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Home: Video University Forums: Canon All Camcorders:
Transfering Stills To PC

X-Gail_R
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Nov 26, 2000, 4:01 PM

Post #1 of 10 (2565 views)
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Transfering Stills To PC	Can't Post

I would like to photograph wildlife, particularly birds, using a Camcorder that I can take stills off of a video tape and transfer them to my PC for editing. For example, looking at the Camcorder video frame-by-frame to choose a particularly good shot of a bird in motion - flying with wings stretched out, then transfering that chosen shot to my PC as a still photo. I am considering the Canon GL-1 because of its 20x Zoom lens but in reading its manual, I am not finding much information on what equipment is needed and how to transfer stills picked out of a video to my PC.
Is anyone currently doing this with their GL-1?
What optional equipment would I need?
What is the quality of the stills when they are picked off of video shot with the GL-1 ?
Thanking you in advance,
Gail R
GRUSLL@AOL.com

X-don
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Nov 26, 2000, 5:24 PM

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: I would like to photograph wildlife,... what equipment is needed and how to transfer stills picked out of a video to my PC.
I use the Snappy by PLAY, Inc. Check details at their web site. While not the fanciest way to grab stills, it works well for me.

X-Carl
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Nov 26, 2000, 7:34 PM

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Re: Transfering Stills To PC [In reply to]	Can't Post

X-Gail_R
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Nov 26, 2000, 8:45 PM

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: <<Gail, The Gl1 is perfect for what you want to do. <snip> I used firewire and Digital Origin's "PhotoDV" to grab the frame. ... Carl>>
Oh, I'm so glad to hear that because I am really anxious to try out that 20x Optical Zoom lens myself!
On the Firewire -- is that a card that needs to be installed inside a computer? Firewire is a Port, correct? I have Serial, Parallel and USB Ports already installed in my computer but I have always shied away from opening my computer's case and installing cards.
I already have the Snappy version 4.0 capture device and also Connectix Quick Clip capture device & software and I am wondering if those won't also work with the Canon GL-1 ?
I used them with an older Canon ES video camera.
Gail R
GRUSLL@AOL.com

X-Carl
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Nov 26, 2000, 9:58 PM

Post #5 of 10 (2565 views)
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Re: Transfering Stills To PC [In reply to]	Can't Post

: On the Firewire -- is that a card that needs to be installed inside a computer? Firewire is a Port, correct? I have Serial, Parallel and USB Ports already installed in my computer but I have always shied away from opening my computer's case and installing cards.
Yes, Gail, it is a card that needs to be installed in your computer. This isn't as difficult as you might think. If you have an open PCI slot, all you do is take a few screws out to open the case, and then just snap the card in place. It will then be a port just as your USB is now. (Of course you'll want to make sure you have a computer that's up to the job of video editing).
I don't know about the "Snappy". If "still" capture is all you are interested in it would probably do the job (does it capture digitally?). But if you are ever going to do any video capture you will need to go with a firewire card - you'll have to have the speed that firewire offers for that job. And if you get a GL1 I'd be willing to bet that you'll want to use it to it's fullest. Hope that helps!
Carl

X-Gail_R
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Nov 27, 2000, 7:52 PM

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Re: Transfering Stills To PC [In reply to]	Can't Post

: : I would like to photograph wildlife,... what equipment is needed and how to transfer stills picked out of a video to my PC.
: I use the Snappy by PLAY, Inc. Check details at their web site. While not the fanciest way to grab stills, it works well for me.
Don --- Do you have a Firewire port on your computer? I do NOT have one on mine and I am wondering if I will be able to transfer stills to my PC without one ?

X-Don
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Nov 27, 2000, 8:33 PM

Post #7 of 10 (2565 views)
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Re: Transfering Stills To PC [In reply to]	Can't Post

: : : I would like to photograph wildlife,... what equipment is needed and how to transfer stills picked out of a video to my PC.
: : I use the Snappy by PLAY, Inc. Check details at their web site. While not the fanciest way to grab stills, it works well for me.
: Don --- Do you have a Firewire port on your computer? I do NOT have one on mine and I am wondering if I will be able to transfer stills to my PC without one ?
No, but the SNAPPY works through the parallel port so you do not need a firewire port for it. It can provide some excellent results, check the PLAY website for examples.

X-Gail_R
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Nov 27, 2000, 8:38 PM

Post #8 of 10 (2564 views)
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Re: Transfering Stills To PC [In reply to]	Can't Post

: : Don --- Do you have a Firewire port on your computer?
: No, but the SNAPPY works through the parallel port so you do not need a firewire port for it. It can provide some excellent results, check the PLAY website for examples.
Thanks for quick reply.. what was confusing me was I asked the same question at the Vanns.com website Q&A and was told I did need to have a Firewire port to get useable results.

X-Brady
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Nov 28, 2000, 2:58 AM

Post #9 of 10 (2565 views)
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firewire card will yield better results than a snappy. i'd recommend a firewire card over snappy since you'll get better quality captures and firewire cards can be found for only $100 now.

X-Don
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Nov 28, 2000, 7:35 AM

Post #10 of 10 (2565 views)
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Re: Transfering Stills To PC [In reply to]	Can't Post

: : : Don --- Do you have a Firewire port on your computer?
: : No, but the SNAPPY works through the parallel port so you do not need a firewire port for it. It can provide some excellent results, check the PLAY website for examples.
: Thanks for quick reply.. what was confusing me was I asked the same question at the Vanns.com website Q&A and was told I did need to have a Firewire port to get useable results.
If you plan to do video editing using a NLE, then obtaining a good IEEE 1394 (aka Firewire/iLink) video capture card that supports the NLE software program you have makes sense. Not all firewire cards support video capture and NLE programs - it is an evolving technology.
For still capture you would do well to check out samples and specs carefully. Capture of stills from a single field or frame may not be as good as a capture based on sampling from multiple fields - which works for still subjects.
IMHO, for the best stills buy a still camera rather than using a video camera which really is optimized for moving images.