Transfer cable for Canon Vixia HF R800 video camera

[Sharecropper]

Hello; I have a Canon Vixia HF R800 video camera which I have had for several years but haven't used.  I recently charged-up the battery and shot some video, but do not have the IFC-300PCU/s USB cable that came with the camera.  The original box is probably long-gone.  Where can I obtain a replacement cable?  I would like to transfer the video to my computer.  I also see that there is an HDMI OUT port but the shape of the port looks odd to me, different than a regular HDMI port shape.  Thanks in advance for any help received.

[AtticusLake · Accepted solution]

I don't have an R800, so I'm just going by what I see in the manual.  So take this with caution.

Unfortunately, your camera came out in that awkward phase when electronics manufacturers were transitioning to smaller connectors, but hadn't quite got there yet.

There are three sizes of "classic" (pre-USB-C) USB device connectors: full-sized, mini, and micro.  All three are asymmetric, like D-shaped, with two chamfered corners.  The full-sized device end is the big square-ish one you might see on printers.  The micro size is still pretty common these days, although it's being replaced by USB C (which has both ends rounded, no chamfers).  Unfortunately your camera has the in-between one, mini-USB, which has been pretty much phased out.  You will sometimes come across older devices which have it.

Likewise there are three sizes of HDMI connectors -- full-sized, mini, and micro.  Full-sized is still the standard for TVs, and some cameras; smaller cameras use micro.  Sadly your camera has a mini-HDMI.

The good news is that even though your connectors are fairly obsolete, the cables can still be got.  So for USB, you could just look for a mini-USB to USB-A cable; I don't know of any reason why you would need the Canon cable specifically.

If you want to try HDMI, a mini-HDMI to full-sized HDMI cable will do the trick; however, I don't know if your camera has clean HDMI out.  (I.e. it might overlay an icon on the video feed.)

The big point is that mini-USB is not the same as micro-USB, and likewise mini-HDMI is not the same as micro-HDMI.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

[jrhoffman75]

[kvbarkley · Accepted solution]

Just get a card reader and transfer the video files directly. No cable (at least for the camcorder) necessary.

Your computer may already have one.

[Sharecropper]

I feel so dumb.  Why didn't I think of that?  Thanks for the simple solution!!!!!!

[Sharecropper]

Sorry Mr. Hoffman, but neither of those will fit the USB on my camera.  I plan to simply remove the card and transfer the videos via a card reader in my computer.  Thanks anyway for your reply.  

[Sharecropper]

Thanks Atticus.  That is wonderful information.  I have copied it down so I will know what to look for.