Problem importing from Sony Handycam DCR DVD109

I have a Sony HandyCam DCR-DVD403. It records onto mini DVDs. The movies are not recognized on iMovie HD on my MacBook nor my iMac (both with Leopard). It connects to the computer via USB cable. The error alert says that a camera could not be found. I've tried on several different discs. I finalized the discs and then tried again, and the program still does not recognize my movies. I can watch my movies on the computer in iDVD when the HandyCam hooked up, but they will not import into iMovie. When I try to import the movies in, the computer recognizes that there is a disc, but there are no recognizable movie files on it. I am completely distraught about this and would desperately appreciate any and all help!!!

Does anyone know how I can get it to understand it is a camcorder and import the movies on the disc into iMovie'08?

After you made the USB connection and the camcorder was recognized, did you try opening iMovie '08? Unlike iPhoto, I don't believe iMovie '08 is programmed to open automatically.

when I plug the camera in the computer sees the camera as a blank DVD ready to burn to.

Have you confirmed that data is actually written to the media? (I.e., can you play anything back in/via the camcorder?

When I open iMovie'08 and go to import movies and select 'untitled' DVD in places it does not open and does not recognise there being any movies on the disc.

Does you disc media require the disc be "closed" before it can be read by other devices. If so, did you do this?

Hi there,

I had exactly the same problem with my Sony DCR DVD 908E with a macbook Pro running Leopard OS.

There are two things I believe will solve the problem. First when you insert the disc or tap you need to select the format. The format needs to be 'Standard' or 'Video' and you select this once before you make your first recording on the disc/tape.

The second thing is that you indeed have to 'finalize' the tape or disc. You can do this at the end of the last recording when the disc/tape is full. Once you have finalized the disc/tape plug in the camcorder as per normal.

The Mac will show a pop up menu that will ask you to open Imovie. From there you click import and it imports the clips into iMovie.

Let me know if this has helped solve the problem.

DVDH

Your solution does work, but is there any way to import the movies from a dvd before it is finalized? Some times I want to import a video clip as soon as I've filmed it but the mini-dvd is only 1/4 full, and it seems a waste to finalize it just to be able to import the movie.

Thanks.

No, I have tried but it does not work.

What does work is you finalize the disc, unload the movies. When that is done you format the disc so you can use it again. The disadvantage there is that you lose the movie on the disc.
rgds, D