How to connect my laptop to my video camera to see exactly what the camera is seeing?

So, this will be the first wedding i will be doing on video, so my question is:

Is there any way that i can connect my laptop to the camera to see exactly what the camera is seeing, sort of like a way to monitor the video in a big screen.

Is it possible, and if so, what software/connections will i need?

[AncientElite]

It depends on two things. Type of camera... Can the model you have act as a web cam? And the O/S of the laptop... Hopefully XP since it comes with Windows Movie Maker.

If your camera cant act as a Webcam then... No. If you have a camcorder or a webcam camera then you should be able to hook it up with FireWire or if I can remember USB should be sufficient and have it on record mode. Make sure that you don't have it on 5min power saving mode or any power saving mode as it will shut your cam down.

As for the laptop... Xp's Movie Maker should recognize your cam after its hooked up. In the menu there should be a record feature select it and see if your getting connectivity between the two. If not consult your user manual.

Hope that helps.

It seems like the problem is more complex than just attaching a camcorder and using the Windows Movie Maker.

If you have a web-cam attached to your laptop you can broadcast video to a single user or multiple users. And you will need a web-cam recording and broadcasting software. This case is easy.

But when you have a video camera there are 2 solutions I can imagine:

1. Transmit video and audio signal over radio frequency, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, any other wireless network. Dunno whether there is any device doing that.
   
2. Connect your video camera to your laptop via FireWire (or may be your camera supports USB instead). But then a person recording with the video camera should carry a laptop with him
   
   But you can use any wireless Internet connection (Wi-Fi, Wi-Max,...) to broadcast video from your laptop to a user or multiple users.
   
   But what software should be used on the laptop? Can freeware VideoLan broadcast video from a video camera?

OK. First of all, the camera is a Video Camera, not a WebCam.

Next, i have Windows XP on my laptop, so no worries there.

Also, i do not think this camera has a 5min power saving mode.