Sony HDR-ux7 DVD cam: best cap method?

[japniz]

I have a second-hand Ux7 HD Handycam which records to 8cm DVDs but am at a loss as to the best way to get captures from the cam/DVD into the PC (the cam is set for HD not DV capture).

The manual does not help very much beyond saying that the mini DVDs can be played in a Blu Ray player and that a composite/S-video cable can be used for a PC connection. It has no Firewire connection but does have an HDMI port which is, according to the manual, only for connection to an HD TV for viewing.

Even though I don't have a Blu Ray player to try the DVDs in, the manual says that files cannot be transferred from the disc for editing by playing them, in any case. So, that method is only for viewing.

For the composite cable connection, I will need a capture card that supports these 'old skool' cables, which I no longer have after six years of using a Firewire-enabled Handycam that recorded on to HD tapes (this cam has now died, hence the change).

I've searched online and in these Forums without success as to advice on the best way of getting footage from cam/mini DVD into the PC (I edit with Vegas Studio 10 HD).

Can anyone help with either their experience of capping from this particular model or general advice on how best to get the full HD video from the cam/its DVD?

I do have a Cannopus ADVC110 from several years back capping from a VCR, but I don't think it can help with HD capture in this case, though it does have the right ports for composite connection.

[aedipuss]

if they are dvd then you can use your computer's dvd drive to read the discs and copy the files off onto your hard drive.

DVD Format Video Recording5,6

The DVD recording format, in both MPEG2 (SD) and AVCHD7 delivers digital picture and sound quality comparable to that of MiniDV and High Definition, but on DVD. Playback of these DVDs couldn't be simpler (depending upon the playbackdevice used). After finalizing the disc in the camcorder, the disc can play back in most DVD Players (SD), computers, Blu-Ray Disc™ players and even PlayStation® 3 video game consoles.

[japniz]

Thanks aedipuss, however the manual says that a regular DVD player can't play the disc, and nothing was recognised by mine when I tried it after finalising the first disk.

It even says trying to play the disc in a conventional player rather than a Blu Ray one may erase some of its contents.

Any other thoughts would be most welcome as this is extremely frustrating - a modern camera that makes PC transfer a pain.

[aedipuss]

what i quoted was right off the product page. after it's finalized a dvd-r can't be changed by putting it in a dvd drive. you may need a udf 2.5 driver as you list winXP.
https://www.videohelp.com/tools/UDF-Reader

[japniz]

Thanks again - you're clearly more accurate than the manual!

I followed the link and rebooted - and could view the mini DVD, and - more importantly - could import its mts files into Vegas.

Many thanks.