Final Cut Express won't allow me to capture from my vdo camera

Did you try View/Video Out/Refresh Video Devices ?
After this command in the same View/Video Out menu you should find "PAL/NTSC Firewire device" listed (or something similar), if the camera is already hooked up and on: select it and everything should be OK.

Piero

Sorry, just a guess, did you try hooking up your camcorder before opening FCE ? I read sometimes this solves the problem. Or try basic firewire setup in place of standard firewire.

I hope this can be of help

Piero

Is your camera supported by FCE you can check here: Qualified Devices.

Unsure if we have the same issue. In my case, after updating to FCE 3.5 and trying to capture I got this message box: "This operation could not be completed as there is no video". I was able to use the onscreen controls to start stop and rewind my camera. After talking to Apple Support, I ended up doing a fresh install and I am now able to capture the video.

Unfortunately it appears you need to do a reinstall. If still no luck call Apple Support Monday, you should have 90 days of free support from your date of purchase.

Apple's "Qualified Devices" is very out of date. It excludes huge numbers of cameras, like those made in the last year or more.

Do you have ANY other external FW devices connected to your PB? If so, disconnect them and retry with only your camera connected.

I'm having the same problem.

I just upgraded to FCE 3.5 as I got a new back-up camera that wasn't listed on supported devices for FCE 3.0 (since it hadn't been released yet) but was listed on the FCE 3.5 list of supported devices. I'm trying the widescreen format with this (which I couldn't do with my older Sony).

I am able to capture with iMovie but not with FCE (and this is the only reason I upgraded).

I guess I could try to do a full reinstall, but it sounds like that might not do it.

Okay, I got it to work -- I had to have my firewire connection go directly from camera to firewire port on the iMac (before had it going to the port on my external Lacie hard drive). I had to fiddle with the presets for it to recognize, but after a few tries it did work.

Hmmm... maybe I didn't even to upgrade to 3.5 to get this to work?

What camera is this exactly? What settings are on the tape exactly? Is the camera set to output the correct settings you want it to output? What settings are you using in FCE? If the camera is not recognized at start of the application, check all the settings again, and try a different cable. That it works in iMovie doesn't mean anything. FCE has different capture requirements.

My son has exactly the same problem with his Sony DCR-PC105E DV camera - it can be captured with no problem by iMovie, but not by Final Cut Express. I have just discovered to my horror that the camera is not on the list of "qualified devices" - all the model numbers either side of "105" are qualified, but for some extraordinary reason, not this one!. I read that this list is out of date, but as the camera is about 18months old, I would have thought it should be there by now. Is there anything we can do? or do we have to sell the camera (at quite a loss no doubt) and buy one that is on the list? I've rung Sony, but they say the ball is firmly in Final Cut Express's court!
Any ideas would be really gratefully received...

It is unlikely that your son's camera is unsuitable. My camera is 6 years old and not on the approved list - but works perfectly.

Most of the cameras in the world are NOT on the list - yet work OK.

Try these (which have already been mentioned):-

Plug the camera directly into the computer and not into the FW HD (if you have one).

When you have plugged it in and switched on go to View>Video Out and select Refresh Video Devices.

Ian.