HELP - Capture ESP mode from Canon ZR50MC...

[jsjaxn]

Unfortunately, I have 4 years of miniDV tapes that were all recorded in the ESP (Extended SP)mode on my Canon ZR50MC camcorder and so far I have not found any way to capture the video from these tapes to my PC. Capture from SP mode tapes works fine but not the ESP mode.

Does anyone know of a method to do this?

Thanks,
Jeff

[guns1inger]

How are you transfering SP mode footage ? Firewire ? s-video ?

What problems do you have transfering ESP mode footage ?

What is the difference, if any between ESP mode on the Canon, and LP mode on other systems ? Many people here record and transfer LP mode footage successfully.

[jsjaxn]

I'm using Firewire to capture the SP footage. So far I have tried WinDV, Ulead 9, WMM, and a few others I can't recall and they all just do nothing with the ESP fotage - Camera controls all work fine until you press the capture button then no preview, no record, and various worthless error messages like "Unknown error" or "Cannot capture", etc. Apparently, the ESP is some "Canon" thing they do to double the SP recording time. They also have an ELP which doubles the LP playing time also. I did get an email from Canon earlier today stating that they know of no method to capture the ESP but I was hoping someone here might know a way.

[guns1inger]

If firewire doesn't work then you only other option is analogue capture using the s-video out (assuming it has one) or composite out.

[lordsmurf]

Considered trying Firewire out to DVD recorder?