How do I import video from SonyHandycam DCR-SR82? Please Help!

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How do I import video from SonyHandycam DCR-SR82? Please Help!

Hello, I have an Imac G5 before the intel processor. I have Imovie 5.0.2, I just bought a Sony Handycam DCR-SR82 with a hard drive. This is my first camcorder. I can't figure out how to get imovie to accept the video clips. This error comes up when I try to drag the video files into imovie:The file could not be imported: The file “Jen Gray/Volumes/NO NAME/MP_ROOT/101PNV01/M2U00001.MPG” can’t be imported; QuickTime couldn’t parse it: -2048. I can't do anything with this. I'm new to Imovie, please help. I'm about to take the camera back and say forget it.

Imac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Dec 10, 2007 9:41 AM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Dec 10, 2007 10:44 AM in response to jengray26

Hi Jengray and welcome to the forums!

I'm about to take the camera back and say forget it.

I am sorry to say that that is your best solution. Hard Disk cameras will not work with any version of iMovie except iMovie 8, but even then the quality is inferior to what you should have, namely a video camera that uses miniDV tape and which has a firewire connection (Sony call this iLink).

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Answer 2

jengray26 Author

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Dec 10, 2007 1:16 PM in response to jengray26

I figured it out. I upgraded my quick time and downloaded the mpeg-2 plug-in. Now it works great! Whew. Not sure about the quality yet. I have a lot of playing around to do yet.

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Answer 3

Dec 10, 2007 8:14 PM in response to jengray26

Hi Jen,

A word to the wise, if I may. While you are "playing around", you are going to possibly miss your window of opportunity to return that cam for a device that will most certainly provide you with superior video and much greater ease of computer editing, namely a miniDV cam. The clock is ticking.

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Answer 4

deedean

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Dec 10, 2007 8:44 PM in response to Forest Mccready

If I can jump in... I have a similar camera and the same issues. I can't take mine back but am still planning on buying one that will work with the IMAC I own. Any suggestions from experience of quality cameras that work with the Mac?

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Answer 5

Dec 10, 2007 10:43 PM in response to deedean

Hi Dee,

If you have been reading any of the multitude of posts on this subject, you already know it has to be a miniDV tape cam. Now you need to look for reviews of the various manufacturers lines of miniDv cams to make your own informed decision. Look for reviews of Panasonic, Sony and Canon cams and you won't go wrong. Some posters on this board include their camera equipment in their equipment profiles at the bottom of each post. I would suggest that those you see listed might be highly recommended, otherwise they wouldn't be there.

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Answer 6

jengray26 Author

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Dec 11, 2007 8:12 AM in response to jengray26

I'm going to take your advice and take the camera back, even though it is the one I really wanted. I got the video to work, but couldn't get the audio to work in imovie. It's probably just my lack of knowledge of what I need to do, but, I also don't want to throw $600 down the drain. I really don't like the miniDV players. I guess I will just wait until they perfect the hard drive models. I wish iMovie was as user friendly as iPhoto is.....I have a Sony Cybershot and it works just great with iPhoto. I'm really sad about all this!

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Answer 7

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Dec 11, 2007 10:02 AM in response to jengray26

The alternative is to upgrade to iLife 8.

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Answer 8

deedean

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Jan 26, 2008 5:50 PM in response to Forest Mccready

Is my HD camcorder now compatible with IMovie Version 8.0. An Apple rep at Best Buy said the the new version of IMovie will now imput video from HardDrive camcorders. Does this seem right?

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Answer 9

Jan 26, 2008 10:48 PM in response to deedean

Rather than take the word of an "Apple rep" at Best Buy, check the Apple compatibility list to see if your cam is listed for iMovie 08. Sorry I don't have the link, but it should be easy to find on this website. Not all hard drive cams are compatible.

Forest

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Answer 10

Songstan

Level 1

8 points

Feb 4, 2008 7:45 AM in response to Klaus1

I had the same problem with the DCR S82 camera. The following has worked for me. I have iMac '08
When you turn on your camera after you plug the USB connection in, press computer on the Camcorder screen. In about 20 seconds an icon appears on your computer screen called NO NAME. At this point open iMovie and go to file. (Don't open iMovie before you see the NO NAME icon) Click on Import From Camera, and the clips appear on iMovie. Sometimes I don't have to go to file. As soon as iMovie was brought up, the clips appeared ready for import. This has worked in the last dozen or so times for me so I guess this is the way to go. (I can't say whether it will work for iMovie '05)

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