Reliable Sony MiniDv Camera Recommendations Sought

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Reliable Sony MiniDv Camera Recommendations Sought

I have a great many miniDV tapes from past projects that I need to import and digitize. Some were recorded on a Canon miniDV camera and some were recorded on a Sony miniDV camera. Unfortunately, several years ago both the Canon and Sony cameras were destroyed in a house fire. There was no "need' to transfer the tapes, which were safe in a storage unit.

A few months ago, I purchased both a Canon G2 and a Sony Handicam HDR-FX7 from eBay.

The GL2 works perfectly fine and is recognized by iMovie and FCP by my three Macs (listed below). I am able import video from it fine.

The HDR-FX7 works perfectly fine as well and shows up in System Settings but it is not recognized by any program whatsoever. I learned over time (and a great deal of research after the fact) that Apple has not supported the HDR-FX7 for many years. Had I know this, I would have not purchased the camera.

The problem for me is I can't remember exactly the last Sony model camera I had in the past (it was that many years ago); previous models I have owned were the Sony TRV 900 (one of my favorite camera ever) and the Sony TRV700. But some footage was shot on a slightly more advance prosumer model and I don't want to risk purchasing another camera that can't read that footage.

I would like to purchase another Sony miniDV camera from eBay, so my question is does anyone here have specific recommendations for Sony miniDV cameras that they know works with any of the model computers below? The more compatible with the M1 Mac or 2017 Mac, the better.

I have all the correct cables and adapters based on much research here and on other forums. I own an M1 MacBook Pro running Sonoma 14.2.1, a 2017 iMac running Ventura 13.6.3, and a 2009 iMac running Mac OS X 10.13.6.

Thanks.

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on Dec 25, 2023 8:25 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 26, 2023 10:48 AM in response to DS9Sisko

I would have thought that capturing from the FX7 using QuickTime Player on the 2009 iMac would have worked.

Have you tried that?

As you have mentioned the FX7 ,then I assume that some of your tapes are in HDV format ( slightly more advanced model....above ) as otherwise you would be capturing DV with your Canon which you have said is recognised by iMovie and FCP. Is this correct?

In QTP > New Movie Recording

Record a movie in QuickTime Player on Mac – Apple Support (UK)

My understanding is that iMovie and FCP still supports DV and HDV but can be hit or miss depending on your set up.

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Answer 2

DS9Sisko Author

Level 1

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Dec 28, 2023 11:10 AM in response to thesurreyfriends

Thank you for your response. I have tried capturing from the FX7 to the 2009 iMac using Quicktime would work, but it does not recognize the camera, although the FX7 does show up in the System Settings profile.

At first I thought the Firewire port on the FX7 was not working or broken but that doesn't seem to be the issue as the FX7 shows up in all three of the computers settings.

You are correct that at least some of the footage is in HDV format, but some of it is not. To reiterate, most of the footage was shot on another Sony camera (cannot remember the model); the FX7 was recently bought from eBay (and works fine).

Will check out that link, but I'm more resolved on buying another used Sony miniDV camera that others may recommend.

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Answer 3

DS9Sisko Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 28, 2023 7:31 PM in response to DS9Sisko

Thank you for your response. I have tried capturing from the FX7 to the 2009 iMac using Quicktime would work, but it does not recognize the camera, although the FX7 does show up in the System Settings profile.

At first I thought the Firewire port on the FX7 was not working or broken but that doesn't seem to be the issue as the FX7 shows up in all three of the computers settings.

You are correct that at least some of the footage is in HDV format, but some of it is not. To reiterate, most of the footage was shot on another Sony camera (cannot remember the model); the FX7 was recently bought from eBay (and works fine).

Will check out that link (which I have tried multiple times), but I'm more resolved on buying another used Sony miniDV camera that others may recommend.

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Reliable Sony MiniDv Camera Recommendations Sought

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