Anybody using a Sony DCR-HC51E

Reading some of the connectivity issues you can get with video cameras I was wondering if anybody had bought and successfully used a Sony DCR-HC51E mini DV camera. I understand it should work through firewire being mini DV but there are never any guarantees.
This is a low end camera, I just want to see how I would use video before investing a large amount of money in a camera and through a relative can obtain a significant discount on this camera.
I have an Intel MacBook with Tiger and iMovie08.
Many Thanks

HI, Bought this camera for my son. Excellent camera where in the Manual there is negative reference to mac connectivity. Simply states there is no driver for mac.
I am looking for one, And will contact SONY on it

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Dawg, I have the Sony DCR-DVD305, and have been using it successfully for quite a while with PE7, with few issues, once I had a workflow nailed down.
I believe the 505 is basically the same camera, with some additional features.
This workflow worked for me in the past so I'll pass that along:
Sony Browser to PC as Mpeg.
Mpeg to Windows Movie Maker, output to DV-AVI, taking default settings.
DV-AVI imported into PE7.
This should also work for PE8.
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I take the min-DVD directly from camcorder to my PC, and capture the disk via Power Director.
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Copy the VOB's directly from the mini-DVD to your PC and use Prism to convert these to AVI.
Or load the VOB or Mpeg into PE, then use that to convert to AVI.
(Export to DV-AVI with PE8 is done with SHARE/PC, not Export under the File Menu, which is greyed out).
I've had many issues trying to work with Mpeg's and VOB's when loaded directly to PE with limited success.
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Post results, if any of this works for you...
Note: One other thing, if you are working directly with VOB's to PE, especially multiple VOB's from a single DVD, you can encounter out-of-sync issues between video and audio. If this occurs, review this link from Muvipix:
http://muvipix.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2469:

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I feel like a total dummy here because I can't figure this out .......AND, I have done it before! Its been quite a while and the old brain isn't all it used to be, I guess.
I have a Sony DCR-HC30 camcorder. I imported a movie I took into iMovie. I edited it and played with it to my little heart's content. It is finished now and I want to run it back through my camcorder, into a VCR to copy it to a VHS tape. I know what you're thinking ......WHY? Answer .....as a gift for my mother-in-law who does not have a DVD. Later, I will record it using iDVD for myself to get the better quality I want.
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Hi, Kathy!
I have the same camcorder and I love it! Just perfect for all this movie-making, and it is great in low light, and small enough to be easy to carry with me.
Now, there are 2 ways to capture your movie on VHS tape. One is the straight pass-through set up...that you describe. Just put the camcorder in VTR mode and don't put a tape in it. Push record on the VCR and play on the iMovie.
However, I recommend that you use the method that will take longer. You do it in 2 steps. First, 'share' your iMovie back to your camcorder onto a DV tape. Then, disconnect the camera from the computer and connect it to the VCR using the AV connector that came with the camera. Then record the movie to VHS.
The reason I recommend this double recording (once to DV tape and once to VHS) is that you will then have a digital copy of your iMovie that you can use again and again to import/edit/re-record/ burn to DVD. You don't have to leave your movie on your computer and risk that it might become corrupted/lost in a computer crash/etc. You will also have a permanent digital copy as a backup. I know, you have the original, but after spending time creating your edited movie, it is very nice to save it.
I have been copying my old family vhs tapes and photos into iMovie and making DVDs of each year's footage. Some years we were more into movies and photos, so some years take up 2 DVDs. I recorded almost all of the original VHS tapes onto DV tapes to import (yes, about 120 hours so far), and when finished with each imovie, I export the edited version..with titles, transitions, music...to another DV tape to preserve it in that form as well as the DVDs I have made. I guess I am afraid that some newer technology will make DVDs obsolete and I think maybe the DV tapes will last longer. I am working with some VHS tapes that are already 23 years old!
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Anybody using a Sony DCR-HC51E

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