URGENT advise needed!!! Plan to buy new camcorder today ... USB vs Firewire

[jeferyk]

Hi

I am hoping to catch some advise from you guys this morning.
I am planning to buy a budget DVtape camcorder today, in time to capture my baby due to be born on tuesday.

When i tested on video image stablizer, the panasonic OIS seems to work quite impressively.

I was about to buy the panasonic GS-85 model at cathay photo.
But only to realise that it does not support USB2.0 video transfer to pc.
Both my pc and laptop do not have firewire connection.

In the panasonic catalogue, it states that their higher models (3CCD), GS-230 and GS-320 have USB2.0 video transfer function.

The price difference between GS-85 ($530) and GS-230 ($785) is approximately $255.

I am in a dilemma....
should i save the money, buy GS-85 and get myself a firewire card for pc + firewire cable?
but my pc is not exactly the fastest out there, an AMD (approx 3 yrs old)
If I want the flexibility to also download to my laptop, I need to get a 2nd firewire card.

Is there any "universal" firewire hub/plug in that i can use for both pc and laptop?

How much will these cost? I heard they are usually bundles with editing sw.


AND....what i am in a dilemma with is....
should i just get the GS-230, with support USB2.0 for video transfer and it comes with 3CCD.
But the GS-230 only comes with X10 zoom, while GS-85 comes with X32 zoom.

I think i will basically be capturing my kid growing up, holidays, parties etc.
Some basic editing, adding songs, shortening the video etc.
Nothing hardcore.

I DESPERATELY NEED ADVISES.....

Are these panasonic models recommended?
If not, what other brands/models can you recommend?

Max budget up to $800 for one with USB2.0
or lower budget $500-600 if I still need to buy firewire peripherials etc

Thanks in advance.....

 

[mug326]

For a pc, a PCI firewire card is only <$25
For a laptop, a PCMCIA card is about $55
Firewire cable is <$20

One thing you need to ask yourself is whether you want to store the tapes.
For really good quality, I'll stick to tapes

Presently in your situation, if budget allows, get a harddisk recorder, cos it allows you to keep recording in MPEG4/2 quality (can out to DVD later). You will cut down on the digitising time. It is real time and takes up a lot of space (3MB/sec)

It is USB2 transfer so transfer time is still be ok. Good to get an external HD to temp store your video files too. This will free up space for your com to work your editing.

Hope it helps

 

[jeferyk]

I bought the panasonic GS85 today.
Was recommended by the shop to use a USB-firewire cable (1 end USB --> pc, the other end DV firewire connection --> camcorder)

I tried it at home but windows XP don't recognise the device.

When i do the connection, windows xp prompt that "USB device not recognized" at the bottom right corner.

Can someone advise....

If such cable exist, this means that such connection is possible right?
Is it some driver that i am suppose to load etc?

Or I have no choice but to get a firewire PCI card for pc and/or firewire card for laptop?

Thanks in advance

 

[poh6702]

I bought the panasonic GS85 today.
Was recommended by the shop to use a USB-firewire cable (1 end USB --> pc, the other end DV firewire connection --> camcorder)

I tried it at home but windows XP don't recognise the device.

When i do the connection, windows xp prompt that "USB device not recognized" at the bottom right corner.

Can someone advise....

If such cable exist, this means that such connection is possible right?
Is it some driver that i am suppose to load etc?

Or I have no choice but to get a firewire PCI card for pc and/or firewire card for laptop?

Thanks in advance

That is interesting, firewire and USB are not compatible, never heard of one end USB and the other end FireWire, maybe new development? Assumbing it was designed by that camcorder, then you probably need to install the driver provided in order for the PC to recognize the camcorder.

 

[kenele]

I bought the panasonic GS85 today.
Was recommended by the shop to use a USB-firewire cable (1 end USB --> pc, the other end DV firewire connection --> camcorder)

I tried it at home but windows XP don't recognise the device.

When i do the connection, windows xp prompt that "USB device not recognized" at the bottom right corner.

Can someone advise....

If such cable exist, this means that such connection is possible right?
Is it some driver that i am suppose to load etc?

Or I have no choice but to get a firewire PCI card for pc and/or firewire card for laptop?

Thanks in advance

Yes! FireWire and USB are 2 totally different protocols and there is no method of converting one to the other - no cables, no adapters, etc.

 

[jeferyk]

Thanks all for the inpt.

That's what i was puzzled about as well.
The cable is not bundled with panasonic.
It's one of those cables the shop sells as accessories.

The box states "USB Am/IEEE 1394 4P" (400Mbps Q/ATE-X05001)
Cable Brand: Aiteer
Price i bought : $28

I tried and it doesn't work.

What puzzled me as well was that the shop had customers who bought similar cable for various brands of camcorder to hook up DV out (from cam) to USB port in pc/laptop....

I just want to seek advises to make sure there is no such thing and i can return cable to shop.

BTW, how much does Snazio DV premiere elements cost?
It's suppose to include a PCI Firewire card, cable and editing sw.

Also what is a good and cheap firewire card for laptop?

Thanks

 

[poh6702]

I guess it is a USB to 1394 converter that you bought, do you see a big lump in the middle of the cable? There should be a driver (CD) come together with the cable, locate it and install it, that should work.

Alternatively, if you are using notebook, you can buy a PCMCIA 1394 card, if you are using desktop then buy the PCI 1394 interface card.