How do I upload videos to my computer (PLEASE READ)?

Question

I have a Sony digital camera and I'd like to get the video that's on there uploaded onto Youtube. However, when I plug in the USB cord to the computer, an option comes up ONLY to upload photos...

I want to upload the video... How would I go about doing this...? Do I need a certain program? Would it already be on my computer? Please explain in the simplest way you know, yet be detailed. xD

Thanks!

Answer 1

As has been already mentioned, you will likely need a special cable and card for your computer. PC's have USB connections, and those will connect your camera to the computer so that you can transfer photos and even use the camera as a webcam, but to transfer video you need a firewire connection. (The USB just aint fast enough.) Thus you will likely need to buy a firewire board for your computer and a cable.

Go to Amazon.com and type in firewire in the search and it will pull up a list of cables and boards. There is a Trendnet board a cable for about $20 for a standard desktop PC. There is a different version of you have a laptop.

But before you buy, if you have a later version PC check to see if you have a firewire port already. It will be about the size of a USB port, but one end of it will be V shaped. Some newer computers have it built in like the Macs.  

You don't need special software. You can use Microsoft's free MovieMaker software (which is not great, but not bad either -- and it's free). It may already be on your computer or you can download it from Microsoft (Google it). Once the camera is attached via the firewire it will recognize the camera and allow you to control the camera from the software (rewind, play and download).

Then once you have the video downloaded you can edit it and convert it to a format that is usable by YouTube.

Answer 2

Video is firewire (iLink) only!! Check the Sony support site for details of your camera model...