Transferring video camera footage

[Moonshine]

Hi all,

Firstly, I wasn't sure where to post this, so please forgive me if I've put it in the wrong place, and feel free to move it elsewhere!

I'm hoping that someone might be able to help me.  I have a Panasonic SDR-H85 video camera with built in HDD (80gb) – I know, seems a bit antiquated nowadays, but I still make good use out of it.

Recently, it's been flashing a message to me informing me that the HDD is full.  Periodically, I've been downloading footage from the video camera to my PC (via the software that came with the video camera – Videocam Suite), and then transferring it onto DVD's every few months.  However, the time has come for me to completely retrieve all of the footage from the video camera, and download onto another format as a secondary sure fire way to know that the footage is safe, thus also freeing up the HDD on the video camera, for further use.

Now, although the box of the video camera mentions 'SDXC 64gb' which I'm assuming it's compatible with (there wasn't an SDXC card included when purchased), the instructions actually state the following: "Motion pictures cannot be copied to SD card directly, can only be copied to PC".    Now, being a complete thicko technophobe, does this mean that if I were to purchase an SD card, I'd have to download the footage onto the PC first, and then download from the PC to the SD card, or does it mean that motion pictures cannot be downloaded onto an SD card at all ( ie it only takes still pictures??)?

I have tried using two different external hard drives in previous years, but could not get on with them (didn't really understand how to use them!), and they completely slowed my computer down to a crawl with their associated software, so I don't really want to go down the route of purchasing an external hard drive to store the footage on.  So, what else is there available that's really simple that I can store the footage on, but simultaneously, retrieve it off of both the video camera and my computer, so that neither are clogged up with 80gb??

Is it possible to store video motion footage onto memory sticks, or are these only suitable for photos/data etc?  If they are suitable for video footage, what's the best type to buy (and roughly how many), bearing in mind I have 80gb of footage to transfer?!  I've no idea how many hours worth of footage it is, only that it's 80gb. If it's not possible to see and store video footage on memory sticks, what other options are there that are simple and portable, so that I don't have to retain video footage on my PC?  I'm looking for very simple suggestions, nothing complex or that I'd have to press too many buttons to achieve!!!!!!!!!

I'm on Windows 7 Home Premium, installed memory of 6gb, 64 bit operating system if that helps.

Sorry for my total stupidity in this area, but as indicated before, I am really backward when it comes to computers and all the associated technology!

Many thanks in advance for any help anyone is able to offer.  I'll check back in later on tonight or tomorrow, as kids are calling now.....

Moonshine (PS - took three times to post this, as forum kept crashing on me....??!!) 

[Simon]

I'm no expert on video cameras or transferring data from one, but in relation to an external hard drive, you shouldn't have had the issues you did.  I have two external hard drives attached to my PC via USB, and neither required any software to run them.  You just plug them in and they appear in My Computer as additional drives.

Oh, and a few of us had issues with the forum running slowly over the weekend, so that may not just be you, but that said, it's been fine for me today and this evening. 

[zappaDPJ]

Moonshine (PS - took three times to post this, as forum kept crashing on me....??!!) 

Can you give a bit more detail? What were you doing when it crashed? Was there an error? I can't see anything obvious in the log which suggests the forum might have timed out when you hit 'Post'?

[Technical Ben]

An external drive is the best option. Really cheap and tons of storage. A usb stick can also be used, but will be smaller and slower.

With a HDD you can "cut" and then "paste" into the new location. Some software does it for you, but I agree it's overly complicated and rather sluggish.

It may take a moment or two for those who have never done it before, but once we're confident at "dragging and dropping" folders around, it becomes really quick to move things to a new drive.

[Moonshine]

Can you give a bit more detail? What were you doing when it crashed? Was there an error? I can't see anything obvious in the log which suggests the forum might have timed out when you hit 'Post'?

It just said 'internet explorer cannot be displayed' every time I hit the 'post' button, and prior to that the little twirly circle was spinning round for ages (like when it's thinking about it!).  Worked in the end though!  Didn't have any issues with other sites.

[Moonshine]

I'm no expert on video cameras or transferring data from one, but in relation to an external hard drive, you shouldn't have had the issues you did.  I have two external hard drives attached to my PC via USB, and neither required any software to run them.  You just plug them in and they appear in My Computer as additional drives.

Oh, and a few of us had issues with the forum running slowly over the weekend, so that may not just be you, but that said, it's been fine for me today and this evening. 

You got me thinking about my two previous external hard drives.  They'd both come with their own software, which I assumed I needed to install.  That's when all the problems arose, so I eventually deleted them and put them in a drawer.  Following on from your post, I pulled them out of the drawer and plugged one of them in.  It didn't recognise it, and kept coming up with an error I didn't understand, so I tried the other one.  Hey presto, it worked without the ridiculous software, and I could clearly see it in 'my computer'!! I'm going to have a go at downloading and copying the footage onto the external hard drive tomorrow, but am confident I can manage it, and it looks straightforward!  I can't believe I was so naïve to download their software, causing my computer to come to a halt and complicating everything, when all that time I needn't have used it!  Thank you Simon, I think you've resolved it for me!!! 

[Moonshine]

An external drive is the best option. Really cheap and tons of storage. A usb stick can also be used, but will be smaller and slower.

With a HDD you can "cut" and then "paste" into the new location. Some software does it for you, but I agree it's overly complicated and rather sluggish.

It may take a moment or two for those who have never done it before, but once we're confident at "dragging and dropping" folders around, it becomes really quick to move things to a new drive.

Thank you Technical Ben!  I think it's resolved now, thanks to you lovely people on this forum making me see things clearly!! 

[Simon]

Glad to have helped! 

[zappaDPJ]

It just said 'internet explorer cannot be displayed' every time I hit the 'post' button, and prior to that the little twirly circle was spinning round for ages (like when it's thinking about it!).  Worked in the end though!  Didn't have any issues with other sites.

Thanks! That was indeed due to a time out which might have occurred as a result of this: http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=32263.new#new

[Moonshine]

Thanks! That was indeed due to a time out which might have occurred as a result of this: http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=32263.new#new

Every time I visit this site recently and click on a thread, the twirly circle spins and takes ages to load the page!  It doesn't do this on any other site?!?!   

[zappaDPJ]

I know this site is virtually unreachable from just after midnight until around 6.00am. Apart from yesterday it's usually OK for me.

[nowster]

Also see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/512K

[zappaDPJ]

 

[Ray]

 

[Technical Ben]

Also see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/512K

Second time I saw that strip posted today.