[Macpilot]

I just got a new powerbook and want to get into making movies and burning DVDs etc.

As I understand this, iPhoto will ONLY download images from a USB camera? And iMovie will ONLY download images from a Firewire DV camcorder.

So my first question is: If a DV camcorder can capture still images, how do I mamage them in OS X...with iPhoto (how?) or iMovie?

Next question is: What is the level of quality of still images on a DV camcorder vs. a Digital camera? Any experience out there?

So what if I want to use both iPhoto and iMovie? Can I use one camera of does Apple expect me to buy TWO cameras???? I hope not.

Thanks folks!

[NeoMac]

It is better to let each piece of hardware do what it is best at. Apple has nothing to do with this. It is just the way the technology is. Buy a digital camera for still pictures and a digital camcorder for movies.

The still pictures from digital camcorders have a very low resolution, that is only suitable for low quality web pics. They are not suitable for quality print photos.

For an inexpensive, but quality setup, I suggest:

• Canon S110 Digital Elph camera (~$350-380)
• Sony Digital-8 series camcorder ($450 and up)

Sure, there are more expensive wow-feature! models, but the average comsumer really can do without them. But hey, buy whatever "floats your boat".

PS: the Digital Elph has a nice special offer right now (additional free battery, memory card and case)

G'luck

[Macpilot]

That is what my gut feeling was. Thanks for the advice. I will take it!

I too read some good review of that Elph.

Maybe I will mess around with the camera before I get into the movies.

Peace!

[tullamore]

Originally posted by Macpilot:
<STRONG>
As I understand this, iPhoto will ONLY download images from a USB camera? And iMovie will ONLY download images from a Firewire DV camcorder.

So my first question is: If a DV camcorder can capture still images, how do I mamage them in OS X...with iPhoto (how?) or iMovie?

Next question is: What is the level of quality of still images on a DV camcorder vs. a Digital camera? Any experience out there?
</STRONG>

You have been misled. When you use your DV camcoder to capture still images iMovie will understand that and make a track for that still, you can then save that frame to anything you want to. DV video however is only 720 x 480 resolution.

iPhoto does only capture images from USB cameras HOWEVER you can import any picture you like by just dragging it into iPhoto if you have another way of getting it into your computer.

So you can use iMovie to capture the video and stills from your DV camera. Save the stills to your hard drive and then import them into iPhoto if you would like.

[Macpilot]

Thanks for more ideas guys!

[GK]

I have the sonyu dcr-pc110 DV camcorder. It can capture still images (1 megapixel), I transfer them by USB to iPhoto. It also produces mpeg movies, which are stored on the memory stick with the still images, I can transfer those via USB as well. DV is transferred via firewire.

Hope that helps.

BTW, image quality of the still images is very good.