I have a Canon DC220 camcorder which uses mini dvd for recording.

How can I transfer the video to computer. Instruction booklet very poor. The trouble is I'm a beginner and don't know what I'm doing.

I have shot several separate clips onto dvd-rw disk. I can see the individual clips on the camera screen. I can watch these on the TV using the AV lead. However, I cannot find any way to transfer the recordings to PC.

I have installed Canon's digital video solution disk Easy installation!!! This includes Zoombrowser and EOS utility and I have even installed Quicktime 6.5 which the poorly named "easy installation" did not do for me. However none of these seem to help.

Using USB connection I have been able to find two files on the camera and copy them to my computer but I can't find anything to read them and show the video. These files are VR_Mangr and VR_Movie.

Windows Media player will play VR_movie in parts but not all of it.

Any suggestions for, or links to, an Idiots Guide for what to do now would be gratefully received.

Hi
The file VR_movie is the video file. If you configure windows explorer to show the file extensions(disabled by default) then it should show VR_movie.vro.
To do anything with that file you need to convert it to another format like mpeg2.
Do you have NeroVision installed on your PC(included with Nero CD Burning package). if yes then you can import the VRO file in NVE and export a mpeg2.
As an alternative, you could do all further recordings in VIDEO mode(you can configure the DC220 to use VIDEO or VR mode). In VIDEO mode the miniDVD behaves exactly like a 12cm DVD, it should even play in any standard DVD player.

__________________
Regards
Sektionschef

Panasonic SDR-S100
Sandisk Ultra II 2GB SD Card
Raynox QC-505 0.5 WA
IBS 5X Tele
Velbon Ultra Maxi F Tripod
Magix Video deluxe 2008plus

Thanks for the answer.
I haven't got NeroVision but I will look into getting it.
I recorded in VR mode because this, in the instructions, appeared to be a better quality and apparently more easy to edit. I see now they only meant on the camera.

Can you tell me what I use the three pieces of software I mentioned, for. These were Quicktime, Zoombrowser and EOS utility (Yes I am a very new newbie). The last two of these appear only to work on still photos.

Hi
Sorry I don't know any of your mentioned sw and I doubt that any of them is for video editing.
If you don't have a nero CD burning package then you don't need to buy it. Nerovision isn't a good editing sw either. In case you would already have it you could use it to convert the VRO to MPG files.
By the way, I recommend to use the VR mode although it's a little bit more complicated to edit and you can not play the miniDVDs with a DVDplayer. The main advantage of VR mode is that you can do in-camcorder editing, so can directly delete unwanted szenes from your current recording and save space for further recordings.
You did not mention what you want to do with your movie files?
Just burn them on a 12cm DVD?
or do some editing by cutting szenes, add transitions,effects,background music, etc...?
A good sw to reauthor a DVD is TMPGEnc DVD Author, it can directly read the VRO files and burn a 12cm DVD from it.
In case you like to do some editing you need to buy one of the well-known editing packages like Ulead,Pinnacle,Adobe & Co.

__________________
Regards
Sektionschef

Panasonic SDR-S100
Sandisk Ultra II 2GB SD Card
Raynox QC-505 0.5 WA
IBS 5X Tele
Velbon Ultra Maxi F Tripod
Magix Video deluxe 2008plus

Thanks a million. Just the sort of information I was looking for.
I want editing software so that I can combine different clips together into a coherent whole and at the same time remove all my rubbish shots. Then create DVD to send to mum. She can cope with DVD but internet is one step too far.
As for the future well Roman Polanski, Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles will fade into insignificance once I work out which is the front of the camera.