Hi, I'm new to the forums and really need some help if I can get some.

I have two MiniDV cameras, both with firewire support. In the past, the firewire has worked just fine to get my video onto my PC but it just seems very tempermental now. One of my cameras (a Panasonic PV-GS12) is not even recognizeable by the computer anymore. I will plug it in, turn it on, and nothing will happen. Windows and my Mac both do not recognize it at all. I can connect it via USB which it will connect but I don't have the drivers to do anything with it after that. I have tried resetting my Panasonic via the reset button but it still will not work. It has worked in the past, but not any time recently.

My second camera (a Samsung SCD67) will connect via firewire and is recognized, but it won't work past that. In Adobe Premiere it says something about "Unable to start recorded. Please reset the camera". Unfortunately, this camera does not have a reset switch like my Panasonic.

I have no idea what to do at this point. I have a film project coming up soon and I really need to be able to edit my videos digitally but all of my cameras are giving me grief. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix these problems or alternative ways to get the video onto my computer? I looked at some MiniDV tape decks but they appeared to be several hundred dollars which is not very cost effective.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.