[ClaraT]

Turning here for help again.

I need a new camcorder right away and I need it to be easy. Easy to to import into iMovie and/or Quick Time or whatever the heck gets your videos into your computer.

Do I buy Sony or Canon? Which model? Need to spend less than $350.00. Probably can't get into HD for that price but at this point that's ok. Not interested in the Flips or smartphone looking cameras.

Please do not recommend Samsung. I've learned an expensive lesson and they are not compatible with Apple.

Running 2.4 Intel Core Duo on 10.5.8

Thanks in advance.

[Thorzdad]

I've never had a single problem using Canon camcorders with a Mac.

[ibook_steve]

Check out Apple - iLife '11 Help - iMovie '11 Supported Cameras for compatibility.

Steve

[angelmb]

But iLife '11 requires 10.6.x which she is not running.

iMovie '09: Camcorder Support

iMovie ’08: Camcorder Support

Please do not recommend Samsung. I've learned an expensive lesson and they are not compatible with Apple.

Only one Samsung listed so far. Plenty of Canon and Sony options to choose from. I know from a friend that Sony camcorders can be a pain to work due to some Sony proprietary format. I am sorry I can't elaborate more on it. Video is not my thing.

[ClaraT]

YOU GUYS ROCK!!

ibook_steve, all day I've been searching for a way to know what cameras will work with my Macbook and OS and the link you provided is awesome. Thanks.

Just got off the chat line with Apple and she recommends the Canon Vixia R100. Personally, I
like Canons but. . .have heard around the 'net that they aren't as good with camcorders as with regular still cameras. But. . .then again on this forum, Canon keeps coming up a winner.

I've also heard that Sony can be a PIA.

I need a camcorder that will record well indoors, ie low light and has decent sound quality. And of course, will be able to download into my Mac. Thanks for helping thus far.

[ClaraT]

BTW, angelmb you took the time to notice that I needed the list for iMovie 08 and 09. Thanks for that detail. Even I missed that.

So now to sort through the ones that don't have "stabilization limitations" or "eject" or ??

You know making movies isn't "just like in the movies" that are on the Apple website promoting the bajesus out of iMovie. . .

Grrrr.....

[mduell]

Anything that uses AVCHD is fine.

Cheapest Canon is VIXIA HF R200 at $380, uses SDHC cards

I think almost everything in your price range will have the stabilization limitations warning because they're all CMOS based.

[ClaraT]

Originally Posted by mduell 

Anything that uses AVCHD is fine.

So how do folks deal with that? Is that a big deal?

[Stogieman]

Originally Posted by ClaraT 

I've also heard that Sony can be a PIA.

I can't speak for all of their models but the Sony HDR-cx550v I have works great with iMovie. I still have a Canon Vixva HV 20 I use as a backup camcorder. Never had a problem hooking it up to iMovie.

Originally Posted by ClaraT 

I need a camcorder that will record well indoors, ie low light and has decent sound quality. And of course, will be able to download into my Mac. Thanks for helping thus far.

For less than $350, I don't think you're going to find a camcorder that records well in low light. These camcorders usually include a smaller sensor and lens. You may need to look in the $600+ price range for decent low light camcorder.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by ClaraT 

So how do folks deal with that? Is that a big deal?

It's supported by iMovie (transcodes on the fly while it imports to Apple Intermediate) and Final Cut (supported natively).

I suspect the problem you ran into was your Samsung was recording MPEG2 and iMovie doesn't support that.

[ClaraT]

For the moment I want to keep the spending below $400, especially given all the gyrations it's taking to get the moving pictures into my computer. Videos from my Nikon D90 and my little Canon point and shoot miraculously show up in iPhoto. No fuss. No mess.

Guess I was expecting a bit more ease of use from the recent "tapeless" creatures that are supposedly designed to work effortlessly.

Would it be best to focus on an SD camcorder for the moment just to get going? I know everyone's saying HD is here now, but there are still a lot of SDs being sold.

[mduell]

The problem with the SD ones is they're mostly using formats that aren't iMovie compatible.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by mduell 

Anything that uses AVCHD is fine.

My in-laws have a cheap Panasonic AVCHD that Will. Not. Work. with iMovie.

[Stogieman]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

My in-laws have a cheap Panasonic AVCHD that Will. Not. Work. with iMovie.

What model is the Panasonic and which version of iMovie are they using?

[Spheric Harlot]

It is the Panasonic VDR-D160.

iMovie HD, 08, 09, and 11.

Apologies - just checked the tech specs, and the thing does NOT record AVCHD - merely mpeg2, standard-definition.

Sorry.

[jmiddel]

My Sanyo xacti worked just fine with my iMovie 9. Plus it is a wonderful, easy to hold and use device, and costs $175 Amazon.com: Sanyo VPC-CG102 High Definition Camcorder and 14 MP Camera w/12x Optical Zoom: Electronics

[Stogieman]

Originally Posted by ClaraT 

Just got off the chat line with Apple and she recommends the Canon Vixia R100.

Originally Posted by mduell

Cheapest Canon is VIXIA HF R200 at $380, uses SDHC cards

Canon just replaced the R100 with the newer R200 last month. Price on the R100 has dropped to $250 as they try to clear out stock.

The $130 price difference would give you:
- A slightly larger LCD display (3.0" vs. 2.7") with added touch capabilities
- A larger image sensor. (This should improve image quality in low light.)
- 2 SDHC slots (supports the newer SDXC cards)
- Better optical zoom
- Higher video resolution at 1920 x 1080. (The R100 supports a max of 1664 x 936).

Canon VIXIA HF R200 Review

If I had to pick between both cameras, I would choose the R200. However, if $350 is your max limit then I guess you can't go wrong with the R100.

[teresabush]

Even though the AVCHD is supported by iMovie, you shall pay attention to the additional notes.

The Sony cyber-shot camera series with .mov shooting would meet your needs. It is Mac friendly.