Is the fire-wire the only way to get the Sony Handy cam to work on a Mac?

Question

Is it possible to filter the video through another camera to the Mac?

Answer 1

"Handycam" is Sony's brandname for their consumer camcorders.

If the camcorder is a miniDV or Digital8 tape based camcorder, then yes, iMovie and FinalCut will only recognize the video signal coming in through the Mac's firewire port when importing video from the miniDV tape - by connecting to the camcorder's DV port.

If the camcorder is hard drive or flash memory based, the camcorder typically does not have a DV port so USB is used for copying the video data files from the camcorder to the computer, then converting those files to a format that iMovie or FinalCut can use... You do not directly import those files into iMovie or FinalCut.

If the camcorder is DVD based, if your Mac has a drawer loading DVD drive, you can take the DVD out of the camcorder and rip the DVD using HandBrake

http://handbrake.fr/

If your Mac has a slot loading DVD drive, do not put the miniDVD in there - you will break the drive and scratch the disc. Use the same video transfer process as with VHS, VHS-C, Hi8 or any other analog video storage:

Get an "analog/digital bridge" from Canopus

http://canopus.com/products/videoconvers...

Connect the camcorder to its AV cables, plug the AV cables into the A/D bridge, plug the A/D bridge into the firewire port.

"Is it possible to filter the video through another camera to the Mac?" Yes - basically, you use that camcorder's "pass through" feature - like the A/D bridge. Most camcorders do not have this capability.

Answer 2

"Handycam" is a generic name for Sony's consumer level camcorders - which one have you got?

Answer 3

Is your camera is a minidv or minidvd?

Even Mac's need a firewire connection to download a minidv camera. My sister's mac came with a firewire card.

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.

If you have a mini dvd camcorder….

You will have to finalize your dvd in the camera and then put the dvd in your computer 's DVD burner (top loading only) and then you will have to convert the files (i downloaded handbrake file converter free) and import them into your editing program. Use the HELP feature in your editing program to learn about editing. Once you are ready to burn, your project will be burned to a different DVD and you can file the original away.

Answer 4

You still need a  firewire/iLink cable!!! Since you neglected to tell us the make  of your camcorder  you don't have many options!! Consult your manual!! There is a whole section devoted to your answer!! If you don't have one, you should be able to download one from the Sony support site.