No color when attempting to record MiniDV to DVD recorder through S-video?

[guy24s]

It seems there is no end to my problems and every time I am attempting to do something video-related I find myself asking questions here. Sorry 'bout that.
This time I was hoping to transfer some old MiniDV camcorder tapes to my DVD recorder. I don't have my old camcorder anymore, so I managed to borrow one from someone. Their camera, Sony Digital Handycam DCR-PC100E, does not have any RCA outputs. The only outgoing connections I see are Firewire, S-video and then a small yellow colored hole that looks similar to a headphone jack, and it simply is called "Video In/Out".

If I understand correctly, Firewire is only for plugging the video camera into a computer. This is not what I wish to do. I want to plug it into my DVD/BluRay recorder Panasonic DMR-BCT74.
I thought I would be able to do this through S-video. The DVD recorder only has scart input, so I ordered an S-video cable and a S-video to scart adapter. Finally today they arrived. I plugged everything in, only to find out that signal becomes black & white when plugged in through the DVD recorder.
The tapes are playing in color on the video camera's LCD display window.
What on earth is wrong and do you have any suggestions on how I should connect this video camera to my DVD recorder, to get the best possible picture quality but for the images to be recorded in color? For more information on the various inputs/outputs, here are links to the two devices' manuals:

Manual to Sony DCR-PC100E (video camera): https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/res/manuals/3867/38677531M.pdf
Manual to Panasonic DMR-BCT74 (DVD recorder): https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1179140/Panasonic-Dmr-Bct74.html

Thank you so much for reading and any support in solving my latest video-problem.

[guy24s]

A little update. I tried to Google the problem further and if I understand correctly, the reason for the black & white images is that S-video signals are not composite-compatible? Apparently the camera originally shipped with a so-called "A/V connection cable" (see object 7 on page 13 in https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/res/manuals/3867/38677531M.pdf
Does anyone know if that type of connection will work and is that my best possible bet to connect this camera to the DVD recorder?

[aedipuss]

yes that's a composite cable for the cam. you can get them at several places still. like amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dCables-Sony-Handycam-DCR-PC100E-Cable/dp/B007I7C2RM?Subscripti...SIN=B007I7C2RM

but the only way to get the best quality off the tape would be over a firewire cable.

[jagabo]

You will get the best quality with a firewire transfer followed by creating a DVD on your computer.

Composite video carries the luma (greyscale) and chroma (colors) on a single wire. S-video carries the two on two separate wires. On a SCART connector the composite signal and S-video's luma are on the same pin. So if your DVD recorder is expecting composite video but the camcorder is sending s-video you will get a greyscale video. See if there is a composite/s-video setting on the DVD recorder. If there is, just set it to s-video. Otherwise, you will need to get the adapter cable mentioned in the manual. Beware that the pinouts for such adapters can vary -- so try to find the one designed for that camera.

There are also simple s-video to composite adapters that aren't optimal but usually work:

http://www.hisdigital.com/pl/product2-407.shtml
http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/svideo2cvideo.html

[guy24s]

Well, I went through all my cables and it turns out I had a cable like that that came with an XBOX console. I plugged it in, and the footage is now in color, BUT now there is no audio instead. LOL - the irony of fate.

[jagabo]

As you've discovered S-video cables don't carry audio. The adapter cable should have three outputs: composite video, left and right audio.

[guy24s]

As you've discovered S-video cables don't carry audio. The adapter cable should have three outputs: composite video, left and right audio.

I should have read up on it more before assuming stuff and attempting anything. After what you said about Firewire, I read more about it and undoubtedly it sounds like the best route to go, so I will just invest in a Firewire card.
Thank you for the help.

[jagabo]

Regarding firewire: Be sure to get a card with the Texas Instruments (TI) chip. Others often work only for hard drives, not DV/D8 camcorders.

[guy24s]

Regarding firewire: Be sure to get a card with the Texas Instruments (TI) chip. Others often work only for hard drives, not DV/D8 camcorders.

Thanks for pointing that out. Luckily the one I am planning on ordering, PCI-E IEEE1394a (TI) (2P+1P) CARD, has just that:

Chipset:Texas Instruments XIO22313AZHH
Bus Interface:PCI-Express X1

Compliant with PCI Express Base Specification 1.0a
Compliant with IEEE 1394-1995, 1394a-2000 and OHCI 1.1 Standards
PCI Express 1-lane(x1) FireWire adapters works with PCI Express slots with different lane width
Installs in any available PCI Express slot and supports data transfer rates up to 400Mbps
Two external and One internal 6-pin FireWire(1394a) ports to support DV camcorders, hard disk, removable drives, scanner, digital cameras and other FireWire audio/video devices
Onboard power connector to provide reliable source


I'm hoping it will work.