Recording to SD card?

Some of you may have seen my threads on my camcorder problems with the burnt out firewire circuit.

Well last night the idea came to me that maybe I could record video onto an SD card. SD cards are coming up in capicity, and so I figured if we could keep our scenes somewhat short it should be able to fit on it.

So I looked in the instruction booklet and my fears were realised; the SD card is only for still photos.

1. Does anyone know of a consumer/prosumer camcorder that has the ability to transfer via firewire, or can record to some kind of flash memory?

Would also be cool if I could just stick a flash drive in it or something, or attach an external HDD to it. Something that lets me bypass the perils of firewire!

2. Oh, is there some sort of device that I can put my DV tape into that connects to the PC where I can transfer video from that instead of my camera, since my camera firewire chip is burnt out?

Thanks

LC

 

EDIT: What camera do you use?

1. Most camcorders made in the last few years have the ability to transfer tape via a firewire port. As for 'some kind of flash memory', the only thing that comes to mind is the cameras that run on p2 cards, and those cost an arm and a leg (the cameras that run them, and the cards themselves).

2. Well, you could always (a) get another camera, or (b) by a 'Tape Deck'. Tape decks cost a fortune, and you would be better off just buying another CHEAP camera.

Hopefully that answers your questions.

 

Samsung SC-D363NTSC

Blimy. Well, back to the drawing board.

I just wish Fire Wire wasn't so sensitive.

 

Try eBay (watch for scammers) for a new/good used camera, or see if you can find a place that can just fix the camera for cheap.

If it's not to old, you might still have the warrenty(sp?) and can send it off for a new one.

 

We're talking about the little blue/black, whatever color cards that are maybe an inch long and 1/10th of an inch thick right? I have an 1 GIG SD card that saves video to it. The length of the video varies depending on the resolution set in the camera.

Yours won't save video? Have you tried it yet?

 

Another out of curiosity question. Have you tried to capture video via the USB port? I read people all the time saying that you cannot capture from the USB port on the HV20/HV30, yet you CAN capture SD footage from it via USB.

You might try it

 

I have an 8gb sdhc card in my panasonic hdc sd9 and I capture via usb.

 

Um, its not an HV20/30, its a Samsung SC-D363. It does have a USB port, looks like a 4/6 connection. I'm unclear at the moment whether or not it can transfer video through the USB, should be able to, that's how ResisterOfEvil did it.

I guess the main reason I didn't think of it is that I thought USB was much lower quality than FireWire. Is that true, or does it just take longer to transfer?

 

A store in my city sells HD camcorders that record onto SD cards, about $350AU. Comes with a 8 GB card as well I believe so they do exist.

 

USB only affects transfer rate and not quality.

to answer your other questions:

1. Most Camcorders coming out now don't use tape anymore but rather SDHC memory or HDD to record to.
I wouldn't really recommend them for filming unless you buy something like a panasonic or a Sony, otherwise the lens/light quality isn't all that good.

2. I'm sure there's something out there, but in desperation I would recommend heading for the closest "rent-a-cam" store and then transfer the data you already have on your computer with another camera.

As for filming and then transferring from now on, well it's either USB (start transfer then go eat or get a coffee or something) or Get a new camera.

Sorry

 

Right, I know that yours is a Samsung. I was merely saying that USB works with my camcorder (which many said it would not), and it will probably work with yours.

As Uilmuteiz said, the quality through USB should not be any different, it may just take a bit longer.

 

OH, um...just checking!

Cool. I will have to try it then after I get my essay done for History class. XD

Thanks!

LC

 

Thanks for the info. Waiting is not a problem, I can do something else. I just want it to work, and preferably without having to buy a new one. Keep in mind, that the camera I'm talking about IS a 'new' one, there are now TWO cameras in our house with fried FireWire cards.

Oh, and it seems that you have to install a driver or something for the USB transfer to work? My friend has software that came with his camera to enable the USB transfer and mine also has software that came with it. Is that common?

 

Ok, well: USB transfer works for video, but I'm not getting audio for some reason.

 

If your getting so many messed up firewire circuits, I recommend trying a different firewire port or cable. That should not be happening. It could be a problem with your computer.

 

While it could be that, I'm pretty sure the problem is with me and not the computer, because it did work on my computer for a while.

 

If you have no sound I can only think of one reason:

Through USB you're importing in an Mpeg-2 format which has issues with sound under Final Cut or Premiere.

I'm not sure if you're using a Mac or PC.

If you are using a PC try downloading and installing VLC or K-lite media player classic which will allow you to read and confirm you have sound or not.

Under Mac, install VLC it should do the trick.

So what to do afterwards, install this great piece of software called videospin from Pinnacle (which is free) and you should be able to save under a format (such as AVI) where you'll be able to edit afterwards. I did it myself a few times.

under Mac, I'm not sure if VideoSpin works, but I think Quicktime Pro might be able to come in handy.