Connecting Sony Mini-DV camcorder to Mac..

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Connecting Sony Mini-DV camcorder to Mac..

I have a Sony Mini-DV camcorder that I'm trying to connect to my Mac so I can save some video i've taken. The Camcorder is about 5 years old. The only output ports it has are: a really small USB, a slightly larger square looking port that says
i DV under it, and the old yellow audio/video out. I connected the camcorder via a mini usb converter to one of the regular usb ports on the back of my mac and nothing happens. It doesn't even recognize that something has been plugged in... Is there anything I can do to connect this camcorder to my Mac???

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Mar 30, 2009 10:57 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 30, 2009 1:09 PM in response to lucky259

You need to buy a 4-pin to 6-pin Firewire cable. Sony would call it an i.Link cable.

The cable connects to the "DV" port on the camera and a Firewire port on the Mac.

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Answer 2

lucky259 Author

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Mar 30, 2009 1:16 PM in response to Lennart Thelander

Where can I get one of them?? Would Radio shack have one?

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Answer 3

Mar 30, 2009 11:26 PM in response to lucky259

Hi

A. As Lennart writes but there are in some cases two FW-Cables depending
on how the FW-port looks on Your Mac

either a
• 4-pi to 6-pin FireWire Cable - or -
• 4-pi to FW-800 connector FW-Cable

Some new Macs only have the FW-800 port eg MacBook-Pro

B. On some Cameras You need to look into the Camera menu and set DV-out
so the Camera port gets active.

Yours Bengt W

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Answer 4

Mar 30, 2009 11:46 PM in response to lucky259

Where can I get one of them?

Electronics store, video camera store or computer store.

Would Radio shack have one?

Most likely, yes.

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Answer 5

lucky259 Author

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Mar 31, 2009 2:53 PM in response to Lennart Thelander

Excellent, got one at Radio Shack. It was kinda expensive $36. I'm sure I could've found one cheaper but I was in a hurry. Thanks for all the help!!!

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Answer 6

DrHector

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May 14, 2009 12:54 PM in response to Bengt Wärleby

Hi, Im trying to do the same thing with sony mini-dv to my mac with USB, but mine is the new unibody macbook and dosn't have firewire input.

What can I do?

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Answer 7

May 15, 2009 12:11 AM in response to DrHector

There is not much you can do, except get (borrow, rent, buy) a Mac with Firewire.

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