Having problems with editing videos.?

Question

I just bought a sony dcr-sf42 camcorder love the camera it is awsome but i took a movie and wanted to edit it with windows movie maker 2 for xp it tried to import it but it gave me a message saying i might need a codec. what codec do i need and is there any easy way to edit videos.....this is my first time working with videos but everyone has to start somewere eh.

Answer 1

first you have to capture it to disk using the sony software.

then you can convert it using something like this

http://www.papajohn.org/Types-HardDrive....

then you will be able to use movie maker

Answer 2

If this is a hard drive camcorder then you should be able to use the supplied USB cord. If it's minidv, then you have to download via firewire connection.

Answer 3

I'm assuming you've got a DCR-SR42.  It records in MPEG-2, which Windows Movie Maker can't handle and is a poor choice for editing anyway.  You can either convert the video to something like WMV, which WMM can handle, or buy an editor that can handle MPEG-2.  Most of them can, but Womble's probably the best choice if that's all you'll ever edit.