minidv cassette USB transfer?

[KoMoDo]

hey guys,

my mom managed to get my Canon ZR70mc camcorder dropped to the floor and well everything seems to be working fine except the ability to transfer video from the cassette to my computer via firewire, i will try a different computer but im 99.9% sure that's not the case but rather the camcorder got smashed, this transfer worked with the same pc,cable and camcorder a week before we went on vacation and when we got back it just didn't work at all, the "DV IN" on the camcorder blinked (i contacted their support and said that means something's faulty) now my only thing left to try is connecting the camcorder to a friends' pc which im sure will do nothing different.

my question is, seeing as i can't copy data from the cassette to my pc for editing and viewing purposes, is there any device that will allow me to take the minidv cassette out from the player and plug that into some usb 2.0 or firewire cradle thing and then be able to transfer all the data? hopefully that isn't too expensive either (its just that i live in israel, and taking the camcorder away to the US in order to get it fixed and shipped back here or whatnot is way too much money i would say..)

Thanks

[Kov-Ice]

I'm pretty sure you'd have a difficult time finding a dedicated mini-dv tape deck for under $500. Maybe you have an acquaintance that would allow you to borrow their mini-dv camcorder just for transfer purposes?

[glc]

Have you checked for any local businesses that might offer transfer service, say possibly to a DVD?

[KoMoDo]

Kov-Ice - that's what i was thinking about, but camcorders here in israel aren't all that popular and i actually don't know any friend that has one

glc - im in no rush of transferring the data to my pc..

i figured a device like this shouldn't be that expensive but if it is i might have no choice but letting someone from my family take it with them to the US to a repair facility

[Kov-Ice]

glc's idea would be your cheapest route to transfer, I would think, although you may want to repair your camera rather than purchasing a new one. As far as the mini-dv decks, it doesn't seem that there are any consumer-level products out there. Those are more streamlined for professional use, and as such, they cost professional prices.

[KoMoDo]

well buying a new one is definitely out of the question, guess my options now are either taking it back for a repair or getting a friends' camcorder every time, or that business thing which will become costly over time most likely

[SonicVanguard]

A dedicated miniDV deck will set you back around $800 retail for a prosumer model - you'd be better off buying a new camera (repair could be as costing as a new camera as well).

[sgtspector]

Check EBay or garage sales for used ones. You never know.

[KoMoDo]

i live in israel so that would be sort of problematic

[Kov-Ice]

Is the problem finding someone on EBay to ship there, or do people just not have garages?

[KoMoDo]

lol the truth is garages in israel are rare
secondly theres no real ebay around here, as it wont succeed in such a small (somewhat crappy in different fields) country but i might look around ebay usa and then getting it back here via some family member that resides in the US, OR find out how much this repair should cost and maybe that'll be more likely, although the camcorder won't be at my disposal during that long period of time, since right now it works just fine just without the ability to transfer the data to my pc.