You will use the camera to transfer the media from the digital tape to your computer. Be aware that video takes up a good deal of disk space. If you encounter errors or frequent crashes after transferring files from the camera to your computer's hard drive, this could be why. Many people purchase a separate hard drive for video processing.

Operating the Cannon ZR200A Camera (These are the camera's available for use from The Friday Institute)

• Ensure the battery pack is attached and turn the round switch to camera mode. The battery pack is inserted on the rear of the camera as shown:
  
  Click on picture for larger view.
  
  
• Toggle the Open/Eject switch on the bottom of the camera for tape insertion.
  
  Click on picture for larger view.
  
  
• Pull open the outter door as far as you can. The tape holder will pop out automatically. If the holder does not open the suede handle is most likely in the way of the door opening. Pull on the handle out of the way and try to pull the outter door out further.
  
  
• Insert the tape and on the black plastic where it says Push as shown below. This will activate the automatic closure mechanism. Do not attempt to push anywhere else, it will break the camera! Then push the outter door closed.
  

  Click on picture for larger view.

  Click on picture for larger view.

  
  
• Once the tape is loaded into the camera, you will need to connect a 4 pin to 6 pin firewire cable from the camera to your computer. Under a rubber piece on the side of the camera towards the camera lens plug in the 4 pin end of the firewire cable as shown. The other end plugs into the computer, also as shown.
  

  Click on picture for larger view.

  Click on picture for larger view.

  
  
• Open the iMovie application and select Create New Project. If you choose the default location folder in which to create your movie, make a note of its location or create your own folder for your movie project.
• Next you will need to import your movie from the camera.
  • Ensure the camera is sitting on a hard flat surface and turn the camera on to camera using the green button . The computer will detect the camera once you turn it on.
  • Note that the transfer process is 1:1 so the length of your digital movie will equate to the length of time it takes to transfer the movie to your hard drive.
• From here, follow the tutorial on Apple's website for using iMovie.
  

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