DV output I could connect the camera to my computer using a firewire connection. My new computer does not have a firewire connection. Is there a way to download the tape using the USB 2 connections on my new comuter? Then I use adaptors my Dell computer does not recongise the device. Is there a software programme required?

Sony DCR-HC38E should have an interface called 1394, or the firewire. so you need to use a FireWire cable to connect it to your computer's firewire interface, some laptops have it built-in, If you don't have one on your computer, you can either purchase a IEEE1394/FireWire adapter, which should be under 100 or even $50.
Connector Type1.0 x Composite video/audio output , 1.0 x S-Video output , 1.0 x USB , IEEE 1394 (FireWire/i.LINK)

Hi and welcome to FixYa,

A firewire to USB will not work. It has to be firewire to firewire. A JVC GR-D240ek uses 4-pin, IEEE 1394 compliant Digital Video Connector [DV OUT] to connect a 1394 cable (also known as a FireWire or i.Link cable) to a laptop equipped with an equivalent IEEE 1394 port. Please note that some laptops firewire port could either be 4 pins or 6 pins.

Soon as that connection as shown above is established, you can use Windows Import Video to capture / download the videos.

Other notes (from the same Windows Help link above) :

• You can also open Windows Import Video by using Windows Movie Maker. After you connect ... your DV camera, and your computer, start Windows Movie Maker, turn on your DV camera, put it into playback mode, and Windows Import Video should open automatically.
• You can also open Windows Import Video by using Windows Photo Gallery. After you connect ...your DV camera, and your computer, start Windows Photo Gallery, turn on your DV camera, and put it into playback mode. In Windows Photo Gallery, click File, click Import from Camera or Scanner, click your DV camera in the list of devices, click Import, and then follow the instructions.
• You can also open Windows Import Video by using Windows Live Photo Gallery. (This options requires you to install Windows Live on your computer.) After you connect your...your DV camera, and your computer, start Windows Live Photo Gallery, turn on your DV camera, and put it into playback mode. In Windows Live Photo Gallery, click File, click Import from a camera or scanner, click your DV camera in the list of devices, click Import, and then follow the instructions.

Verify that the laptop's firewire port is 100% up to specs and totally compliant to IEEE 1394.

God luck and thank you for using FixYa.

This camcorder only has a firewire output, but not a USB output.

You can use an USB analog to digital converter for the analog outputs or the firewire/DV/iLink connection for the digital output, with the capturing software you can then have your videos on files or disks.

Hi in order to get footage off your camera through Firewire i.e DV you will have to use a software to capture the footage. You can use iMovie to capture the footage off the camera.
Open Apple System Profiler (it's in the Utilities folder) and check to see if your camera appears in the FireWire section.

If your camera is connected via FireWire and is turned on, follow one or more of these tips to re-establish the connection to the camera.

• Turn the camera off and back on again.
• Disconnect the FireWire cable from your computer and reconnect it. Do the same at the camera as well. If the camera is connected through a FireWire hub, try connecting the camera directly to the computer.
• Some cameras need to be set to "VTR", "VCR", or "DV" mode in order to communicate with a computer. Check your camera's documentation for information on how to set your camera to this mode if needed

Hope this helps.

This type of camera usually downloads better with a Firewire (DV) connection. Some mini-DV cameras only use the USB connection (if they have one) for stills and can only download video by Firewire. This is because you have to play the tape into the computer, not just copy a file. The way it works on my computer, the camera is controlled by the computer software.

Most PCs have a USB port, but no Firewire port. Macs often have a Firewire port but may not have USB. As most Windows PCs do not come with this interface, you might need to fit an add-on Firewire interface card. This will come with a driver for the card.

Whether this will work with Windows 7, I am not sure. My Mini-DV camera, using a Firewire cable, didn't need any camera driver loaded to the computer, just the movie editor that came with Windows XP.

The simplest solution is to use a FireWire cable connected between camera DV output and FireWire PC Input.
If your PC or laptop do not has a FireWire Input, you can use an USB capture device like EasyCap connected to your PC by USB interface and to your Camcorder by RCA connector or S-Video connector.

Download free application WINDV (Small Windows utility for DV FireWire digital video input/output ).
buy and connect a firewire cable between camcorder (DV output ) and a firewire input in your pc, if you not hasn't got one, buy it. you can buy a card with this kind of inputs.
Connect and run application, play camcorder, and record to your pc, your video.

camera firewire connection will not respond to iMovie or Finalcut even when using a new cable - what could be the problem?

Here's what I learned. 1. Connect with FIREWIRE. It's all of under 10 bucks if you shop around. 2. Use WINDV to capture if you need to. Hint: Free. 3. Use better software than what comes with the camera.