[ProHermit]

Camcorder PC transfer with attached pic help..

I'm just about to buy a Sony Hi-Def Camcorder that records onto small DVD disks. However, my PC is 6 years old or more and I've no idea if it's capable of being hooked up to a camcorder (SOZ NEWBIE)

So my question is, does a new Hi-Def camcorder plug into the USB port on my PC and can I save my video footage this way, there's no info about this on the Camcorder web site where I hope to buy it nor anywhere else. Sorry for the lame question, but I'm a total newbie to camcorders and trying to work out how to save my video footage to my PC.

(also, see the attached pic below, to see if anyone knows what they do. Can I attach my new camcorder to any of these sockets and btw, what do sockets No1 and No2 do anyway, out of curiosity.)

Is socket No1 a firewire port or is this something else?
What can I do with socket No2, out of curiosity?
Lastly, does a camcorder plug into my PC USB so that I can transfer footage and save it?

Kindest regards

[PopPicker]

The questions are always easy...it's the answers that are difficult!

No 1 port is for a network cable
No 2 port yellow is a headphone/speaker output
No 3 port is an S-video input

As your camera records to MiniDVD's you only need to put those in your CD/DVDdrive for the PC to read them. You don't need to connect the camera.

HOWEVER ! Unless the disc is finalised it will only be viewable using the camera.

[UOGAddict]

If you are going for ease of editing, I suggest going with a hard drive camera.

I recommend the Everio series. I've been using the 30gig model for about a month and love every part of it.

[ProHermit]

Cheers for the help.

Thanks for letting me know what these sockets do on my PC. I've just researched the info you gave and now understand their functions. Incidently, my internal PC DVD player has decided not to work anymore, this is something else I have to work out why. But, yes that's the best route to save stuff I guess. I was trying to avoid buying any more hardware for my PC as I hope to get a new one within a year, but hopefully I can buy a new cheap DVD re-writer for now.

The Camcorder I hope to get is a Sony. I would love a hard-drive camcorder but my budget can't stretch that far, the reason why is I'm sacrificing the cost of a hard-drive model over having 1080i High Definition, which I really want out of any other option. I have contemplated a hard-drive camcorder and they are within my budget, however unless they are the expensive, they do not offer Hi-Def. So I have opted for the best picture quality (future proof) over a hard-drive model.

Cheers again for taking time to help a newbie to camcorders.

[linskyjack]

Future proof--nothing is future proof, particularly 1080i. It would be helpful if you told us what you are using your camera for.