I really don't think the VHS route would work at all! Video recorded to MiniDV is digitally encoded whereas video recorded to VHS is analogue. They're completely different data storage methods and are completely incompatible with each other. Come to think of it, I've done this before (transferred MiniDV footage to a DVD). My way of going about it would be to play the MiniDV tape in any compatible camcorder which has a FireWire link to a computer. Sony call this "i-link" I think. You can use this method to transfer the raw video files to your computer and then use something like Windows DVD Maker (Vista) to burn it to a DVD (or Windows Movie Maker and a third party DVD burning solution for XP).
Alternatively if you can get hold of a DVD recorder, connect the camcorder to it using the component cables (red, white and yellow) and record the camcorder's output feed straight onto a DVD.
I hope this helps. I strongly believe that MiniDV is completely incompatible with a VHS-based VCR.
Post edited at 12:32 pm on Oct. 30, 2008 by Spuddlesworth