Canon Optura Xi Video Downloading Problem at DVinfo.net

Lorenzo Russell · May 7th, 2004, 04:04 PM

I recently bought a Canon Optura Xi and can't get iMovie 4 on my G5 (using OS 10.3.3) to recognize the camera when attached via the Firewire port. I've contacted Apple and they told me it's not a supported camera. Instead they directed me to a list of old cameras that are supported (many of which are not made any more). I've also contacted Canon and they told me it's a software problem (because I get a "DV In" on the camera) and they can't help me.

My question is can I download video from my Optura Xi to my G5? Has anyone out there done it? If so, please point me in the right direction. I'd really like to be able to do some digital editing.

Thanks In Advance,
Lorenzo

Patricia Kim · May 7th, 2004, 06:05 PM

I'm a Mac user, but don't have a Canon, a G-5 or use iMovie4 or even 10.3.3 yet. But what I usually try if there's a problem getting iMovie to recognize my cam (and it does happen sometimes, especially with the cheapie I use as a deck), I trash iMovie preferences and do a complete shutdown of the Mac. Restart. Open iMovie. Create a new project if you're not importing into an existing project. Attach the cam and then turn it on in playback mode. Hopefully iMovie will see the cam. You may have to try it a couple of times. (With no basis for doing so, I've always thought this had something to do with re-initializing the firewire port, but no one can tell me.)

Try the apple/support/discussion forum if you don't get help here. Canons are notorious for having a problem - seems to be something about how they decided to implement firewire protocols, from what I've read. Nonetheless, I would be very surprised if you don't find someone who has managed to get it to work. I think Apple telling you it's not supported basically means they don't want to get involved with "fixes," not that the cam will not work with your Mac.

Lorenzo Russell · May 15th, 2004, 07:52 PM

Thanks for your reply Patricia. I just tried trashing preferences for iMovie and iMovie still doesn't recognize the camera. I'll check the apple discussion forums. I might just have to try a different software program like Final Cut.

Michael Wisniewski · May 15th, 2004, 08:52 PM

... you might want to test it out on someone elses system to see if it's the camera

I use an Optura Xi and it has had no problems with either a PC desktop or a Mac laptop. Both computers recognize and control the camera just fine.

The PC desktop is running Windows XP Pro / Vegas 4
The Mac laptop is running OS X / iMovie

** I did have some minor problems with a Canon ZR60 but the Xi and GL-2s have been rock solid with the PC/Mac connections.

Patricia Kim · May 15th, 2004, 09:28 PM

I think GS5/10.3 combination may have some additional issues. One thing I remember reading early on was to turn off file vault. But there have been so many updates, I don't know how valid that is anymore.

Jeff Donald · May 15th, 2004, 09:32 PM

Michael, what version OS X are you using?

Dave Perry · May 15th, 2004, 10:19 PM

I use a G3 800 iBook (OS 10.3.3) and a Canon ZR 40 and Optura XI. Although I rarely use iMovie, both cameras were recognized by it. I usually use Final Cut Express.

Could be the cable, could be the G5. If possible, try it on a G4 or G3 and see what happens. The Canon web site says the XI is supported. By the way, I love my XI.

Jeff Donald · May 15th, 2004, 10:23 PM

Lorenzo, what brand cable are you using? Is it the Apple FireWire cable that came with the computer?

Lorenzo Russell · May 16th, 2004, 12:58 PM

Thanks for the response.

I finally figured it out. It has something to do with the Firewire 800 bus. I disconnected power to the G5 for about 5 minutes (advice from the Apple discussions) and disconnected a Hard Drive I had connected via the FW800. I connected the Canon Optura Xi using the FW400 port, restarted the G5, and voila iMovie sees the Canon and communicates no problem.

I know it's something to do with firewire because in the system profiler the FW400 ports are referred to as the 800 ports. Apple has some work to do in differentiating these two connections. Whenever I try to rehook up the Hard Drive, the system doesn't recognize the camera. So it's still a nuisance.

Thanks again folks,
Lorenzo

Jeff Donald · May 16th, 2004, 01:04 PM

How are you hooking up the camera? Have you tried daisy chaining the camera to the drive?

Lorenzo Russell · May 16th, 2004, 05:08 PM

Jeff, I'm hooking up directly to the G5 via the FW400 port. No daisy chain, but daisy-chaining does work too.

Jeff Donald · May 16th, 2004, 05:37 PM

If you daisy chain the camera can you use your FW drive?

Michael Wisniewski · May 16th, 2004, 06:14 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Donald : Michael, what version OS X are you using? -->>>

OS 10.3.3

May 7th, 2004, 04:04 PM	#1
Lorenzo Russell Tourist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4	Canon Optura Xi Video Downloading Problem I recently bought a Canon Optura Xi and can't get iMovie 4 on my G5 (using OS 10.3.3) to recognize the camera when attached via the Firewire port. I've contacted Apple and they told me it's not a supported camera. Instead they directed me to a list of old cameras that are supported (many of which are not made any more). I've also contacted Canon and they told me it's a software problem (because I get a "DV In" on the camera) and they can't help me. My question is can I download video from my Optura Xi to my G5? Has anyone out there done it? If so, please point me in the right direction. I'd really like to be able to do some digital editing. Thanks In Advance, Lorenzo

May 15th, 2004, 09:32 PM	#6
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Michael, what version OS X are you using? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 15th, 2004, 10:19 PM	#7
Dave Perry Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 796	I use a G3 800 iBook (OS 10.3.3) and a Canon ZR 40 and Optura XI. Although I rarely use iMovie, both cameras were recognized by it. I usually use Final Cut Express. Could be the cable, could be the G5. If possible, try it on a G4 or G3 and see what happens. The Canon web site says the XI is supported. By the way, I love my XI. __________________ Dave Perry Cinematographer LLC Director of Photography • Editor • Digital Film Production • 540.915.2752 • daveperry.net

May 15th, 2004, 10:23 PM	#8
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Lorenzo, what brand cable are you using? Is it the Apple FireWire cable that came with the computer? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 16th, 2004, 01:04 PM	#10
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	How are you hooking up the camera? Have you tried daisy chaining the camera to the drive? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 7th, 2004, 06:05 PM	#2
Patricia Kim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 453	I'm a Mac user, but don't have a Canon, a G-5 or use iMovie4 or even 10.3.3 yet. But what I usually try if there's a problem getting iMovie to recognize my cam (and it does happen sometimes, especially with the cheapie I use as a deck), I trash iMovie preferences and do a complete shutdown of the Mac. Restart. Open iMovie. Create a new project if you're not importing into an existing project. Attach the cam and then turn it on in playback mode. Hopefully iMovie will see the cam. You may have to try it a couple of times. (With no basis for doing so, I've always thought this had something to do with re-initializing the firewire port, but no one can tell me.) Try the apple/support/discussion forum if you don't get help here. Canons are notorious for having a problem - seems to be something about how they decided to implement firewire protocols, from what I've read. Nonetheless, I would be very surprised if you don't find someone who has managed to get it to work. I think Apple telling you it's not supported basically means they don't want to get involved with "fixes," not that the cam will not work with your Mac.

May 15th, 2004, 07:52 PM	#3
Lorenzo Russell Tourist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4	Thanks for your reply Patricia. I just tried trashing preferences for iMovie and iMovie still doesn't recognize the camera. I'll check the apple discussion forums. I might just have to try a different software program like Final Cut.

May 15th, 2004, 08:52 PM	#4
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	... you might want to test it out on someone elses system to see if it's the camera I use an Optura Xi and it has had no problems with either a PC desktop or a Mac laptop. Both computers recognize and control the camera just fine. The PC desktop is running Windows XP Pro / Vegas 4 The Mac laptop is running OS X / iMovie ** I did have some minor problems with a Canon ZR60 but the Xi and GL-2s have been rock solid with the PC/Mac connections.

May 15th, 2004, 09:28 PM	#5
Patricia Kim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 453	I think GS5/10.3 combination may have some additional issues. One thing I remember reading early on was to turn off file vault. But there have been so many updates, I don't know how valid that is anymore.

May 16th, 2004, 12:58 PM	#9
Lorenzo Russell Tourist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4	Thanks for the response. I finally figured it out. It has something to do with the Firewire 800 bus. I disconnected power to the G5 for about 5 minutes (advice from the Apple discussions) and disconnected a Hard Drive I had connected via the FW800. I connected the Canon Optura Xi using the FW400 port, restarted the G5, and voila iMovie sees the Canon and communicates no problem. I know it's something to do with firewire because in the system profiler the FW400 ports are referred to as the 800 ports. Apple has some work to do in differentiating these two connections. Whenever I try to rehook up the Hard Drive, the system doesn't recognize the camera. So it's still a nuisance. Thanks again folks, Lorenzo

May 16th, 2004, 05:08 PM	#11
Lorenzo Russell Tourist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4	Jeff, I'm hooking up directly to the G5 via the FW400 port. No daisy chain, but daisy-chaining does work too.

May 16th, 2004, 05:37 PM	#12
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	If you daisy chain the camera can you use your FW drive? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 16th, 2004, 06:14 PM	#13
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Donald : Michael, what version OS X are you using? -->>> OS 10.3.3