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Best Digital Camera that works well with Mac and OSX?

M

maf2k8

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 14, 2009
316
0
I am in the market for a new Digital Camera to replace my older Sony.

My real concerns are...

1) Integrates and Works well with Mac OSX ( no extra software needed, no converting needed, no extra cables or card readers )

2) uses SD cards, So i can simply pop out the card and pop it into my iMac or MBP

3) record video in 720p ( i know a lot of the newer digital cameras do record video in 720p )

I could be wrong but i think Canon works well with Macs? if i am not mistaken?

Any help or advice would be great, thanks!
 
If I said "they all do" I wouldn't be far off the mark. You didn't say what type of camera (Point&Shoot or DSLR) you are interested in. All will work fine with OS X except a few cameras (typically just released) in RAW as it takes time for Apple to add to their RAW processing, but if you shoot JPEG you will be fine. All but top end DSLRs these days use SD cards, while the top end DSLRs use CF, but they all will connect via USB so from that point of view the card type doesn't matter. You will have to look at the specific camera for HD video support.

My wife, daughter, and I all shoot Nikon DSLRs and Canon P&S and they all work fine on our respective Macs.

Here is the link to the Apple site for camera RAW file support: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3825

You can find the specs for virtually every camera on the site www.dpreview.com
 
I have used over 30 different cameras (including my friends) on OS X, i can not remember the last time i had a problem. They all tend to just work, i would rather look at the specs of the camera and not worry about OS X :).
 
crazycat said:
I have used over 30 different cameras (including my friends) on OS X, i can not remember the last time i had a problem. They all tend to just work, i would rather look at the specs of the camera and not worry about OS X :).
Click to expand...

Especially if you are going to use the built-in card reader :)
 
Sony still uses memory sticks, but they are great cameras. You just have to use the cord to transfer pics or use an external reader but they transfer no problem. I actually have never removed a memory card from my cameras to read it- I just use the cable when I get home.

Like others said almost all cameras work well with OSX.

The thing you will need to make sure is that the video the camera takes is in a format that either iPhoto or iMovie will work with. Once you narrow it down to a camera or three do more research looking for compatibility info. If you are going to edit the video then of course iMovie. My older Sony takes video and it imports into iPhoto and I view it from there using Quick time.

I would highly recommend getting one with a rechargable battery pack and buying an extra battery pack. In the long run you will save money on batteries. At the very least get rechargeable batteries for it. Enloop or the Rayovac precharged batteries are great. Rayovac just came out with a much higher performance rechargeable battery I saw last night at Walmart- lasts twice as long as their previous rechargeable which was decent. They also hold most of their charge up to a year vs. other basic rechargeable batteries that die over a few months of non-use.

Good luck.
 
I currently own a Sony CyberShot 7.2mp dsc-w80

The camera is just really annoying..

I would like to get one that uses a SD card, so that way i can just pop the SD card into my MBP or iMac. I hate breaking out the card reader or the bulky sony cable just to transfer pics.

Also, when taking photos with the Sony ( no matter what setting or light condition i am in ) it just so slow..I will hit the button and have to stand still for a moment before it takes the pic...I now use my iPhone 4 all the time, because it takes a INSTANT photo, no waiting...I am not sure why the Sony does that??

I just use it for taking standard photo around the house/vacation/My kids, etc...

I do have a HD camcorder i use when needed but would like the 720p video option for when i dont have my camcorder on me.

I think i want to stay away from Sony for awhile ( i cannot stand this delay when pressing the button to take a photo ) and plus have a few SD cards laying around and i am rather tired of the memory sticks...
 
maf2k8 said:
I currently own a Sony CyberShot 7.2mp dsc-w80

The camera is just really annoying..

I would like to get one that uses a SD card, so that way i can just pop the SD card into my MBP or iMac. I hate breaking out the card reader or the bulky sony cable just to transfer pics.

Also, when taking photos with the Sony ( no matter what setting or light condition i am in ) it just so slow..I will hit the button and have to stand still for a moment before it takes the pic...I now use my iPhone 4 all the time, because it takes a INSTANT photo, no waiting...I am not sure why the Sony does that??
.
Click to expand...

Interesting that yours is so slow- mine is nice and quick- I have the same camera. I wonder if it is one of the settings or defective. Have you messed with the autofocus settings and such. Every once and a while it responds a little slow when there are many things close and distant to focus on...but usually it is quite responsive. Much faster than my in-laws canon and an olympus we bought for my school.

I agree a little of a pain to hook up the cord, especially having the audio/video cable attached, but nice to only have one cable for either uploading or displaying on my HD TV. I usually display the pics hooked straight up to the TV from the camera for the family to view the vacation pics.
 
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