Have USB - Need Firewire - ?

[Peter Guy]

I have a newish laptop that has USB2 ports (Win 7) but no PCMCIA or Firewire port. I also have a video camera that only has Firewire video output. On my old laptop, I could use a Firewire PCMCIA card and download video directly, but I'm stumped with this one.

Do any of you guru's out there have some suggestions? Is there a Firewire to USB device (like I have a Serial to USB for downloading my dive computer) or a PCMCIA to USB device (which would then let me use my existing Firewire/PCMCIA card)?

New gear is great but what about the legacy devices?

 

[diversteve]

There really isn't one afaik. Pixela at one time made one but they couldn't get the custom chips after a couple of years so they're no longer available. And your camcorder had to be one of those supported afaik. PIX-UVCD/U1W - Specifications and system requirements | PIXELA CORPORATION

Plus technically the output side wasn't DV but an MPEG conversion. I doubt if it would've worked with HD.

How is the video stored in your camcorder? On removable SD/SDHC cards? If so use the SDHC card reader in your laptop.

Or is it all internal storage only? Does your camcorder have the option to download the internal storage to another format - like an SDHC card through a reader. Or even a standalone (probably Proprietary) DVD burner? My sister has a Canon that does that.

Post the specific models of the gear you're trying to connect - maybe someone has a solution.

 

[Peter Guy]

The camcorder is a Canon ZR830 using mini-DV cassettes. If it was using cards the solution would be easy, sigh.

 

[diversteve]

I'm kind of running short on time now but I think something like this would work. There is an analog video output jack on your camcorder. Walmart.com: USB-Live2 USB Video Capture Device (Windows PC): Computers

Or if you have a Mac: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=13215061&findingMethod=rr&seorrloc=bottom - although I'm not sure what they mean by iPod native-format video.

Since you're not shooting HD, the quality will be the same. I assumed previously that you had a newer camera.

There are probably a dozen similar products under $100 that will work.

 

[Peter Guy]

Thanks but, of course, the particular system you've referenced won't work with this camera because it uses what appears to be a proprietary (semi-proprietary?) mini-plug analog output, not the standard S-video/RCA plugs like on my other digital camcorder.

Someone MUST have created a PCMCIA to USB2 converter -- at least so I would think because there are so many PCMCIA cards floating around out there -- aren't there? And so far, neither Google nor E-bay have been my friend!

 

[iztok]

STV-250N Mini Plug to RCA adapter?

 

[iztok]

Also check USB to PCMCIA Adapter for 32 Bit Cardbus Cards - U142 - PCD-X/U142-E, $172.95

and

Amazon.com: IO Card, PCMCIA, Firewire, 2 Port, 6 Pin, w/ Cable, I/O Flex: Electronics

But this is just guessing here.

 

[diversteve]

Besides being $172 - yikes, I think that first reader is only for wireless broadband networking cards, not for what you need to do.

Supports a select number of 3G (CDMA/ GSM/ UMTS/ EDGE/ HSDPA) PC Cardbus Cards

But I don't know enough about the technology to be certain.

I just did a quick scan of my usual tech sources (NewEgg, Geeks.com, TheNerds.net) and I didn't find any PCMCIA to USB2 adapters either.

Itzok's suggestion in conjunction with mine should work as your camera outputs a composite video/audio signal.

STV-250N Mini Plug to RCA adapter?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

@Peter Guy: There was a company that made a USB to Firewire cable adapter. It was designed to allow communication between a Firewire DV camcorder and computer (OS platform: WinXP/Vista, or Mac emulating WinXP/Vista) with only USB 2.0 ports. The price was high (approx. $150). Unfortunately, the company has discontinued production of this gadget.

Many people do video editing on a souped-up desktop computer that is much more expandable than a laptop. These people would simply install a Firewire PCI card in that desktop computer...and happily transfer their video footage from the camcorder to the PC.

Many higher-end modern laptops have either a PCMCIA or ExpressCard slot. Perhaps you can convince TSandM that this justifies buying a sleek new laptop.

Alternatively, since your old laptop probably died but you still have the Firewire PCMCIA card adapter, perhaps you can just buy an older, used laptop and dedicate it to video transfer.

Another option is to buy a camcorder that uses USB 2.0 to transfer video to the PC.

I'm sorry. I can't think of any other solutions.