I own this HC3 camcorder for almost 2 years and I never had any issue. Yesterday I found out that when trying to transfer some videos to my PC via firewire, the PC does not recognize the camcorder. Mybe this happened as a result of connecting the firewire cable first to the camcorder and then to the PC when it should've been done the other way as static can burn the camcorder's port.The cable, the PC's firewire port and Windows are all OK since I tested with other firewire devices I have (an external hard drive). I also tested with another PC and with other cables without success. So it seems the firewire port in the camcorder is dead. The camcorder is out of warranty and Sony charges a ridiculous $540 plus tax and shipping for the repair. So, I was thinking in the following options:
1) A cheap HDV MiniDV separate player deck to be used only for transferring my video to PC or for TV viewing? (no need for those expensive ones with LCD screens for viewing, etc)
2) A place other than Sony that will repair this without ripping me off?
3) A do-it-yourself repair of the firewire port?
4) The camcorder has an HDMI port. Maybe use that port to transfer the video to the PC with a HDMI cable+adapter? I assume this is not possible and transfer can only be done through the firewire port?
Thanks for any ideas.

I have same problem and I emailed this company and they quoted me $126.00. I have not sent it in as yet so I do not know if they do good work or not. If you find a good (cheap ) place plese email me at esnellings@tampabay.rr.com

This is the link to the place I contacted.

http://www.camcorderrepair.com/

Hi Edwin, thanks for the suggested place to repair the firewire port of the camcorder. I did some research and got a good recommendation for this company:
www.mdlrvideospecialist.com
They seem to do quality work from comments I got from other places. Regarding the $126 estimate you got it's just an estimate and from all responses I got it all depend on the cause of the problem. If it's the port alone is the best case scenario, but if it's the main board it can be $500 or more. Here is the reply I got:

Total estimate approximately $165 without parts; $195 with the port replaced; $745 with the main board replaced. Our warranty is 6-months' parts & labor. We have the port in stock, but not the main board.

Look forward to working with you on this.

Manny

MANUEL DE LA ROSA VIDEO SPECIALIST
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