I used to transfer my home videos using Firewire, but now the port in my handycam doesn't work anymore. Sony service centre ppl said it wud cost a lot to repair the port so m now using USB. However, i have an S-Video port in my cam. Can i use this port to transfer my videos to my pc? If i can, which peripheral shud i use to do so?
You need an analog capture card or a TV Tuner Card in your PC(will be fitted in your PC's PCI slot). Just like your digital capture card with firewire port, the analog capture card has an audio-video port(three jacks of one video and two audios) and may be an s-video port(you have to check it before purchase). If there is no s-video port, you can still capture video by using an s-video to audio-video cable or through the audio-video port(all Sony camera has audio-video port). Quality is same in both the cases.
Quality is much inferior if you transfer video through analog process. So it is not recommended. Better service your firewire port.
^^^ even i was about to tell the same thing .I want add one more thing . if you are able to copy using the USB port then stick to it , where as if you use analog capture, the quality will be a bit reduced.