Imac does not recognize my mini dv camcorder?

I bought a Powered Belkin FW400 Hub & it did not help. It seemed to make matters worse. I get better response from daisy chaining off my LaCie d2 DVD-RW External Drive. Like I said, I have to do the little "Trick" I mentioned to get it to work with my Mac Mini. I'm thinking when I get the iMac, I may use the MyBook as USB and just buy a 4PIN to 9PIN FW Cable, which would have it plugged right to the Mac, but judging be what other people are saying, That might not even work. Or I could plug the Samsung Mini DV in & it WILL work. I sure hope so. I'll be ****** if I have to go back to my Mac Mini for Video Editing. That's what I got the iMac for, in the first place.

mtviens wrote:
Anyone find a solution to this yet? I'm using the Canon ZR80 on a new iMac v10.6.2. I've connected with an 800-400 adapter and then a 400 cable.

Further to my earlier post...

I took my Canon ZR80 to Simply Computing in Vancouver, using an 800-DV cable off the shelf, we connected to one of their machines running Leopard. The Firewire port via the System Profiler recognized the Canon ZR80 but it didn't mount and so there was no way to access it.

This would make me think it is an OS issue. I guess Mac is not all "easy" plug n' play like we like to purport...

2 Questions Please!

What Mac did they Hook It Up To in the Store?

When you Open iMovie, do You not see any Capture Frame from your Camera ?

Thank you!

Having a problem replying to you! This message is a test.

There have been several posts indicating problems connecting Canon cameras. I shall be testing my Canon HV20 soon. But I thought I should remind myself what the Canon manual says with some edits in [brackets]:

'Transferring Video Recordings
1 Start the computer.

2 Set the camcorder to PLAY mode.

3 Connect the camcorder to the computer using the digital connection [Firewire cable]. When the connection is recognized "[a graphic image of the mini-FW400 connector and] HDV/DV” will be displayed [on the camcorder].

4 Start the video editing software.

The video transfer may not work correctly depending on the software and the specifications/settings of your computer.

If the computer freezes while the camcorder is connected to it, disconnect the DV cable and turn off the camcorder and the computer. After a short while, turn them on again, set the camcorder to PLAY mode and restore the connection.

Before connecting the camcorder to the computer using a DV cable, make sure no other IEEE1394 device is connected to the computer.

Depending on the video editing software, you may need to set the switch of the camcorder to a mode other than PLAY. Refer to the instruction manual of the editing software.

We recommend powering the camcorder using the compact power adapter."

I did not remember that Canon is saying "thou shalt not have any other Firewire devices connected" but others have recommended that approach. And important that the last step should be starting the video editing software after the camcorder indicates it has a connection to the computer.

Great news! My suspicions were confirmed. The issue (no idea why) is that I could not use a 9 pin to 6 pin adapter and then 6 to 4pin. I went to the apple store yesterday and bought a 9 pin to 4 pin and now it all works like a charm. I am SO happy. So word of warning to others - if you have trouble getting your camcorder to work, try a straight 9 pin to 4 pin cable (if you aren't already).

Great News KraftyOne! I just ordered the 9Pin to 4Pin 6 Ft. Cable on Amazon. Can't open the iMac until Christmas but I would like Everything to Work from the Get Go. Thanks.

And my final post. I purchased the 9pin-4pin adapter today, connected it up and found that the Firewire port in the System Profiler was now recognizing the Canon RZ80 but it wasn't mounting a volume on my desktop (which happens with my digital camera and other Firewire appliances) and when I opened iMovie, it wasn't seeing it either. I was on the phone with Apple support, when I just happened to turn the camera off, then back on again and the iMovie import window opened up and I was able to do the import!!!

So, my recommendation:
1) buy the 9pin-4pin adapter (Simply Computing in Vancouver or...)
2) connect the camera but don't turn it on
3) open iMovie
4) turn the camera on by switching to Play mode
5) the iMovie import window should open up at which point you can import.

Also, the camera does not mount a volume on the desktop if you were expecting it to.

Hope that helps someone to avoid my last few days lost to trouble-shooting...!

Hence, You stumbled upon the trick I mention in my Previous post. I've been using this Trick for 2 Years now with my Mac Mini. My camcorder is not on Apple's recommended & compatible Mini DV Camcorder List. I can't take credit for the Trick. I found it on a Forum 2 Years ago. All you others who are having a Problem, Should Try this "Trick! The original fix is connect Camera to Mac. y. It works everytime for my Samsung.

*The Trick:iMovie Camcorder Import Fix*

*Connect your camera. put it in 'play' mode (sometimes also called vcr). start up imovie (hd or 08; both work, but i use HD). go to the blue 'import' screen. it should just say 'camera connected'.*


*Now comes the trick. don't click import, but instead put your camera in 'record' mode. you should now see whatever it is that your aiming the camera at on your computer screen.*


*QUICKLY put your camera back in play mode. again very quickly press the 'play' button, either on the imovie import screen or on your camera. your DV tape will start to play back.*
*-On my computer, the video now suddenly shows up in imovie! You can now click the 'import' button in imovie, and imovie will start importing the tape in realtime. This is a bit slower than the normal import method, but hey, at least you can now get your video into imovie!*