PC won't recognize HVX200a P2 via firewire...what gives?

M

markthoma

Member
Hey everybody,
I'm sure the answer is already here in one of these posts...
I've just bought a nearly new HVX200a and I just shot a bunch of video on the P2 card in the resident HD format 720p/30p. I'm running Windows 7 (64bit) and Adobe CS5 and tried to install the P2 software to the computer but Windows 7 WILL NOT recognize the camera when connected via Firewire. I set the camera for external control of the Firewire port. But somebody (on some forum) said I need to get a P2 card viewer that plugs into a Dual Adaptor port on a laptop and that Windows 7 WILL NOT support Firewire compatibility for P2.
What the?????
C'mon, you're joking right? One of the most popular of the current (okay a few years ago) crop of prosumer camcorders, one of the best operating systems, one of the best video editing programs, one of the best recording/storage mediums...and they're not compatible?
Tell me there's a simple fix to all of this. Actually, tell me there's any fix to this.
Mark
 
On Windows, you should be connecting through USB. Using the HVX 1394 connection with Windows was never guaranteed to work.
 
Really? The firewire port was only for Mac users? Really? I've never had a problem with firewire on several of the Sony Handycams I owned or the Canon G2. Is that a Panasonic specific issue?
At any rate I plugged a usb cable into the usb port on the Panasonic and the computer still doesn't recognize the unit. ???? I have the USB option enabled on the camera! Anything else I'm missing?
 
You need to install the Panasonic P2 drivers and select HVX200 support. Make sure to have P2 cards in the camera during the installation.
 
Well, first, we'll assume you've read the manual and/or Barry Green's book...

And that you've installed the drivers.

If so, first, slide the Protect tab on the cards.
Then attach the USB cable, (yes, USB), go to the MODE button and go from CAM> MCR> PC, holding it down to get into PC mode.
The P2 cards should then show up on your PC. Copy the entire card contents to an appropriately named folder (Shoot/Date/Card # or whatever works for you) on your PC.
Import to CS5.
 
Hey thanks to all of you guys... Okay I cannot install the USB drivers on my computer. I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium. I can go through the P2 cd rom installation procedure (or the software I can download from Panasonic for that matter) until the point where it give me a long list of drivers I want to install. Even though I check the box for the Panasonic HVX200 the computer will not load the drivers. The Panasonic P2 install manual says that at a minimum I need Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate 32bit/64bit. Is that my problem? That the drivers won't load under 'Home Premium'? Also I only have one P2 card (an E Series 32 gig card) is that an issue?
Thanks again for all your help.
 
Oh...also the MODE button only allows me to option either CAM or MCR/VCR. Is there something I missed in the camera setup menu?
 
Hey Barry (or anyone who has the time, or inclination, to respond to another relatively stupid question),
So I have finally successfully downloaded the video from the P2 card to my pc for editing in CS5. But some of the video that I shot was of an event that my girlfriend was involved in and she was wondering if she could download the same video to her Mac? Her machine is about 4/5 years old and she's running 10.6.8 (snow leopard?) and routinely uses Apple's 'I Movie' to do little videos for the local county Animal Control for whom she volunteers.
So here's my question(s)...
Can 'I Movie' edit the Hi Def stuff off the P2 Card?
If it can, can she hook the Panasonic up to the Mac via the firewire?
Would she need P2 Drivers for the Mac? (I know there were P2 drivers on the cd-rom that came with the camera but they didn't seem to load correctly on her Mac).
Any answers would be greatly appreciated.
And once again you guys are the best!
 
iMovie cannot, youd need FCP. Or you'd need an application that would convert the P2 file into something that iMovie can edit. And yes, she could hook it up via firewire, using the 1394 Device menu option.
 
markthoma said:
Really? The firewire port was only for Mac users? Really? I've never had a problem with firewire on several of the Sony Handycams I owned or the Canon G2.
Click to expand...

Not the same thing; firewire was within the DV capture protocol. If you wanted to capture from DV tape from the HVX, you'd also use firewire and it would be just like using those cams. You also use firewire for streaming video from the HVX, because firewire is within those protocols, too. These are standards which predate the HVX and the HVX comforms to those protocols.

It's the P2/card reader functions which are an entirely different animal. It's not related to tape or streaming at all. It's like connecting a hard drive to your computer. Some are meant for USB. Some are meant for firewire. The HVX gives you the options most commonly used for that purpose in Windows and on the Mac.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top