Need a little help over DV - DVD - PCMCIA - 4 PIN

[Lensmeister]

Hi all,

I did do a search on the forums and hoped to get a bit of an answer but I didn't (least if I found something I wasn't 100% sure I got the right thing). So here goes .....

My old 8mm camcorder died and I have managed to get my hands on a new Panasonic NV-GS17EB Digital Camcorder. It's lovely but basic, which is what I like. But it came with no software, not DV cables at all (This is right and this isn't a dogdy camcorder it was bought from Jessops; New and Boxed). Now here's the problem. My laptop has no IEEE port on it. So it was suggested to me that a PCMCIA-Firewire card would be best.

OK I thought, but as is life, it appears it's not that easy. I have had a look on the net and all I can seea are 6pin PCMCIA cards everywhere. Now according to my manual = Digital interface: DV Output terminal (IEEE 1394, 4 pin). so is there a connector or someting that I can use?

So here is the problem. I am on a seriously limited budget, and in rather a rush to get it. I am going to pop in to our local Maplins in town tomorrow, but I am hoping you guys are going to be able to help me as you have all done in the past.

So here goes couple questions.

• 1. Can I link the laptop and my camcorder using a six pin ?
  2. Can anyone suggest a PCMCIA card that will be ok to use?
  3. I am running Windows XP home edition and have Nero 6, pinnacle, and Windows Movie Maker. What would be the best to import the family holiday footage on to the Laptop with, and then turn them in to DVD to make the family suffer it over and over and over again?
  4. How much space (currently have about 40Gb free) will I need to use to import a whole tape (60 or 90 minutes) and to be able to burn it to DVD ?
  

Thanks for the help people, and lets hope I can get this sorted out.

All the best,
Lensmeister.

[devlynh]

Here are some answers for you;
1. The difference between 4 and 6 pin firewire is the power pins in the connector. Cables come in all flavors 4pin to 4pin, 4pin to 6pin and 6pin to 6pin. Just get the one that you need.
2. Probably a Adaptec, but just about any card will work.
3. Premiere Elements 2,0 will do a good job and is reasonably easy to use.
4. You need 13GB for each hour of video plus enough space to create the DVD, about 5 GB.
Good luck,

[guns1inger]

Plus temp files, intermediate renders etc. It depends how much editing you do. 20GB will disappear very quickly with an hours footage

[Richard_G]

6 pin to 6 pin may be needed to connect an external hard drive or similar. Camcorders are almost always 4 pin. Just get a 6 pin to 4 pin cable.

For software, if you want to keep it reasonably simple try the free 30 day trial of Ulead DVD Moviefactory from www.ulead.co.uk. If you get on with it, it's only about £30 to buy. You may get suitable software supplied with the Firewire card though. A lot of internal cards for desktop machines come with lite versions of either DVD Moviefactory or Ulead VideoStudio. Both will do what you need to do.

[edDV]

You can use 4pin (camcorder) to 4 pin or 6 pin PC cards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&description=PC+Card+IEEE-13...&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

Cables here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&description=IEEE-1394+cable...&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

[Lensmeister]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Soon as I get the funds together I'm off to the internet/store to get myself the card and the cable. Also a caddy for my spare 120Gb drive.... Thanks everyone.