video quality problems

[chez202]

i have a sony digital 8 camcorder. i've been trying to transfer video to my pc thru the supplied usb cable. i know i should use firewire. anyway, here's the real problem- the video that is captured is choppy, and the resolution is terrible. the supplied software, pixela, also allows me to take stills from the video. again, the resolution it terrible- the pictures are too dark, not crisp at all like when i watch it on my camcorder screen or even on the tv. will firewire solve this? or do i need to buy more stuff?
i need help- i'm a complete amature!

[mikesbytes]

Get WinDv and transfer thru the firewire port. See the tools list, its a freebee.

[chez202]

thanks- i'll give it a shot!

[chez202]

the firewire definately helped with the choppyness. now it looks smooth. the only problem is, the video on the screen is nowhere near as good as it is on my tv when i watch playback of the tape. the captured video is really dark and not nearly as detailed. any ideas?

[FOO]

Take the Pixela disk and put it in the trash and then
remove it from the computer.

Try ANYthing else . Dvio ...... etc.

[junkmalle]

the video on the screen is nowhere near as good as it is on my tv when i watch playback of the tape. the captured video is really dark and not nearly as detailed.

Computer displays are usually much darker than television -- they use a much lower gamma setting. If your final output will be on a TV (via DVD) you probably don't have to worry about the brightness.

[johns0]

Also on the computer the resolution is much higher so you think the detail is lower than it should be but when its watched back on a tv then it will look normal.