How do you import video from a Sony Handycam to a computer?

My video clips won't import?

• I have a Sony handycam DCR-DVD305 and I am trying to import video clips from a dvd into iMovieHD. The camera has successfully imported clips before but now it will not import them. It does not even recognize that the camera is attachted to the computer. When i clikc play/edit on the camera, it gives me options for the memory stick and dvd. i clikc the dvd and on my computer it says i have inserted a blank dvd. This is very important

• Answer:

  Since iMovieHD will not recognize the USB for importing video I don't know how you got it done before... no matter. USB is used ONLY to transfer stills from the memory stick. If your Mac has a drawer loading DVD drive, then download and install HandBrake: http://handbrake.fr/ Take the finalized DVD out of your camcorder and put it in the drawer loading DVD drive and rip the video using HandBrake. If your Mac has a slot loading DVD drive, NEVER EVER put an odd sized (in this case 8cm) disc in that drive. You will scratch the disc an break the drive. It would be easiest to get an external drawer loading DVD drive (I like LaCie), then follow the Drawer loader steps above. If you don't do that, you can use the AV cables that came with the camcorder and connect them to an Analog/Digital bridge like http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.com/products/videoconversion.php then connect the A/D bridge to your Mac with a firewire cable...