Camcorder USB cord
 

So I have a Sony Handycam. Not sure on the part# because I dont have it with me atm. I have been tring to for days to get the videos from the mini Tapes to a computer. Now it says it uses a usb cord. So I took the usb cord off my digital camera and used it.

I plug it into my computer. And the computer picks up the new usb device. And then it says Sony Video Device I think and instals the driver.

I then install the software that came with the camera and open the program to take video off the camcorder. And it tells me it aint getting any signal from the camera.

Do you guys think i need a special usb cord for it or sumtin? I tried 2 diffrent store bought usb cordes and nothing worked. The manual for the camcorder called it a I-Link cable. But I cant I link cables at any of the places that sell the camcorders.

no one has any suggestions?

Any digital video cameras I have worked with have required firewire to remove video from the camera/tapes. I have never used one with a USB cord.

You really should look up the documentation you got with your camera to get real instructions. Or google the model number and see if you can find a copy of the manual online. You should have gotten a cord with the camera if it requires a certain type?

it came with no cord to hook to a computer. it has a its a digicam DCR-HC38.

Well i got it working. You were right about the firewire idea. Some reason the camera has a mini-b usb port on it to. Not sure why. I bought a 4pin firewire port and pluged it into my laptop and its working great now.

Thanks for the advise.

As Merleniau suggested, get your manual here: DCR-HC38. Save it somewhere useful.

Many camcorders utilize the USB for getting files to the computer. Like if you cam takes stills in addition to video. Then, the IEEE 1394 port is used for the video transfer.

I figured this camcorder could take still images. Which it can when hooked to the computer. But I cant seem to figure out how to take still images when its not hooked to the camera. Id like to know how. The manual says nothing about it.