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MiniDV video is captured to a computer in real-time as it is played back on the camcorder. A Firewire DV card is by far the best to use, it was designed for video and has a vary high transfer rate, make sure your camera has firewire, a lot of time it is marked as DV out. You can also add a firewire card to your computer fairly easily. Search for 'PCI firewire card' for desktop computers and "PCMCIA firewire card' USB won't work because the transfer rate is not fast enough. Another option is to use a professional video transfer service. They use super high quality audio cables that connect miniDV decks to high quality video cards directly. This would get you the best quality. StashSpace.Com offers this transfer service for $6.95 a tape.
It uses a 4 to 6 pin firewire which should hook up straight from the camera to the computer.
I have a Toshiba Satellite M65-S9092, and I really like it. It has 1 Firewire port, and I have no problems with my computer. You can add a firewire port to your computer if it has a PCMCIA card slot. Just search for 'PCMCIA firewire card' and you will find a bunch of them online or you can get one from your local computer electronics store.Most newer computers have them built in but it will depend entierly on the model#ALL Apple Macs have built-in Firewire, as well as built-in software to edit movies (iMovie) and burn DVDs (iDVD). Side note: Firewire is an Apple-developed technology, but it is an IEEE standard (IEEE 1394), also known by its standard designation and other names, including i.Link (Sony).You can also use a video transfer service to convert your miniDV tapes to DVD. StashSpace.Com has a free software you can use to import video from your miniDV camera onto your computer yourself with a firewire cable. Or you can send them your tapes and they will transfer them for you. Costs $7 per tape.
The ZR80 uses a MiniDV tape which should be recognised by Final Cut Express (in the Capture window). You need to connect the camera to the computer with a FireWire 400 cable. If the computer only has a FireWire 800 socket you need an adapter to convert the 800 to a 400 socket.
It depends. MiniDV (and HDV) are compatible with almost every editing software package, and require a less powerful computer to edit, however the industry is moving towards flash and hard disk camcorders. The encoding used by these new camcorders is more taxing on your computer, and requires new editing software. If you want something to be compatible with your existing software and older computer, then MiniDV might make sense, but if you have a powerful new computer and the latest editing software then MiniDV is probably not the best choice for the future. See the related links for a more detailed comparison of MiniDV and Flash Camcorders
The Sony MiniDV, the JVC Everio and Canon MiniDV are all around $250.
Canon (like the Vixia H40), Sony, JVC, and Panasonic are companies which make minidv camcorders. Photo stores that sell these brands may carry minidv camcorders; alternatively one can look through auction sites like eBay and Amazon where new and used models are available.
No, for sure not, as it is a MiniDV Camcorder
There are many places where one can find highly rated minidv camcorders. The easiest place to find them is by visiting a local electronic store such as Best Buy.
There are several places where one can purchase MiniDV tapes from. Some of these places include stores such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sony, and Amazon. One can purchase them either in-store or online.
HD Camcorders are the best media format for high quality video. MiniDV is fairly dated, although some people still like using it.
There's a discussion about that here:http://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/minidv-and-hi8-stand-alone-players-t239171.htmlYou apparently need to pay around $1000 to get a standalone Hi8 player with firewire, but people were suggesting using newer, cheap hi8 camcorders as transferring devices.