I have a Panasonic DVD camcorder. How do I connect it to my Mac? A USB cable isn't working.?

Question

I have a Panasonic DVD camcorder. How do I connect it to my Mac? A USB cable isn't working.?

Answer 1

Instead of using USB port (Photo based) use DV Port.(Video File). You will need firewire cable and Firewire card on the computer.

If your USB cable was working before. It is possible you might have blown something on the camcorder. Hence computer is not detecting camcorder.

It is vital that you follow Warning instruction provided by the Panasonic camcorder package.

Answer 2

You did not tell us which camcorder.  Though I am pretty certain there is no instruction in the manual that says to connect the way you want to transfer video to a Mac.

You have two options:

1) If you have a drawer loading DVD drive, put the DVD in there - you will rip the DVD using HandBrake. NEVER put a miniDVD disc in a slot loading optical drive. You will break the drive and scratch the Disc and lose the video.

2) Get an analog/digital converter from Canopus. You need to use the Firewire version because the USB version (Pinnacle Dazzle) will not work with iMovie. Using the AV cable that came with the camcorder, plug the camcorder into the A/D bridge. Plug the Canopus A/D bridge into the available Firewire400 port on your Mac. Launch iMovie. With the camcorder in the same play-back mode if you were to connect to a TV, press play... and click on Import in iMovie.

If you can, return the camcorder for a refund. Video quality is terrible - especially for editing. Get MiniDV tape based or hard drive or flash memory based. DVD cams were a good idea, but poorly implemented. They should be recalled by the manufacturers and everyone should get their money back. This is not a computer issue - this is a camcorder issue. The manufacturers should be ashamed for releasing such a poor quality product on the market.