Camcorder help!

[Elaine ..Spain]

I have a Samsung DV Camcorder (model VP D31) which has sat in the cupboard for a few years (!!) together with a pile of small video tapes on which there are a number of recordings of holidays, grandchildren etc.

I have been meaning to learn how to transfer these to the computer, edit them and make something worthwhile out of them - but it's been one of those things that I just haven't got around to doing ... until today!

OH has got the camcorder out of the cupboard and suggested I might like to sort it ... or bin it!

Having tried to connect the camcorder to my laptop, somewhat unsuccessfully, I now find that I need to connect with a firewire ieee1394 connection, which doesn't mean a lot to me. Having had a look at all the little holes on my laptop it appears I don't have a firewire connection point, which I understand from what I have read on the web is somewhat ancient technology anyway?

So any suggestions of where I go from here. Can I buy a firewire ieee1394 connector - and if so how do I connect it to my laptop?

I am sure there are some lovely recordings of holidays and the kids on the tapes, it would seem a pity to bin then all! :D

[WendyPusey]

Dave had to get one of these for connecting his DV camcorder to his new laptop.

Depending on the age of your laptop, you'll need either a firewire expresscard or a firewire pcmcia card.

These simply slot into the side of the laptop...

[Elaine ..Spain]

Thanks Wendy.

I had seen one of those on Amazon but I don't seem to have any slots in which I can put it! The only slot I have is a small one for a camera card.
I wondered if there was any type of external device which could be connected by USB?

[WendyPusey]

Dave says what make & model is your laptop. His work laptop has a plastic blanker in the slot, which makes it almost impossible to find.

[Elaine ..Spain]

Compaq A900 Presario

[dave pusey]

Sorry Elaine, but it looks like your laptop doesn't have either of those slots I mentioned earlier.

The only remaining option would be an internal Firewire card for a desktop computer. Whilst you can get USB to Firewire convertors, they won't have a high enough throughput to run a DV camera.

[Elaine ..Spain]

Thanks for your help Dave.

Looks as if I have another reason to look for a new laptop when I am in the UK next year!!

[Chrissie Smiff]

Looks as if I have another reason to look for a new laptop when I am in the UK next year!!

I hate to spoil your shopping spree plans Elaine but haven't you got a friend with a laptop of desktop that has the facillity? They could downloaded it to their computer on to Windows Movie maker or similar and put it onto a large flashdrive or external hardrive and pass it back to you. We also have some small independent computer shops that will do it - do you have any in your area?

[Elaine ..Spain]

Ignores Chrissie! :D
I am SURE it would be far easier to buy a new laptop.

Actually I had intended to get one anyway, but I now know that it would be a good idea to look for one that has the necessary port for the camcorder cable.

[Chrissie Smiff]

Ignores Chrissie! :D
I am SURE it would be far easier to buy a new laptop.

Actually I had intended to get one anyway, but I now know that it would be a good idea to look for one that has the necessary port for the camcorder cable.

Just pretend I didn't say anything
It all started because I was telling hubby about your problem (he does a lot of video transferring etc) and he said "where does she live". I think he was going to offer to do it until I told him Spain

[TrevorFranklin]

Though I agree with Dave regarding the USB/Firewire converter, I have been looking up the technical specs for your laptop and it is 'supposed' to be able to run at USB 2.0
This is the same data transfer speed as Firewire for your camera.
(backed up with technical review from PCWorld mag in Austrailai http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/review..._a936tu/221003)

Originally Firewire was a much faster way of transferring data than USB 1.0, but with 2.0 and now 3.0 (on the latest laptops), firewire as a method of transfer is being overtaken by USB.
Samsung themselves did bring out a USB version of the connection cable for the camera and there is one available on Amazon for only £3.97

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000QU5IPQ/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000QUAR5W&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1ZTPZKVV6XW6YV9D0TWJ

It could be a good punt to purchase a USB output cable for your camera and see what the result is, even though the actual technical data rate for firewire is higher, the older camera may provide a slower rate that USB 2.0 can handle,

[Elaine ..Spain]

I do have a USB cable which came with the camcorder but couldn't get it to work.
I wondered if it might have been a problem that the driver that comes with the camera is too old to work with Vista but I couldn't see an alternative driver on the internet to download and try.
I also read somewhere (lost the link now) that the USB cable could only be used to transfer single shot mages, rather than a movie recording.