[rightcharlie]

I recently bought the Sony DCR HC 51E Camcorder for my son....it came without any cable to attach to a computer..has anyone any information as to the correct cable to go from the camcorder to a USB? (he doesn't have a firewire connection)

Thanks in advance

Charlie

[redsox_mark]

You can't connect a Firewire/link cable to a USB. It is a different format/system.

Best to add a Firewire/I.link port to your son's PC.

[social_lurker]

^^^^ Is the right answer. Get a firewire card for the PC, it shouldnt cost much more than £10 or so.

[senu]

Originally Posted by social_lurker

^^^^ Is the right answer. Get a firewire card for the PC, it shouldnt cost much more than £10 or so.

..And it might come with the right cable too..
MiniDV tape camcorders do not generally communicate with PCs by USB ( although they can in theory)
The card is often a small,easy to fit PCI card with no need for drivers

[dave_bass5]

you could try one of these USB to firewire converters.
I don't know if they work or not though.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...3734a7ff9fc460

[redsox_mark]

Interesting - and cheap!

You may still have issues if the capturing software is expecting the capture from firewire; will it see this data coming in over USB?

[senu]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

Interesting - and cheap!

You may still have issues if the capturing software is expecting the capture from firewire; will it see this data coming in over USB?

True which is why I didnt suggest them. They exist but may "confuse" the Electronics in a camcorder, or the capturing Software will not feature the USB port as one it expects to capture DV video data from
using the real thing is (IMHO) less likely to run you into compatibility issues
Even the very rare MiniDV camcorder which did use USB could only do so with their own software ( Eg Panasonic Motion DV )

I would imagine they would be more handy for use of a firewire Ext HDD to a PC or Mac without firewire