How do you put videos onto the computer from a Canon video camera?

Question

I have a Canon 2R45 digital VIDEO camera. I am going to be using it for a school project that involves acting, and my group and I need to be able to edit it on the computer. We use a mini cassette to record on. Is there any way to get my videos onto the computer from this???

Also, just playing around with my camera right now, I noticed that there is actually a "multimedia card" in a slot by the door/screen. On the other side of the camera, there is a little switch that can flip between "tape" and "card". Does this mean I could record onthe multimedia card, and if so, could I get the movies onto the computer through that????

Answer 1

If you have a mini dv (cassette) camcorder….

Your dv camcorder needs a firewire connection (ieee 1394) in order to download video, your PC probably did not come with a firewire port, so you will have to buy one and install it, since most computers (except possibly brand new) don't come with a firewire port, your camcorder did not come with a firewire cord so you have to purchase a cord too. Your camcorder did come with a USB cord and that is used for downloading stills from your camcorder. Make sure your camera is in playback mode.

Use a good editing program.

Answer 2

I believe it is a Canon ZR45.

Download the manual here:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contro...

All miniDV tape camcorders will transfer video from the tape to your computer using the DV port on the camcorder connected to the firewire port of your computer. Snowwillow is correct. You will need to buy and install a firewire port if your computer does not have one.

The memory card is for STILLS only. That is what the USB port is there for - transferring STILLS only. Not video from the miniDV tape.

And no, you can't copy from the tape to the memory card inside the camcorder.

And no, a USB to firewire converter/adapter will not work.