can't import movie from panasonic pv-gs83 to 10.5.8 imovie

I'm running MacOS X 10.5.8 on a MacBook. I am using iMovie '09 (8.0.6). I'm trying to import a movie from a Panasonic Digital Video Camera model PV-GS83. I've using a Firewire 800 9-pin to 4-pin cable, with a 9-pin to 6-pin adapter (my MacBook only has a 6-pin connector). Both cable & adapter are made by RocketFish. The problem I'm encountering is that when, in iMovie, I attempt to import from the video camera, it does not appear as a listed device, and therefore I can't perform the import. I've searched online (non-Apple) sites, with no success. 😟

Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Smitty