[kman42]

I like the idea of the Flip Video recorder, but I hear it doesn't work well with macs. They have some new mac-compatible software, but I want to use iMovie08. Is there an easy way to convert the files? Or, is there another recorder that is similar to the Flip that works properly with macs?

Thanks,
kman

[kman42]

No one has any suggestions?

[Uncle Skeleton]

What is it?

[kman42]

It's a small solid state video camera with about the quality of minidv from 3 years ago. It's cheap and easy to use with up to an hour recording time and great for videotaping family events, etc when you don't want to lug around a much larger video camera. It's sort of the video equivalent of a point and shoot camera.

Flip Video

kman

[OwlBoy]

Looks like it uses a proprietary video compression format. They appear to have software for the mac, but I am not sure if that software converts it to a format iMovie could import.

I would stay away from something that using a proprietary video format.

-Owl

[kman42]

Yes, they do use a proprietary format and, no, the software doesn't convert it to an iMovie-friendly format. That's the problem, so I'm wondering if anyone knows of a similar product that is mac-friendly.

[Uncle Skeleton]

I recently bought the Aiptek A-HD, which seems to be the same price but it's high def, records in mac-friendly mov files, and has cheap upgradable SD memory instead of built-in. Shooting is also fool-proof. They have a standard def version for about $70. Does that fit your needs?

[kman42]

Thanks! I'll check it out.

[OwlBoy]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

I recently bought the Aiptek A-HD, which seems to be the same price but it's high def, records in mac-friendly mov files, and has cheap upgradable SD memory instead of built-in. Shooting is also fool-proof. They have a standard def version for about $70. Does that fit your needs?

Whoa, thats interesting… Can you post a sample file somewhere? The .mov I am curious to see what $120 720p looks like.

-Owl

[kikkoman]

iMovie '08 can also import clips from digital still cameras that can capture video.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Ok, since you asked nice

Here's a sample of indoor, low motion. (10MB)

Here's an outdoor, high motion. (5MB)

Here's a sample from a better photographer than I, from what appears to be their $299 model:

http://www.goaiptek.com/samples/GO-HD_video-sample.MOV

[OwlBoy]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

Ok, since you asked nice

Here's a sample of indoor, low motion. (10MB)

Here's an outdoor, high motion. (5MB)

Here's a sample from a better photographer than I, from what appears to be their $299 model:

http://www.goaiptek.com/samples/GO-HD_video-sample.MOV

Interesting. Looks ok. But not amazing.

It almost looks like the video is 720p, but the camera is scaling up a smaller rez to that size before encoding. Though I could be wrong. Just don't seem as sharp as possible in those videos. I am prolly totally wrong though, and it is just the lack of a great lens or something. Also, the video seems to distort weird. Almost like the full frame is not processed at the same time, just quadrants. And they are minutely out of sync and cause the video to "ungulate" in a weird way.

-Owl

[Uncle Skeleton]

Yeah, there's a definite tearing if you don't have a steady hand. When I bought it it came with a free tripod. And the optics are far from top of the line. It doesn't even have an optical zoom.

I was looking for a quick-and-dirty camera that's easy to use and a small investment, and that's exactly what this is. Sounds like that's what the OP wants too. You won't be shooting any feature films on it, but that's not really the point... At least it's better than SD quality.

[kman42]

I just found this Sanyo Xacti. It has image stabilization which would be nice. Also looks like it uses MPEG4 so it should work with a mac.

Amazon.com: Sanyo Xacti CG6 6MP MPEG-4 Flash Memory Digital Camcorder (Blue): Camera & Photo

[zombie punk]

The new Minos are Mac compatible.

[- - e r i k - -]

http://www.red.com/nab/scarlet

[analogika]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

http://www.red.com/nab/scarlet

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/0...-3k-camco.html

They've stated they intend for it to sell for under $3,000.

Excellent Flip alternative.