High Definition Camcorder

[Nicolasdec]

Which is the best high definition camcorder (that works with the mac)? I would love if it had a Hard drive instead of tape it would also be good if it had image stabilizing.

[zioxide]

RED (http://www.red.com)

[Nicolasdec]

RED (http://www.red.com)

HEHE

[zioxide]

Seriously now, you need to give us your budget or something. HD cameras range from 800 bucks to over 100 grand. You have to give us an idea of what you want to spend so we can recommend you some cameras.

[Nicolasdec]

Seriously now, you need to give us your budget or something. HD cameras range from 800 bucks to over 100 grand. You have to give us an idea of what you want to spend so we can recommend you some cameras.

I know sorry I compleatly forgot, Basicly i need a good camera for consumers not for pros. I was thinking about the sony HDV series but I dont want tape. is there any Hard drive HD cameras that work with the mac.

[Benjamindaines]

How about this (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=HDRSR7&Dept=cameras&CategoryName=dcc_DICamcorders_HighDefinitionVideo)? As far as I know it will work with a Mac, you just plug it in and it mounts as a hard drive, then just drag the video files into Final Cut or iMovie.

[Nicolasdec]

How about this (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=HDRSR7&Dept=cameras&CategoryName=dcc_DICamcorders_HighDefinitionVideo)? As far as I know it will work with a Mac, you just plug it in and it mounts as a hard drive, then just drag the video files into Final Cut or iMovie.

Thanks for the reply, I read some place that this wont work.

[zioxide]

How about this (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=HDRSR7&Dept=cameras&CategoryName=dcc_DICamcorders_HighDefinitionVideo)? As far as I know it will work with a Mac, you just plug it in and it mounts as a hard drive, then just drag the video files into Final Cut or iMovie.

That won't work unless you transcode the footage to .mov from sony's avchd format.

Canon HV20 or Sony HDR-HC7 are your best options.

[Nicolasdec]

That won't work unless you transcode the footage to .mov from sony's avchd format.

Canon HV20 or Sony HDR-HC7 are your best options.

But those are both tape. Why dose sony always go agesnt the industries standerd?

[zioxide]

But those are both tape. Why dose sony always go agesnt the industries standerd?

There is no real industry standard for consumer hard drive camcorders.

[Nicolasdec]

There is no real industry standard for consumer hard drive camcorders.

im talking about AVCHD

[Benjamindaines]

That won't work unless you transcode the footage to .mov from sony's avchd format.

Oh, I was not aware of that. Final Cut can't Import the avchd files?


To the OP: If I were you I would just get a nice tape camera. Tapes are very nice because you will never run out of room in the field, you will always have a back up (assuming you don't reuse the tapes), tapes are cheap, and they're standardized. Can't get much better :)

The only advantages to hard drive cameras is faster than real time import speeds, and you won't get tape noise like you would from using a low quality tape.

[Nicolasdec]

If i got a Tape Hd camcorder would there be a table of content or something? bicause it would be anoying to cycle the hole tape just to find a recording.

[Benjamindaines]

it would be anoying to cycle the hole tape just to find a recording.

That's how they work. Normally you just import the whole tape, then in the software you can automatically split it up into segments (usually where you stop and start recording again).

[stcanard]

To the OP: If I were you I would just get a nice tape camera. Tapes are very nice because you will never run out of room in the field, you will always have a back up (assuming you don't reuse the tapes), tapes are cheap, and they're standardized. Can't get much better :)

I would add as an advantage (if you plan to do any iMovie editing) that you also get raw DV instead of an already compressed video.

I just started researching for video cameras and was shocked to discover that the hard drive and DVD cameras only save mpeg2 compressed video.

[solvs]

You don't want to use hard drive based camcorders. They aren't all they're cracked up to be. Buy an HV20 or HC7 and some accessories from some place like B&H PhotoVideo. Get a bunch of Panasonic tapes for about $2.50 a piece. Almost anyone who does video is going to tell you the same.

[MacFan25863]

You could always splurge a little and by the Panasonic HVX-200..it uses P2 cards which record full quality HD!

[Nicolasdec]

You don't want to use hard drive based camcorders. They aren't all they're cracked up to be. Buy an HV20 or HC7 and some accessories from some place like B&H PhotoVideo. Get a bunch of Panasonic tapes for about $2.50 a piece. Almost anyone who does video is going to tell you the same.

Cool, thanks. Will thease cameras work with Final Cut and iMovie?

[zioxide]

Cool, thanks. Will thease cameras work with Final Cut and iMovie?

Yes

[Nicolasdec]

Should I get final cut Express? I think its to much for a HD camcorder and final cut 2

[zioxide]

Should I get final cut Express? I think its to much for a HD camcorder and final cut 2

How much editing experience do you have?

[faustfire]

I would add as an advantage (if you plan to do any iMovie editing) that you also get raw DV instead of an already compressed video.

DV has a 5:1 compression ratio.

[Nicolasdec]

How much editing experience do you have?

Video editing, None.

[Benjamindaines]

Video editing, None.

I would start with iMovie, it's free and already on your Mac. It may be all you need.

[zioxide]

I would start with iMovie, it's free and already on your Mac. It may be all you need.

Second that. Final Cut has a pretty tough learning curve, and if you've never edited before than it will be even harder.

[Nicolasdec]

I would start with iMovie, it's free and already on your Mac. It may be all you need.

No No, I have used video editing software, I thought you ment Pro stuff like final cut, after effects things like that.

[DTphonehome]

Is there any word on if Apple is going to support AVCHD in iMovie at some point? It does seem that it's going to be the industry standard for hard drive based camcorders (Sony, Panasonic, and Canon all use it so far).

[bkvideography]

I would add as an advantage (if you plan to do any iMovie editing) that you also get raw DV instead of an already compressed video.

I just started researching for video cameras and was shocked to discover that the hard drive and DVD cameras only save mpeg2 compressed video.

that is like.....all WRONG. I would do some new research....

[zioxide]

No No, I have used video editing software, I thought you ment Pro stuff like final cut, after effects things like that.

So what apps have you used?

[stcanard]

that is like.....all WRONG. I would do some new research....

You are right, I am an absolute beginner -- I know a lot about still photography and editing and almost nothing about video. Based on above comments I have now corrected a previous impression; I see DV is compressed at the individual frame level.

Maybe its my price range that's throwing it -- can you point me to a sub $1000 DVD or hard drive camcorder that saves to a format that is as useful for editing as DV?

I have not been impressed in the past by trying to edit and reedit MPEG2, and I notice iMovie (since I am just learning this) takes all my imports and transcodes them to DV, so it seems using DV as a source would lead to the least artifacts down the road.

[bkvideography]

You are right, I am an absolute beginner -- I know a lot about still photography and editing and almost nothing about video. Based on above comments I have now corrected a previous impression; I see DV is compressed at the individual frame level.

Maybe its my price range that's throwing it -- can you point me to a sub $1000 DVD or hard drive camcorder that saves to a format that is as useful for editing as DV?

I have not been impressed in the past by trying to edit and reedit MPEG2, and I notice iMovie (since I am just learning this) takes all my imports and transcodes them to DV, so it seems using DV as a source would lead to the least artifacts down the road.

well formats are complicated. mpeg2 is not bad...just different. when you burn a "dv" imovie project to a dvd you are converting the entire thing to mpeg-2 because dvd players can only read mpeg2....so the cameras that record in mpeg-2 are already doing the converting for you. high def cameras that record to tape are mpeg2 because it allows you to fit that amount of quality onto tape, plus it's still a format you can edit with.

I'll make this simple.

1. don't buy a "dvd camera", period. you can't edit the footage.

2. only buy mpeg2 if it's high def and onto mini dv....trust me.

3. only buy a hard drive camera if it is 100% compatible with imovie or final cut pro.....which I only think a few of them are.

if you shot in mpeg2 hdv, imovie can edit that footage without changing a thing, well it does, but to keep things simple, it doesn't. if you shoot hdv, choose a hdv project in the format window.

any of that make sense?

[Nicolasdec]

So what apps have you used?

iMovie, Jahshaka and some other ones i dont remember.

[hvfsl]

Is there any word on if Apple is going to support AVCHD in iMovie at some point? It does seem that it's going to be the industry standard for hard drive based camcorders (Sony, Panasonic, and Canon all use it so far).
Well the next version of iLife is coming out with Leopard in October, so I would expect AVCHD to be supported in that.

[shlamazel]

From all the research and speaking to a professional user I have come to this conclusion. The Hard Drive high def camcorders are not ready for prime time yet, especially for $300-500 more. The tapes are a proven entity, reliable and will give the best high resolution definition. As my pro friend says "I use tapes still, your life won't be ruined if you do".

I bought a Canon HV20, all reports give it a top rating. So far I find I can't download high def onto the 160GB MacBook hard drive (running Leopard and 2GB ram) and have to find an external HD preferable with appropriate RAID value. If anyone can recommend a quality reasonably priced way of accomplishing this task I'd appreciate it. The best system is a RAID 5 that costs over $6,000, no thanks. As well, is the basic software in the Mac good enough for basic high def editting? Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I'm a new camcorder user and just switched from PC to Mac, so I'm on a big learning curve here.

thanks

[ftaok]

I bought a Canon HV20, all reports give it a top rating. So far I find I can't download high def onto the 160GB MacBook hard drive (running Leopard and 2GB ram) and have to find an external HD preferable with appropriate RAID value. If anyone can recommend a quality reasonably priced way of accomplishing this task I'd appreciate it. The best system is a RAID 5 that costs over $6,000, no thanks. As well, is the basic software in the Mac good enough for basic high def editting? Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I'm a new camcorder user and just switched from PC to Mac, so I'm on a big learning curve here.

thanksWhy do you need a RAID setup at all? If you're using the HV20, the tapes can serve as your back-up. Just get a nice FW/USB2 hard drive and be done with it. If you want some extra piece of mind, buy 2 external HDDs, one for working and the other one for backing up the other.

Much cheaper than $6000. I saw the MyBook FW/USB2 500GB for $130 the other day.

ft

[shlamazel]

Why do you need a RAID setup at all? If you're using the HV20, the tapes can serve as your back-up. Just get a nice FW/USB2 hard drive and be done with it. If you want some extra piece of mind, buy 2 external HDDs, one for working and the other one for backing up the other.

Much cheaper than $6000. I saw the MyBook FW/USB2 500GB for $130 the other day.

ft

thanks ftaok: You are right, the tapes are cheaper than the raid 5. My local Mac seller has suggested the LaCie 500G Porche FW, which is supposed to be very Mac friendly. http://reviews.cnet.com/hard-drives/lacie-porsche-mobile-hard/4505-3186_7-32057615.html?tag=prod.txt.1
It's about the same price range as the the MyBook.

I suppose I'll also want a back up for the finished DVDs, which can just be DVDs.

[Bigewilson]

I got the 40 GB hard drive true HD camcorder from an online source for much less than Best Buy. It works nicely and does everything but night vision. Plan to be rather close to the subject because zooming is tough to stabilize at it's peak. BUYER GUIDE look up any product you want by it's name on google and the best price will show itself to your delight.