It is worth bearing in mind that apparent incompatibility with Vista is usually not a Microsoft problem, and can be solved quite easily by downloading an updated driver from your camcorder’s manufacturer’s website.

Another common misconception is that downloading via the USB port can provide acceptable results for Mini DV camcorders. USB may not control your camcorder’s downloading functions properly, and the flow of information may not be sufficient for full DV/AVI file transfer. If your mini camcorder has an i-link connector, you
should be able to use a firewire/i-link/ieee 1394 cable to connect to your PC’s firewire port.

Other common fixes to try range from the ridiculously simple idea of shutting down your PC, connecting up your camcorder and turning it on, then rebooting the computer (if this works, you may have to do this every time!),  to the more complex.

Some possible fixes are:

• replacing the firewire card. Some chipsets are less compatible with mini DV camcorders than others.
• combined firewire/USB cards have been known to give problems, so if you have one of these it may be worth trying a separate firewire card.
• using Windows Move Maker instead of the bundled video capture software provided with your mini camcorder.
• using the firewire port at the rear of your computer if your PC also has one at the front; bizarrely enough, some front firewire ports on PCs are not connected up.
• trying the (free) WinDV utility; this is an application using a large buffer queue, designed for the reliable capturing of videos from a DV device into AVI files.
• trying the hotfix from Microsoft for PAl-format cameras; some of these are incorrectly detected as NTSC format, which can cause corrupted video output.

If problems persist – Windows 7 is here at last….

Downloading....

The really small pocket-sized cameras (Flip Video or Muvi Micro, for example) do not set out to compete with the multi-featured high definition end of the market.  Instead, they offer ease of use.  The Muvi, for example, can be used entirely hands-free.  Straight out of James Bond, it can be clipped onto your hat or bag, and the voice-activated recording feature allows it to start recording when it hears your voice.  When all goes quiet, it switches itself off.  Not only spies and private eyes prefer sneaky recording.  Discreet mini camcorders such as these are perfect for capturing the moment.
A mini camcorder can also double up as a ‘fairly’ average digital camera. Some can achieve 8 megapixels, though half that would be more common. Voice recording? Your mini camcorder can also be enabled for quick voice notes on the move.
It is such a bonus to be able to shoot a video at a moment’s notice without the need to carry around a bulky camcorder. So if you already own a camcorder, a mini camcorder is still worth considering simply because of convenience.

....make life easier.

Mini dv camcorders have been gradually declining in popularity since the advent of the tapeless mini dvd format camcorder which, along with the sd-card, flash memory and hard drive variety, offer greater convenience than the tape-based models.

Although the mini dv format allows for a full resolution of 720 x 480 (NTSC-format) or 720 x 576 (PAL), mini dvd can easily match that, and has the capability of being dropped straight into a dvd player. Footage can also be transferred to a PC much faster than digital tape.

It is true that the digital tape of the dv camcorder is less likely to be totally corrupted than tapeless models, but this is relatively rare – and of course back-ups are the key.  The recently-developed CDRoller utility can recover data from both formats, as well as from flash memory cards, but it is just as well not to put it to the test.

The evolution from cine film camera to the first analogue videotape camcorders, the more recent digital tape dv camcorders, and now the tapeless mini camcorders, steadily reducing in size, is complete!?  Just for now….

Is the Mini DVD Camcorder hot?

The best mini camcorders on the market have features such as elevated digital and optical zoom, interchangeable lenses, and image stabilization. At the high end you might also expect manual control of shutter speed and exposure, white (or neutral) balance, focus, and audio levels.
Other superior features would include a digital signal processor (dsp), and perhaps a bayonet lens mount for speedy lens changeover. You would also want to have high-capacity sd card support, an i-link connector for firewire data transfer to your computer, and a usb link as well.  A transflective display screen offers better visibility under strong light.

As for resolution, 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps (frames per second) would be considered excellent, down to perhaps 640 x 480 at the lower end. A still resolution of 8 megapixels should be more than fine. The figures are moving ever upwards…

All but the cheapest mini camcorders come with an expansion slot to insert storage cards which will increase available video storage and lengthen recording time. 60 minutes would be considered the norm, but this can be greatly extended.

Some people prefer a digicam with some weight and substance to it, making for a steadier control when recording – the complete opposite of the lightweight Flip Video, for example.

Of course, for some, you can forget all these features, because size is everything.

Size is everything.

So what’s the fuss all about?

The Flip’s launch in 2007 instantly defined a new market for a handheld camcorder with built-in software to upload and share videos online.  This revolutionized the way people shoot and share videos with friends and captured the imagination of a broad spectrum of buyers, including the rich and famous from Oprah Winfrey to Lily Allen, U2 – and Paris Hilton.

So you can capture life’s little ‘fun’ moments spontaneously, then immediately upload your videos to social media sites like youtube, myspace, and grouper or crackle networks. Or perhaps download to your computer for email, or watch them on TV.  In fact the Flip can be treated as a removable drive of a computer, to be accessed like any other. So although the standard Flip Ultra’s flash memory only allows 1-hour recording time, you then download to your computer and start again. As you might expect, the latest 2nd generation Flip Ultra offers a greater recording time of 120 minutes.

The Flip Video comes with a TV connector cable, wrist strap, soft carrying case, batteries, and an instruction booklet, and if you fancy some extras there is the underwater case, an ‘action mount’ to attach it to handlebars or helmets, and a tripod.

The flipsides?

Well, it’s not the best quality mini camcorder out there, though its screen resolution when played on a large screen TV is still pretty impressive. Picture quality is fine for the price, sound is OK, and zoom is just adequate. Editing is quite basic, and the built-in ‘flip-out’ USB connector could conceivably snap off when connected to your computer, especially if other USB devices are in the way. You can get round this with the USB cable accessory.

You might find some problems when exporting files to your iphone or ipod, but shareware Flip Video Converter for Mac can help you get around this.  Also, there are no expansion slots for increasing the built-in memory.

It depends what your expectations are, but if video quality doesn’t matter too much (though it may pleasantly surprise you) and you think ‘cheap and cheerful’ (less than $100 for the cheapest) rather than ‘let’s shoot Ben Hur’ then you shouldn’t have any complaints. If you do, it won’t take long to upload them to YouTube.

Hollywood here we come.