any replies, might be worth putting this in the film section bit as well.

Any one still use either of them? And how do you transfer the tapes on to the computer? I heard capture cards are one way around it?

Thanks
 
I still have MiniDV tapes with content on them, not got round to backing them all yet, as it takes ages.

I simply plug a MiniDV cable in the Camcorder, then connect it to the MiniDV port on my laptop. Turn the Camera on, then I use windows movie maker to search for the camera, then simply import video.

Once on laptop you can then store the video on a hard drive, pen drive DVD or other media. You can even convert the format once it's on your PC.

Some cables and ports are called firewire, I know my old one was. It has been a few years now, but I think that's the general idea.
 
I have a still use the mini dv camcorder. Just used it yesterday for my daughters sports day.

I use my camcorder with a firewire card installed to copy the contents across using imovie.

Not sure how good the transfer kit is but you might be better of getting a second hand mini dv camcorder to transfer the tapes.

How many tapes do you have to transfer? You could also use one of the companies on Google to transfer them to a dvd?
 
If your pc has a firewire socket, you can use a firewire cable straight into your MiniDV camcorder. If it doesn't you can buy firewire PCI cards quite cheaply. You should them be able to transfer your footage to your PC via your video editing program, I think even Windows has a crude capture program you can use.

I've never transferred Hi8 tapes but I'm assuming you will need a USB capture device for those which you can plug into the camcorder output. The USB capture device will then turn the analogue signal to digital which you will be able to store on the PC.
 
waxycamera said:
Thanks for all the replied, my PC doesnt have a fireware port, but will look at getting a PCI Card.

Glad to see people are still using Mini Dv.

Do all mini dv cameras have a fireware port then to connect to?
Click to expand...

Most do. Which model do you have?
 
waxycamera said:
Thanks for all the replied, my PC doesnt have a fireware port, but will look at getting a PCI Card.
Click to expand...

Does your PC not have a little port marked 1394 ? As this is the port I use to transfer the video via a DV cable.

I have an old Panasonic NVGS 120 this was a great little camera in it's day. But it was such a pain to put video on DVDs and save to drives. I got fed up waiting for the tape transfer times, I soon got fed up of tape transfer times, that I did not bother using it much.

I don't use it anymore, as my iphone is so much more convenient.
 
Just had a look, and I still have a stack of MiniDv tapes unopened. I wonder how long they will last :thinking:
 
waxycamera said:
i was just thinking of doing a little project with analog video.
Click to expand...

Oh I see, but MiniDV is digital not Analog.
I personally would not bother with Analog, unless you are after that certain Analog look.

MiniDv setups can be gotten very cheaply now, big Analog cameras also go for next to nothing now.
 
Nothing good about miniDv, when it was state of the art with small cameras you had to accept the slow real time recording of content onto your computer but the advent of memory card storage things are much quicker to do, my mini Dv camera sits in a box and is worth about a fiver, not worth selling and not worth using.I wouldn't bother.
 
crofter said:
Nothing good about miniDv, when it was state of the art with small cameras you had to accept the slow real time recording of content onto your computer but the advent of memory card storage things are much quicker to do, my mini Dv camera sits in a box and is worth about a fiver, not worth selling and not worth using.I wouldn't bother.
Click to expand...

That's why mine is boxed away, and tapes left unopened. Not even worth selling, just not worth the hassle!

Just wonder why the OP is so keen on using the MiniDV format :thinking: , just can't see any benefit in it what so ever !
 
I was having a clear out of old Video tape a few months back, it was so tedious hand spooling through reams and reams of tape. It took me hours upon hours to to view through just snippets of tape. I was shaking my head, and thinking why I ever bothered to get into Video tape. It's just that it was the only thing available at the time, using the currents storage media of today, is such a joy.

But give MiniDV a try you just might like it, besides you can get hold of MiniDv Camcorder and tape second hand for really really cheap now. Practically nothing in fact ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top