Frustrated trying to Capture Video

[Wookee]

I am trying to capture video from my Canon Elura 85 and I can not get any video to show on my computer using Windows Media Player, or even when I use my video editing software which is Movie Edit Pro 11. I'm really new at this and just very frustrated. I am able to control the video camera (play, rewind, ffw, etc) through the computer, it just won't show the video on the screen nor will it capture anything. Could it be a codec issue? If so how do I fix that? I'm extremely new and extremely frustrated. Thank you in advance for any help!

[vico1]

Capture your vid thru the Firewire port to PC using WinDV.
Works great on my ZR-700, should work as well on your Elura 85.

[Wookee]

I just tried that and I'm getting the same problem, can control the camera with the computer through all the programs I've mentioned, but no video or audio is actually showing up on the computer.

[redwudz]

You don't need a codec to do the transfer, but you could add the Panasonic DV codec. I use that to save out filtered DV after I edit it in VD Mod. I'm not sure why the DV won't transfer. Maybe a camera setting? It's just a file transfer, similar to transferring data between devices. You apparently have it working in one direction if you can control the camera.

And welcome to our forums.

[gadgetguy]

When using WinDV, do not use camera control. There is a known bug in the software that causes problems (although I can't remember what right now). Make sure the camera is set for playback mode and not record mode (I'm not sure what it's called on your cam. On mine it's VCR mode). Press play on the cam and then click Capture in WinDV.

[Wookee]

I have a PLAY (VCR) mode on the camera and thats what I've always had it set to and the video just doesn't show up on the computer. I've checked all my settings on the camera and I can't see anything that would prevent it from working. In most capturing software do you set it to "camera" mode? I can't get it to play the tape in that mode so I can't imagine that being the problem. Thanks so much for your help guys, I appreciate it greatly, I'm so lost here and it's agrivating.

[Wookee]

Could it be possible that my camcorder doesn't have DV-out? On the display it does say DV-IN, but the only other setting I've been able to find is AV->DV.

[gadgetguy]

I think it's unlikely that it doesn't have some form of DV out, but what they choose to call it is up for grabs. Try the AV-DV. That sounds like Passthrough but should allow capsfer from tape.

[thecoalman]

In most capturing software do you set it to "camera" mode? .

This may vary by manufacturer but setting it to camera mode gives you a live picture.... or should. If you wanted to view live video on your monitor, capture live video direct to your HDD or stream video over the internet you would use that mode. Basically either mode should give you video.

[vico1]

I have a PLAY (VCR) mode on the camera and thats what I've always had it set to and the video just doesn't show up on the computer.

HMMMM, that's what should do it. (VCR Mode)
This review shows about all of this cam:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Canon-Elura-85-Camcorder-Review.htm

[JohnnyMalaria]

I am trying to capture video from my Canon Elura 85 and I can not get any video to show on my computer

Does it show up in My Computer/Windows Explorer? When you connect the camcorder and turn it on, XP should create a folder for it. If you open the folder, you should see whatever is coming from the camcorder (make sure it is playing a tape or it is in camera mode).

[JaMaHa]

Try updating the driver for your Graphics Card

[Wookee]

I've updated my graphics card driver. It does show up on my computer as a Canon DV camcorder, and finally, the VCR mode is what I've been using to no avail, although I have tried all the other modes with no luck also. I'm stumped, anybody out there actually have this specific camera or the elura 80, or 90?

[JaMaHa]

If you have a corupt 1394 FireWire connection you can try this out:

1. Disconnect all DV- devices
2. Right-click My Computer, click Properties, or select System in the Control Panel
and select the Advanced Tab.
3. Click the Environment Variables button.
4. In the System Variables panel click the New button.
5. In the New System Variable dialog box type:
Variable Name: devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices
Variable Value: 1
6. Click the OK botton to close the New System Variable dialog box
7. Click the OK botton to close the Environment Variables dialog box
8. Click the OK botton to close the System Properties dialog box
9. Reopen System Properties
10. Select the Hardware tab and click the Device Manager button.
11. In the Device Manager, go to the View menu and select Show Hidden Devices.
12. In the device tree Expand the various branches
(like 61883..... and AVC..... and ImageDevice..... )
and look for the washed out icons, which indicate unused device drivers.
13. Uninstall all unused items pressing Delete and Enter.
(This may solve faulty USB problems too)
14. Close the Device Manager
15. A system restart may not be nessery but will not hurt.
16. Reconnecting the device will reinstall the drivers

I hope this will solve your problem .

[JohnnyMalaria]

It does show up on my computer as a Canon DV camcorder, and finally, the VCR mode is what I've been using to no avail

Just to confirm - it shows up as a folder in My Computer and you are playing a tape but when you open the folder, you see a black video?

Have you tried disabling video acceleration on your display? Right-click on the desktop and select Properties. Then Settings tab, Advanced button, Troubleshoot tab. Drag the slider to "None". Close all the windows. Try viewing the video again. If that doesn't help, go back and set the slider to "Full" so you don't upset any other applications!

[vico1]

Not to sound too simplistic...
But have you tried a new firewire cable...

[thecoalman]

Not to sound too simplistic...
But have you tried a new firewire cable...

Or a different computer, cam or combination of them.

[jagabo]

Although you don't need a dv decoder to capture from a DV camcorder, you do need a DV decoder to see what you're capturing (most programs show you the video as it's being captured). Windows includes a DV decoder for this, qdv.dll. Maybe your decoder has become corrupt or some other decoder is interfering.

[jrank001]

I’m running Windows Vista Ultimate. I used winDV to capture a VHs tape to computer last week and worked great going through a Canopus ADVC-100. Now I cannot get that to work again or by using my Sony DCR-PC110 which always worked. I know I'm getting a connection to computer using the firewire cable. It’s very strange. Any ideas?

[MariaST]

Hi there! I have a similar problem! We are a production house and we have been using our cameras (DSR 150PD and DSR 170) as VTRs as well. Yesterday, our computers have ceased seeing the cameras. The firewire cable is working with DSR250 but all the small cameras do not work!! Any idea? Please help!