I'm having a serious problem. I have Panasonic VD-RM53. This is the most basic model which was no USB/FireWire port. It records on miniDV which need to be finalized before viewing them anywhere else. At this point I got two problems:
1) In order to finalize a DVD the camcoder needs to bo connected to the AC adapter using DC cord(a battery on the cable) which I don't have because I got this camera. I called Panasonic I can get one for 43.+S&H
2) Even when I have this cable - according to other ppl - I'm not gonna be able to finalize my miniDV because I did not use Panasonic brand - I hope it's not ture.
So my question is:
Is there a way to read raw(not finalized) miniDV in my PC's DVD rom???

[senu]

Originally Posted by aurir_

I'm having a serious problem. I have Panasonic VD-RM53. This is the most basic model which was no USB/FireWire port. It records on miniDV which need to be finalized before viewing them anywhere else. At this point I got two problems:

Just a little correction, MiniDV is a tape format.. your camcorder records to 2 formats of Mini DVD discs DVD-R or DVD-RAM
Mod comment (I've corrected the thread title to reflect that)

1) In order to finalize a DVD the camcoder needs to bo connected to the AC adapter using DC cord(a battery on the cable) which I don't have because I got this camera. I called Panasonic I can get one for 43.+S&H
2) Even when I have this cable - according to other ppl - I'm not gonna be able to finalize my miniDV because I did not use Panasonic brand - I hope it's not ture.

If you use DVD-RAM it doesnt need to be finalised anyway. What seems to be true is that The camcorder seems to be fussy and prefers only Panasonics own brand of mini DVD-RAM discs

So my question is:
Is there a way to read raw(not finalized) miniDV in my PC's DVD rom???

No.. unless you use DVD-RAM discs.. As i mentioned above, they don't need finalising. DVD-Rs do.
Saying that, you will also need a DVD drive in your PC capable of reading DVD-RAM discs if you opted for them
otherwise you are best off getting the Panasonic AC cable for use in finalising the mini DVD-R

DVD-RAM discs have very limited compatibility and only few DVD drives and Players can play them

For an inexpensive camcorder, it is proving costly because of the lack of this cable.. you will be best off getting it ,or Buying costly Panasonic branded mini DVD-RAM discs and a Compatible drive on your PC.
Even then youll need to get the footage onto "normal " DVDs after you got in on the PC in order to Playback on other machines
The few reviews on Ive read are mixed and I don't think you should plan to hold on to it for long.