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**blah789** · 05-21-2009, 07:01 AM

I looked at the manual over here
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...l.PV-GS85.H#ts
for the PV-GS85 and I see several ways of using the camcorder with the PC.

The first is to access the SD drive via Windows Explorer (just another drive letter in My Computer, then copy the files over), while connected via the USB cable. I suppose if you had a card reader, you could also take out the SD card and insert it in there with similar results. Ironically it appears only still images are stored on the memory stick (at least that's what the manual says on page 48).
The other way is to use the camcorder as a webcam. It streams live video. Apparently the only programs they mention are MSN messenger (aka Windows Live Messenger) and Windows Messenger. Don't know if they support anything else. Notice this is also via USB. See page 50 to see which buttons to press on the camcorder and more instructions. You can also try vidcap32 (google it, very nifty utility) to record webcam-style videos.

Now if you want to transfer previously recorded video footage to your PC, you have to use a DV cable. Page 47 has all the details. Before you go and buy a DV cable, you have to know what kind of firewire connection your computer has. Usually laptops have 4-pin connectors like on the left and desktops have 6-pin connectors like on the right in the following picture:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ire_cables.jpg
But maybe the camcorder already came with a DV cable. Check the bundled accessories.
When you get the camcorder connected via firewire, you'll be able to record the video by clicking capture from video device in movie maker, and by pressing the play button on your camcorder. (See pages 45 and 46 for steps).

05-21-2009, 07:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,294 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: Windows do not recognize camcorder I looked at the manual over here http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...l.PV-GS85.H#ts for the PV-GS85 and I see several ways of using the camcorder with the PC. The first is to access the SD drive via Windows Explorer (just another drive letter in My Computer, then copy the files over), while connected via the USB cable. I suppose if you had a card reader, you could also take out the SD card and insert it in there with similar results. Ironically it appears only still images are stored on the memory stick (at least that's what the manual says on page 48). The other way is to use the camcorder as a webcam. It streams live video. Apparently the only programs they mention are MSN messenger (aka Windows Live Messenger) and Windows Messenger. Don't know if they support anything else. Notice this is also via USB. See page 50 to see which buttons to press on the camcorder and more instructions. You can also try vidcap32 (google it, very nifty utility) to record webcam-style videos. Now if you want to transfer previously recorded video footage to your PC, you have to use a DV cable. Page 47 has all the details. Before you go and buy a DV cable, you have to know what kind of firewire connection your computer has. Usually laptops have 4-pin connectors like on the left and desktops have 6-pin connectors like on the right in the following picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ire_cables.jpg But maybe the camcorder already came with a DV cable. Check the bundled accessories. When you get the camcorder connected via firewire, you'll be able to record the video by clicking capture from video device in movie maker, and by pressing the play button on your camcorder. (See pages 45 and 46 for steps).