I just thought I'd post how I convert my Canon camera .avi-files to play inside iTunes, without paying for Quicktime Pro. This might not be the best way to do it, and if anyone has better ways to do this, or suggestions for an apple-script to automate the process, feel free to post. 
Programs used are: iMovie 3 and iTunes 7, on a G4 700MHz iMac.
My camera outputs Apple OpenDML JPEG .avi-files, with a lousy resolution of 320x240 - 15fps.
First I need to convert this file to a file that iTunes understands. At the same time I do not want to degrade the quality.
What I do is make a project in iMovie, add one clip, and then export it using the following options:
Export - to quicktime - expert settings (ok)
If I choose "export to iPod" it'll make a 640x480px video, which is unneccessarily big, and a bit choppy when fullscreened via iTunes. (remember, 700MHz G4)
Instead I have to choose "Quicktime-movie", and click the "settings"-button.
Quality should be set to "best", 15 frames, and size is 320x240. I deselect "prepare for internet streaming".
My goal until now has been to make a file that iTunes will accept, with the least amount of degradation.
I now import the exported movie to iTunes and select "convert for iPod". iTunes now outputs a 320x240px file, since my movie is that small. This works much better with my system, and requires less disk space.
I guess if I actually paid for quicktime, life would be much easier. (or if Apple made iTunes support the .avi-files my camera outputs. I mean, why not? Quicktime supports them.) I also fear that my resolution is upsampled when imported to iMovie, and then downsampled again - leading to some degradation of quality.
Any comments on this would be welcome. Even flame me and call me stupid if you want to.

Programs used are: iMovie 3 and iTunes 7, on a G4 700MHz iMac.
My camera outputs Apple OpenDML JPEG .avi-files, with a lousy resolution of 320x240 - 15fps.
First I need to convert this file to a file that iTunes understands. At the same time I do not want to degrade the quality.
What I do is make a project in iMovie, add one clip, and then export it using the following options:
Export - to quicktime - expert settings (ok)
If I choose "export to iPod" it'll make a 640x480px video, which is unneccessarily big, and a bit choppy when fullscreened via iTunes. (remember, 700MHz G4)
Instead I have to choose "Quicktime-movie", and click the "settings"-button.
Quality should be set to "best", 15 frames, and size is 320x240. I deselect "prepare for internet streaming".
My goal until now has been to make a file that iTunes will accept, with the least amount of degradation.
I now import the exported movie to iTunes and select "convert for iPod". iTunes now outputs a 320x240px file, since my movie is that small. This works much better with my system, and requires less disk space.
I guess if I actually paid for quicktime, life would be much easier. (or if Apple made iTunes support the .avi-files my camera outputs. I mean, why not? Quicktime supports them.) I also fear that my resolution is upsampled when imported to iMovie, and then downsampled again - leading to some degradation of quality.
Any comments on this would be welcome. Even flame me and call me stupid if you want to.