I need to capture onto videotape the images displaying on my laptop's
screen. It has been suggested to me that I can use the Firewire
connection between my laptop and my video camera, but I've had no luck
making it work.
Here's the details:
Camera: Sony DCR-TRV460 NTSC
Computer: Compaq Presario 2500 
Software output I'm trying to capture: Keyhole 2LT

Note that the output I'm trying to capture is a "video" that the
software itself generates in a proprietary format. I've tried several
screen capture programs, but none can keep up with the display rate of
the presentation.

Also note that I am able to send video successfully from my DV camera
to my laptop thru Firewire, and video from my laptop to my DV camera
thru my Firewire using the Sony Vegas Movie Studio 4.0 software. But I
need to capture the Keyhole presentation as it appears on my laptop's
monitor directly to my camera.

(I've tried simply filming the notebook's monitor, but the resolution
of the final video ends up pretty poor that way.)

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Clarification of Question by sdchap-ga on 07 Jan 2005 11:11 PST

I've tried virtually every screen capture program (including SnagIt).
None seems to work with the Keyhole 2LT output, hence my desire to
record the video output directly to my DV camcorder thru Firewire.

Any reason why you can't just film the screen with the camera?

Whoopse - sorry,  I missed your last para!

You could try making a slideshow with some software or use something
calle snagit that shoudl allow you to capture motion video as well as
images.

This is exactly what you need.

http://www.fraps.com/

Good luck.

After you have used fraps to capture any onscreen action, you can save
it as a video file and use your Sony Vegas Movie to output to DV.

Thanks,
Herve

The easiest solution is to use a video card that has an SVHS output on it.

Your video camera has both an SVHS input and output port. 

So the process would be as follows:
1) Set your screen resolution to be 800 by 600 or 640 by 480. The
computer screen resolution will be basis for the size of the video
images recorded on the camera, the video camera, of course ONLY
records at 640 x 480 (standard NTSC) so you can create a 1-1
relationship by setting your monitor to 640 x 480 or you can go higher
but the recorded images will be "shrunken" down to fit the cameras 640
x 480 format during the transfer process.

2) establish the SVHS to SVHS connection from video card to camera

3) Start recording on the camera

4) Start the presentation on the computer

5) When the presentation finishes stop recording on the camera.

6) Now that you have captured the content to tape in real time, it
will be smooth as silk, and of high quality.

If you desire you can then use your firewire to re-import the footage
to your video editing program and put titles and credits and do any
editing you wish, and then re-export via firewire without any loss in
quality.

BTW, I have done this many times , you ca'nt beat it for "fast and easy" 

So if you plan to record more than once or plan a series of these
types of interactive recordings and want ease of use, install one of
the ATI Radeon or other AVI types of low cost graphics cards with an
SVHS out port.