Trying to get started but confused

[jbosing]

I want to get started in HDV, but so far everything I've read here and elsewhere has me confused. Right now I have an imac, G5 1.8 Ghz, 2G Ram. I have an HD TV and a blu-ray player, each almost a year old. I would like to buy a camera in the $1K range that will take good HDV understanding $1K is not professional level. I want to be able to edit on my imac. I want to be able to burn both HD DVDs and SD DVDs that I can play on my player (HD) and give to family members (SD).

I do not want to buy all sorts of conversion software.

Is there a camera that would work particularly well with what I already have?

The new imovie says it requires a 1.9 Ghz processor. Will a 1.8 work? Is there other editing software that would work well on my imac?

Will idvd burn both HD and SD DVDs? There seem to be a million compatibility issues floating around in the HD camcorder world.

Any advice?

Thanks

 

[LethalWolfe]

Is there a camera that would work particularly well with what I already have?

Canon HV20

The new imovie says it requires a 1.9 Ghz processor. Will a 1.8 work? Is there other editing software that would work well on my imac?

Not sure.

Will idvd burn both HD and SD DVDs? There seem to be a million compatibility issues floating around in the HD camcorder world.

iDVD is SD-only as is your iMacs burner. I assume you can buy a FW blu-ray burner, and Toast supports burning Blu-ray, but you won't have the nice menus and such that you can make in iDVD.


Lethal

 

[jbosing]

Thanks, Lethal

Sounds like I just need to find editing software compatible with my imac.

 

[bigbossbmb]

An iMac of that speed will struggle with HD material even if it does *work*. If I were you, I'd skip iMovie and grab Final Cut Express. It is much less cookie cutter than iMovie, but it'll run on just about anything and it supports HD.

 

[sarge]

I second that

The canon HV20 is the camera to beat in that price range. However, they just came out w/the HG10 which is tapeless - I think it has a 40g storage capability.

 

[VideOD]

HG10 or HV20?

The canon HV20 is the camera to beat in that price range. However, they just came out w/the HG10 which is tapeless - I think it has a 40g storage capability.

Are you able to import the video with iMovie 6 at full quality with both of those models?