Canon GL2 Help

-Hey guys, I recently bought a Canon GL2 from a POTN user for an awesome price. After talking to him and reading the manual, I found out that you CANNOT record your videos through the SD card slot and only tape. I asked the person that I bought it from and to convert your DV tapes into your computer is a long and arduous process.

-Is there any way you can record videos through the SD card slot and if you can, how do you transfer the video from the camcorder to the computer.

-If you cannot, how can you transfer the video from the DV tape to your computer without converting it into VHS/DVD then to your computer (that is what he told me).

-Also, if you do convert DV tape to your computer, is there any loss of quality in audio or video?

-Another question: what are some good high quality video editing programs?

I may be familiar with photography but I am new into videography.

Thanks in advance

help???

you plug it into your computer, and use your editing software to capture it.
instruction manuals for editing programs are amazing

It says that I need a firewire cable to transfer videos onto my computer. can someone verify this? Also, the camcorder did not come with the cd and I tried looking for the installation on Canon's website and other sites but did not come up with any results. I need to record something for my school soon and I need many questions answered.

sorry for my noobness in cinematography

Wondertwins wrote in post #9743188
It says that I need a firewire cable to transfer videos onto my computer. can someone verify this? Also, the camcorder did not come with the cd and I tried looking for the installation on Canon's website and other sites but did not come up with any results. I need to record something for my school soon and I need many questions answered.

sorry for my noobness in cinematography

1. Yes, you need firewire/IEEE1394/iLin​k.
2. No, you do not need the Canon CD.

I've used the Canon HV20, another DV tape based camcorder from Canon. In that case, the CD only had manuals and photo software, not a utility for the capture/editing of video.

Are you using a Mac or a PC? What are you using to edit the videos, that may help with an answer. Many times, not always, capture using DV tape is done using your editor.

RWatkins wrote in post #9743394
1. Yes, you need firewire/IEEE1394/iLin​k.
2. No, you do not need the Canon CD.

I've used the Canon HV20, another DV tape based camcorder from Canon. In that case, the CD only had manuals and photo software, not a utility for the capture/editing of video.

Are you using a Mac or a PC? What are you using to edit the videos, that may help with an answer. Many times, not always, capture using DV tape is done using your editor.

I am using WIndows 7 64 bit and I have Adobe Premiere CS4 and Sony Vegas Pro 9.

So you DO need a firewire cable to transfer video from the camcorder onto the computer?

Wondertwins wrote in post #9743524
I am using WIndows 7 64 bit and I have Adobe Premiere CS4 and Sony Vegas Pro 9.

So you DO need a firewire cable to transfer video from the camcorder onto the computer?

YES, you need a firewire to do this! If you need to order one, make sure you know the connection type on the camera AND the computer. Some are 6 pin and others are 4 pin type. Oh, and this uses firewire 400, not the newer 800 standard.

If you need a cable, they are a few dollars (2-3) at monoprice.com

The programs you mention have an import feature. The time it takes is the same as the length of your video (e.g. 5 minute video will take 5 minutes to import) because it must play in real time.

Why not transfer via USB you may ask? Well, the data stream is pretty high coming off the camera since its doing it in real time, and USB 2.0 cannot handle the sustained rate like firewire can.

So for the wire, you get a DV to Fire wire cable?

Wondertwins wrote in post #9743587
So for the wire, you get a DV to Fire wire cable?

No, you will need a firewire cable. The thing is, there are two types of end connectors. The reason for this is space. Firewire 400 - 4 pin ports are much smaller, and are (or were) more commonly found on laptops. The 6 pin, which carry power, are bigger and are found on desktop machine and some laptops (e.g. last generation MacBook and Macbook Pros). If you have a newer Firewire 800 port, you can still connect to this.. its backwards compatible.

There is a firewire 400 - 6 pin type and a firewire 400 4 pen type.

For example, my HV20 used a 4 pin type and my macbook used a 6 pen type. You have to make sure you have the correct connector knowledge before you order a cable.

Does the firewire port on your computer look like this

(6 pin)

That is the back of my camcorder and monoprice seems to be on maintenance check for the next couple of days.

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Wondertwins wrote in post #9743677
That is the back of my camcorder and monoprice seems to be on maintenance check for the next couple of days.

http://i1011.photobuck​et.com …wondertwins0/IM​G_7044.jpg

Thats a 4 pin connector.

How about your computer?

RWatkins wrote in post #9743688
Thats a 4 pin connector.

How about your computer?

I surprisingly do not have a fire wire connector on my computer so I need to buy a add-on card and the wire

Wondertwins wrote in post #9743716
I surprisingly do not have a fire wire connector on my computer so I need to buy a add-on card and the wire

Lucky for you they are cheap, so is the cable. Amazon has them for 6.00$

http://www.amazon.com …ics&qid=1267938​259&sr=8-6

Also note that with the right software you can capture directly to your harddrive as you shoot. I had a GL2 myself and I've done this quite successfully.

Todd Lambert wrote in post #9743785
Also note that with the right software you can capture directly to your harddrive as you shoot. I had a GL2 myself and I've done this quite successfully.

what program did you use?