Hiya,

I am a bit confused, and as I am abroad it is hard to find anyone to
ask (given that my communication skills are not that sophisticated).

I bought in England a digital video camera. A Canon MV 700 i. I want
to connect it to my laptop which runs XP and has video editing
software.

I thought I needed a firewire cable, a firewire card for computer, and
suitable software.

The shop when I bought the camera ~(right before going abroad – which
was silly) told me that I didn't need a firewire cable as my laptop
had a fast USB connection (USB2??) and therefore I could use a DV
cable and did not need a firewire cable. (I was not convinced, and
reluctant to be left abroad with the wrong connection, and made them
check it with the manager, and the specification list.) And I was
slightly confused, are firewire and DV cables the same thing or
totally different? Having unpacked and tried the camera out the DV
cable I was sold is not the right fit to connect the camera.

Can any one help me with the name of specification of the cable that I
do need? The DV female part of the camera is rectangular, with an
indent in one side, and holes for four pins. The DV wire I was sold is
semi circular, with an indent.

Do I need a fire wire cable? Will that mean I need new software? It
has occurred to me that I probably can't install a firewire card in my
laptop, as presumably you can't just put the card in like you can in a
normal computer?

Does anyone know what cable I need? Presumably DV to fit camera at one
end and fast USB2 at the other end. Can I order it online, perhaps
from Amazon UK? And pay extra to have it delivered to Europe?

Any help deeply appreciated

Many thanks

Pip