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abuhakim · Mar 31, 2003, 05:10 PM

Hi

I have ibook 600 with osx 10.2.4, not sure which digital camcorder to buy. Must I buy one of the apple listed ones. http://www.apple.com/imovie/compatib...camcorder.html

Salam,

daydream · Mar 31, 2003, 07:45 PM

it comes down to two basic questions how much money do you have to spend and how far are you going in the biz.

if you are shooting the family stuff under 1,000 going to do the movies for fun 1,500 - 2,000 then if you are going to make movies for the fun of it and for festivals and such look to start around 3,000-5,000.

This would include a good mic also I hope, as you want one not mounted on the camera.

Daydream

schwachs · Mar 31, 2003, 08:48 PM

To echo the other respondent, what's your budget?

What's your budget?

Originally posted by abuhakim:
Hi

I have ibook 600 with osx 10.2.4, not sure which digital camcorder to buy. Must I buy one of the apple listed ones. http://www.apple.com/imovie/compatib...camcorder.html

Salam,

sensorfreaky · Mar 31, 2003, 11:32 PM

Buy any of the latest consumer models from Canon or Sony but make sure it is mini-DV. Stay the hell away from micro-MV. The Canon and Sony mini-DV models are plentiful and well-supported by Apple software such as iMovie. In general, they are all very good camcorders and it's up to you to choose what kind of features you need/don't need and how much you're willing to spend. My personal consumer sub-$1K favorites: Sony TRV-50, Canon ZR-70, Canon Elura 40MC, Sony TRV-33. There are cheaper ones and more expensive ones, depends what features you need.

Let me stress again: don't even look at any of the micro-MV models. They use a different codec and will not work well (work at all?) with Apple software.

skalie · Apr 1, 2003, 02:23 AM

I bought a mini-DV JVC camcorder that wasn't listed on the Apple site. I emailed the JVC people to ask about compatibilty and the reply was "certainly, we use Apple computers ourselves".

I would recommend spending the extra bucks to have "DV-in" which means you can edit and save back to tape.

Axo1ot1 · Apr 1, 2003, 03:56 AM

Originally posted by skalie:
I would recommend spending the extra bucks to have "DV-in" which means you can edit and save back to tape.

Wah? They sell cameras with one-way firewire ports? Sre you joking or something? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!

skalie · 04:49 AM

Originally posted by Axo1ot1:
Wah? They sell cameras with one-way firewire ports? Sre you joking or something? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!

Not joking, eben if it is April 1st, although I should mention that I live in the Netherlands, it might not be world-wide phenonomen.

I agree it's stupid, or was three years ago, when I bought the camcorder, maybe it would be better advice to say "Check that the camcorder has DV-in (iLink, or firewire)" these days.

I also remember when looking for info about my camera seeing advice on how to "hack" a camcorder to enable DV-in, not sure if they were tampering with the hardware or the software however.

Edit: just remembered why, if a camcorder has DV-in, it is placed in the same tax bracket for importation as a video recorder, and therefore more expensive. So it may indeed be just a euro thing.

direktor · Apr 1, 2003, 02:07 PM

Camcorders with DV-in recording restricted is indeed just a european thing.

All DV camcorders sold in the US can record video using the firewire port for video in, while in VCR mode.

SunSeeker · Apr 2, 2003, 06:58 AM

The European camcorders are deliberately crippled, it's a tax thing. Video recorders attract more duty and import quantity limits

Most european cameras can be enabled however.

There are cameras, Sony TRV19, which don't have analogue input. This is needed if you want to bring in anything from an old vhs etc.

For general use the best for camera for features is the Sony TRV22.

For size/value Panasonic GS50

For best price Panasonic DS65

All the above models have the memory cards and it is worth getting these models rather than the non card models (see note about TRV19 above).

TRB22 for instance can mix with images from the memory stick so you can do bluescreen on the camera. Don't expect digital camera quality still images though even if you spend twice as much.

I can't see much point in spending the extra on a TRV33, if you want a better camera go straight for the next model (TRV80 I think) or jump to the Panasonic GX7 which has the best still shot I have seen on any video camera below $3500 AU$ as well as a flash and Leica lens.

Just remember if you go mad on price now you might find it hard to justify the $$$ on a replacement HDD/HDTV Widescreen tictac sized camera in a coupla of years.

bradoesch · Apr 2, 2003, 11:38 AM

Sony refreshes their camcorder product line in the spring, so you might wanna consider that.

whdez · Jun 10, 2003, 09:01 PM

Hi! This is my first posting in this forum. I am new to Mac, I just got a PB G4 17", also got the panasonic PV-GS50S, I can use the firewire connection and work with iMovie, but cannot use the USB to work with the SD card, any idea????

>For size/value Panasonic GS50

thanks!

scottiB · Jun 10, 2003, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by whdez:
Hi! This is my first posting in this forum. I am new to Mac, I just got a PB G4 17", also got the panasonic PV-GS50S, I can use the firewire connection and work with iMovie, but cannot use the USB to work with the SD card, any idea????

>For size/value Panasonic GS50

thanks!

This is just a guess, but you may want to try Image Capture application (if you haven't already).

If not, you may want to purchase a SD card reader--either USB or PC card based. I prefer using a reader because it's easier to pop the card out of the camera than hooking it up.