Which DVR Camcorder should I get?

[blinddog]

Hi All, I received a Sony DCR-DVD 101 handycam for Christmas, only to find out its not Mac compatible, so I can't edit/create iMovies with its data. I will take it back, but I am wondering what might be the best Mac friendly equivalent, in the $ 800 range? It was purchased at Circuit City, so I would like to exchange it if possible.

Thanks for the advice, and Happy Holidays!

Scott

[Rod Rod]

For your $800 budget my vote is for a Panasonic GS-200.

Whatever you get, avoid mini-DVD and microMV. Just go for miniDV.

[puckhead193]

Well any of these would work.. http://www.apple.com/macosx/upgrade/camcorders.html ;)
I have an older canon ZR40 and i love it, they updated it but its a great camera for a grat price. Anything from canon ZR line

[EJBasile]

I like the sonys- see if you can find a compatible one, otherwise canons are nice.

[atari1356]

For your $800 budget my vote is for a Panasonic GS-200.

Whatever you get, avoid mini-DVD and microMV. Just go for miniDV.

The Panasonic GS-200 and GS-120 are good choices.... both have 3 CCDs, which will reproduce colors much better than the single CCD video cams. I have the GS120 and love it. The GS-200 is a bit nicer since it has a manual focus ring (although I've never had a situation where I felt the need to manually focus) - and an external remote thingy with external microphone. If you don't need those extras, the GS-120 is just as good.

EDIT: to be accurate, I should also add that the GS-200 takes larger still pictures (2.3 megapixels vs. 1.2 megapixels)... either way though, you're better off using a regular digital camera for stills