Is the Samsung SC-D372 MiniDV Camcorder compatable with Windows Vista?

Question

I have had a Sony camcorder in the past that was not compatable with Windows Vista Home Premium on my Toshiba Satellite. I want to know if a Samsung SC-D372 MiniDV Camcorder would be if I upload video via firewire.

Thanks

Answer 1

All consumer camcorders are "compatible" with all personal computer operating systems. Some just need different tools. As you point out, miniDV camcorder transfer their video using firewire - and connecting the camcorder's DV port to the computer's firewire port... and Firewire, DV, IEEE1394a and i.LINK are all the same thing. The trick is having an operational firewire port, using an appropriate importing tool and video editor. This all applies whether Windows or MacOSX.

I guess I'd like to know which Sony camcorder "that was not compatible with Windows Vista Home Premium". If it was a DVD based camcorder and the computer has a drawer loading DVD drive, you only needed to download and install a DVD ripper (like HandBrake) to rip the DVD from the disc.

If it was a hard drive or flash memory based high definition camcorder, then perhaps a video editor (not MovieMaker) capable of dealing with AVCHD files was needed.

If an analog camcorder, then an analog/digital bridge like those from Pinnacle or Canopus would have allowed the camcorder-computer connectivity.

There are other possible scenarios - but none of them are operating system specific. The operating system actually has little to do with any specific camcorder compatibility issues. There may be a combination of computer hardware (no firewire port) or software (video editor needs something special) issues, but not operating system...

But to anser you question directly, If you Toshiba laptop's firewire port is operational and the camcorder is in Play (or VCR) mode and also connected to AC power, then MovieMaker should be able to "Capture" just fine - if not, try download and install WinDV - it seems to do a better job getting miniDV tape digital video into the computer than MMaker does.