Using Panasonic Camcorder PV-GS300 with iChat

Question

Using Panasonic Camcorder PV-GS300 with iChat

Has anyone successfully used the Panasonic Camcorder PV-GS300 with iChat? I'd like to, but I haven't had any success.

iBook G3, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Jun 4, 2006 6:04 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 4, 2006 6:43 PM in response to fivemantaichi

Further details:

f the camera is in use by iMovie, then iChat will tell me that it is in use. If it is not in use by iMovie, then iChat will allow me to select audio from the GS300 microphone, but not video.

This is on my iBook G3 900MHZ.

Upon further testing, it appears to work great as suggested on my MacBook Pro.

Hmmm.

Any ideas?

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Answer 2

Jun 5, 2006 4:39 AM in response to fivemantaichi

Hi fivemantaichi,

Even though the camera may connect over firewire it may not be putting out a DV signal.

Check the camera for output options. (it may be in NTSC or PAL (TV Signals) or a mpeg all of which iMovie can see.

If that does not work try a trial of this http://www.ecamm.com/mac/ichatusbcam/

12:39 PM Monday; June 5, 2006

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Answer 3

Jun 5, 2006 7:41 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks Ralph,

It should be puting out a DV signal, as it is a DV camera I suppose. I'll check on the output options tonight. The oddest part is that it works perfectly with my MacBook Pro, which I obviously don't need for iChat with the built in iSight. Any ideas on why it works there and not on the iBook?

Thanks,
--
Samuel

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Answer 4

Defcom-UK

Level 6

15,494 points

Jun 5, 2006 8:24 AM in response to fivemantaichi

Hi

Have you enabled the cam in iChats menu bar, with iChat in the menu bar click on video(it might say audio) and click on enable camera.

Tony

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Answer 5

Jun 5, 2006 8:42 AM in response to Defcom-UK

In the menu bar, video is checked, but greyed-out, so I am not permitted to change anything there.

In the Video preferences, I can select the camera's microphone for audio, but video doesn't appear. Additionally, if iMovie is on, then iChat recognizes that the camera is in use by iMovie and prompts that "camera is in use by another application."

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Answer 6

ibosie

Level 4

1,122 points

Jun 5, 2006 12:49 PM in response to fivemantaichi

Some Panasonics feature a "web cam" mode which activates video (some web cam modes are USB only though, if the camera has a USB slot in addition to firewire it's likely to do web cam mode through USB, no good for iChat).

Otherwise try setting the camera to "pass through" and start recording, the video should pass straight back out through the firewire cable.

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Answer 7

Jun 5, 2006 2:18 PM in response to fivemantaichi

The MacBook Pro has a USB cam which is still driven by the Apple iSight driver.

However it might actually output mpeg and the Intel may be able to handle this.

Having said that the setting Defcom speaks off is worth looking at as well as the check boxes in the Video section of the Preferences.

10:17 PM Monday; June 5, 2006

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Answer 8

Jun 5, 2006 2:22 PM in response to ibosie

hi ibosie,

I have had contact with another London based bod who has a Alcatel 780 with version 5 firmware.

At first he could not contact me with routing and UPnP engaged.

Then he put it Bridge mode. Worked to me.

Any use to you ?

Sorry for the hi-jack of the thread.

10:22 PM Monday; June 5, 2006

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Answer 9

Jun 5, 2006 2:23 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Just to refresh, this camera is working great on the MacBook Pro.

It is NOT working for iChat on the iBook G3.

Panasonic doesn't seem to have created a driver to go the USB route on a Mac, it has for the PC.

Keep the suggestions coming, we'll succeed together in the end!

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Answer 10

ibosie

Level 4

1,122 points

Jun 5, 2006 3:55 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph, interesting as bridged mode is also the solution employed by Be (BeBox aka 716v5WL). As far as i know 780 replaces the 716 and current models take v6 firmware (no upgrade path for existing 716 models). I recently received the new 510v6 (1 port ethernet), testing it out for iChat...

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Answer 11

Jun 6, 2006 2:28 AM in response to ibosie

Hi iBosie,

I have heard from the same person that on th 780 the version 6 firmware was crippling his connection speed.

10:28 AM Tuesday; June 6, 2006

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Answer 12

Jun 6, 2006 8:13 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph,

The ichatusbcam suggestion worked! Strangely enough, it works even if I use firewire to connect the camera. I tried it first with USB, then again with firewire and both seemed to work similarly, with ichatusbcam allowing me to select DVC as my video option. I would think that firewire would be the better choice if it works, correct? We did a quick test run between the MacBook Pro with its built in iSight and the iBook G3 900MHZ with the Panasonic PV-GS300 and a video chat was successful. Do you recommend setting the download speed in Quicktime and "none" in iChat, or selecting it in iChat? Which should yield better video results or are they quite similar?

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