View Full Version : USB in Vixia HF20 is broken. How do I get footage off


Kelly Langerak
February 7th, 2010, 01:13 AM
I just got back from a shoot today and realized that my USB connection is broken inside the camera. It's totally cracked on me. What are my other options to getting the footage off my camera? Can I use the HDMI to USB or do I need a HDMI on my Mac Pro? If I have to use HDMI on my Mac what would you recommend as far as installing an HDMI connection on my Mac Pro 2.66 Dual Core?


Damn it. I just bought this camera. Thank goodness I have the warranty.

I don't want to send to best buy until I have the footage off. The geeks wipe the hard drive clean.

Kelly Langerak
February 7th, 2010, 08:20 AM
I found this regarding BlackMagic HDMI capturing cards. Does anyone know what this person is talking about?

"Cons: Having to open my computer up, that's not something I do very often. A USB adapter would be handy but I couldn't find one that cound handle HDMI (and the DVI ones I found were really expensive, even compared to this)."


I also saw that Sony makes a USB to MINI HDMI for the PS3. I wonder if this would work?

or will this work?

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=212941643&listingid=57277565

Andy Tejral
February 7th, 2010, 11:11 AM
No, that device goes the wrong way--from the computer to an HDMI monitor. I'm guessing the device you are looking for doesn't exist. USB devices are probably not capable of the data speed that would be required.

If the footage is absolutely not replaceable, I think that Blackmagic device is what you need.

Predrag Vasic
February 7th, 2010, 04:43 PM
Page 88 in the manual.

In other words, get yourself a SDHC memory card of the size sufficient to fit the stuff that's on the internal memory, format it, insert it in the camera, then copy all the scenes from internal memory to SDHC card. Take the card out, stick it into a card reader and copy to your computer.

Kelly Langerak
February 8th, 2010, 08:52 AM
Thanks Pedrag, I will give that a try!

Predrag Vasic
February 8th, 2010, 11:54 PM
Seems much cheaper (and simpler) than "Black Magic" card, HDMI capture and transcoding, etc...

Chris Hurd
February 9th, 2010, 09:52 AM
Yes that's right, simply transfer files from the built-in memory to the memory card via the HF20 playback menu, then use a card reader to get them into the computer.