I'm not having any luck at all in connecting a (new) Canon MV700i
digital video camcorder to a (new) 15 inch Powerbook (OS X 10.3.5) via a
(new) 4-6 pin IEEE 1394 cable. The camcorder (like the Powerbook) is
being powered via the power line, to eliminate battery level problems.

I'm attempting to detect the camcorder by using iMovie, as that seemed
the appropriate application. I'm not at all sure any other application
except maybe iChat AV would be a possibility, but perhaps I'm using the
wrong application despite all evidence to the contrary?

The Canon MV700i camcorder is not listed as compatible on the Apple web
site. However previous (no longer available) MVx00i models are listed
on the Apple site as compatible. The Canon manual (page 91) says that
you can connect this model camera to a computer via an IEEE 1394 cable
(which is not supplied with the camera). Finally, I have seen this
model camera on display in Apple stores, which does make me believe it
should be compatible. Has anyone any definite information about the
compatibility of the Canon MV700i with a Powerbook?

The CD that came with the camera appears to be a video program for
Windows only. Do I perhaps need some custom Macintosh driver to make a
Macintosh Firewire connection work?

Is there some alternative way to test whether Firewire is working on the
Macintosh? Is there something in System Preferences I need to enable (I
couldn't see anything about Firewire there.) Perhaps some test software
I haven't discovered? (As a relatively new Macintosh user, I don't have
any Firewire devices I can try except this camera.)

Has anyone found that Firewire cables are themselves unreliable? No
store anywhere near me normally stocks Firewire cables (or anything else
using Firewire). I finally located an IEEE 1394 cable at a computer
store, however it is a no-name cable in a plain plastic bag with no
manufacturer markings. It does occur to me that the cable may be the
problem.

In an attempt to ensure it could connect correctly, I cut back the
plastic surround of the cable enough to be certain the connectors fully
engaged the Macintosh and Canon sockets, however this did not solve the
problem (I did this because the USB cables I have bought here had
plastic surrounds that stopped them from fully entering the printer
socket).

Can anyone tell me anything else I can try before seeing if I can get a
substitute cable by mail order?