Camera Advice

We are looking to buy a new profession camera instead of the Sony handycam we have.
The only professional camera i have used is a Sony Ex1 and i love it. Nice size, easy to use and everything you could want.... But my boss has only given me a budget of £1000 for a camera and i have no idea what to go for. Any ideas?
Requirements:
HD
Memory Cards
External Mic

My mistake, the link should have been http://www.millcon.nl/Harm/BBC_Approved_HD_Cameras.pdf
Interesting (though not for the OP) to see five cameras in comparison based on today's prices at B&H and including 3 hours worth of storage at maximum quality:
Camera
Base price
Storage 3 hours
Total cost
Panasonic HPX-250
$ 5300
$ 1950 (3 x 64 GB P2)
$ 7250
Sony PMW-EX1/R
$ 6300
$ 1350 (3 x 32 GB SxS) or a Nano Flash $ 3000*
$ 7650 / $ 9300*
Sony PMW-EX3
$ 8320
$ 1350 (3 x 32 GB SxS) or a Nano Flash $ 3000*
$ 9670 / $ 11320*
Canon XF300
$ 6500
$ 390 (3 x 32 GB CF Extreme)
$ 6890
Canon XF305
$ 7500
$ 390 (3 x 32 GB CF Extreme)
$ 7890
If you belong to the category that needs more than 3 hours of card storage (events, weddings, trainings, etc.) then the cost differences increase even more.
* required to meet the BBC requirements. The further assumption is that the 250 will be approved shortly, as the 371 was last year.

Similar Messages

Shooting a school play, camera advice

Hi,
We have been asked by the school if we could shoot this years Christmas play. We thought the best way was to setup 3 fixed cameras covering different angles of the stage and use Final Cut Pro to cut the footage together.
We would ideally like to use cameras that use memory cards so we can get the footage in to Final Cut Pro quickly. I am looking for some advice on cameras and producing the end result.
Ideally we would like to shoot this in HD. 720p would be fine. Any recommendation on cameras? We are going to need to hire them. We were wondering if using a Canon 5D or 7D would do, but this might just be the geek in us.
I know Toast can burn BluRay content to a stand DVD and was hoping I could export the final movie from Final Cut Pro and then burn it to BluRay that way.
Any other tips would be most helpful.
Best wishes
Michael

Michael Curtis wrote:
We thought the best way was to setup 3 fixed cameras covering different angles of the stage and use Final Cut Pro to cut the footage together.
It's a project you can do well or you can produce a DVD no one will watch more than once. Three fixed cameras will be only slightly less boring than one fixed camera. You want one fixed camera and two being handled by qualified photographers. You need camera rehearsals, shot sheets, and lighting that is properly adjusted by video.
Michael Curtis wrote:
We would ideally like to use cameras that use memory cards so we can get the footage in to Final Cut Pro quickly. I am looking for some advice on cameras and producing the end result.
There are no memory cards that empty into FCP quickly. You
must first copy the cards' contents to your drives as a backup and then transcode upon ingestion. Much quicker to shoot on good ol' DV.
Michael Curtis wrote: Ideally we would like to shoot this in HD. 720p would be fine. Any recommendation on cameras? We are going to need to hire them. We were wondering if using a Canon 5D or 7D would do, but this might just be the geek in us.
Your geekiness is quaintly admirable but your lack of experience is likely to be fatal. You can spend a few hours investigating the workflow for Canon's DSLRs and FCP. Then run away.
Michael Curtis wrote:
I know Toast can burn BluRay content to a stand DVD and was hoping I could export the final movie from Final Cut Pro and then burn it to BluRay that way.
Maybe. You need to talk to the Toast community. How many do you want to sell? BD-only reduces your potentional market by at least half and there will be dozens of irate parents who simply can't understand why your BD won't play on their set tops.
Michael Curtis wrote:Any other tips would be most helpful.
We see similar questions often and we are torn between giving you advice we hope will encourage you to research and correct your misperceptions and trying to give you enough advice to allow you not to fial but not to succeed, either.
The many assumptions you have made up to this point are incorrect or incomplete. You have a few weeks to figure it out, run some tests, and work out a system that actually allows you to shoot, edit, and release a product your parents will be proud to own. I say, find three matched DV cameras and study up on how to color match them and how to sync them. And how to use FCP's multicam feature which works well but it's not easy.
One vital thing you have totally failed to address is audio. You cannot cover a stage play with the microphones attached to your cameras. It cannot be done. Your audio system will be at least as complex as your video system. You need wireless mics on the principles, hanging or shotgun mics for the chorus a mixer, a way to bring in music and sound effects, and a way to sync all cameras to the same audio track.
bogiesan

Movie Camera Advice

Hey all,
I am an aspiring indie filmaker who is looking to purchase a HD movie camera to begin making "films". I am looking to get a camera that will work with iMovie and Final Cut Pro X (hopefully in a native format). I am well aware that there is a list of supported cameras on the website, but if you go to websites like B&H photo and look at all the "pro-sumer" grade or lower-end "pro-grade" cameras, the choices are a bit overwhelming and the list on the apple website doesn't even begin to skim the surface of what is out there.
Can anyone recommend a good camera that I can grow with, that peferably has the ability to plug in a microphone externally with control settings. I would like the best bang for the buck and I am aware of the importance that sound plays in making the end-product more professional. If I can get a great camera and be able to have great sound, that is a bonus.
Maybe I am out in left field but I would like to spend no more than around $2,000 to get my feet wet. I don't need all the bells and whistles just yet but I do want to be able to put out a professional-looking product. Any other advice regarding getting the best bang for the buck in terms of getting a camera that gives the best cinema/film "feel" would be appreciated; as I understand it, FCPX doesn't support 24p format.
God bless, and thanks for your time.
Horsemunch
U.S.A.
27" 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7 iMac
Mac OS X 10.7.3

DSLRs are used by many filmmakers these days. Check out Philip Bloom and Shane Hurlbut, for example. The advantage of these cameras are clearly the capability to use different lenses, shallow depth of field and good low-light capabilities. But there are also a lot of downsides like rolling shutter, aliasing and moire, highly compressed codec, and audiorecording to name only a few. So if you know what you are doing and if you shoot in a controlled environment you can certainly gain from using a DSLR .... if you have the proper workflow for post production.
As an example you can check out "Act of Valor", a Bandito Brothers production. DP Shane Hurlbut shot the movie almost entirely on Canon 5D MkIIs and there's a couple of nice articles on how they dealt with the inherent problems.
Blackmagic have just presented their new Cinema Camera which records either ProRes or 12-bit CinemaDNG. It will probably set you back $ 3000 without lenses but you get the full DaVinci Resolve with it and that's $ 1000 worth of software.
I personally have used Canon 550Ds and 600Ds for shooting video with good results (with shallow DOF making for really beautiful shots) but I have also had some bad moments. You just have to know where the limitations are and work around them.
As for codecs: almost all consumer and prosumer cameras shoot some flavor of H.264/AVCHD, which is a highly compressed MPEG-4 codec. Today you can edit many of those codecs natively in either FCP X or Premiere Pro CS6 but doing so is very processor intensive and requires a lot of horsepower. The alternative is to transcode everything on ingest to ProRes 422 (or other intermediate codec used by your NLE). This will provide you with a codec that contains full frames for editing and enough color information for grading the locked picture. It will also require a lot more disk space.
If you want a really low budget setup for editing then FCP X is probably a good choice (given the price) and you can get Motion 5 and Compressor 4 for an additional $100. Add DaVinci Resolve Lite (free) to the equation and you have almost everything you need to output a full picture.
Start reading here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVCHD
http://dslrvideoshooter.com/10-must-read-hdslr-guides-for-filmmakers/
http://nofilmschool.com/dslr/

Mac video hard drive and camera advice needed

My newspaper has agreed to switch to a Mac and Final Cut Express video editing setup and I need to make some recommendations to them as to what to get, since they are willing to buy two MacBook Pro laptops, a video camera and a couple copies of Final Cut Express. Help needed:
1/ What configuration of a MacBook Pro is suggested? The regular hard drive that comes with the computer and an added SATA hard drive for the Final Cut Express scratch disk and file storage? How big should the drives be?
2/ A Mac and Final Cut Express compatible AVCHD video camera with an external microphone shoe, costing about $1000 to 1,2000. Any model suggestions?
Thanks,
Douglas
[email protected]

Goodness, Studio X, what an aggressive response from someone who knows nothing of the background to my request for advice. I am no expert as perhaps you may be, but from that school of mid-size and smaller daily newspapers whose staff has had to teach themselves video with a lot of self-learning, little funding, trial by error and forums such as this.
For what it's worth, I trained under our former multimedia editor for a couple years and have since published perhaps 50 video features and audio slideshows to our paper's website, using a tottering system of Premium Elements 4.0, lousy PCs and inadequate cameras. But we've made do while arguing repeatedly for more investment - which is why I finally just used my personal MacBook Pro and Final Cut Express to file a half-dozen deadline video features recently for the paper from a PGA-tour event in our area.
After them being pleased with the speed and results of that, the beancounters are now willing to make a small investment in a better video set-up, which will be for two MacBook Pros with 500 GB external Firewire drives for video storage and scratch disks, Final Cut and a Canon Vixia HF s21. Now, I have a question for you: Do you always come six guns blazing into forums like this and shoot at people who are just trying to up their game a bit with advice from the otherwise other helpful people here? It is to those folks that I now return my attention and my thanks for their aid.
Douglas

Camera advice needed

Hi all
I'm shooting a short film soon and I'm hiring in a camera. I was going to go with the Canon XL1-s, but the hire company have a few HD cameras in now, the Sony HVR-A1E, Sony FX1 and Sony HDV-Z1E. Should I go for a HD over the 'standard' definition camera? I'm using FCP4 HD, G5 dual 1.8 2GB RAM and a 300GB Firewire Hard drive.
I'd appreciate any advice.
Regards
Stephen Bennett

No...stick with DV. First off, HDV requires FCP 5. Secondly, it is debatable whether HDV is HD at all:
#34 - HDV is not HD
Shane's Stock Answer #34:
Many many people buy HDV cameras thinking that they are getting an HD camera. This is not the case, for HDV is not HD. It has the same dimensions of HD, 1440x1080i, but it is HIGHLY compressed MPEG-2, and suffers from bad artifacts when fast action is being filmed.
Is HDV an improvement over miniDV? No. It increases resolution and at the same time, increases compression, so, pixel for pixel you have worse quality, but you do have a lot more pixels. Resolution in itself does not = picture quality. You could blow up VHS to HD resolution, but the quality would be terrible, even though it has a high resolution.
HDV is NOT considered a pro format and is at best a high end home movie camera.
Shane

Movie Camera Advice 2

Hi All,
I originally posted this and accidentally clicked that my question was "solved" (thanks Russ).
I am an aspiring filmmaker who is wanting to shoot independent movies and short films that have as much of a "flim/cinema" look as I can muster using FCPX as my editing software. It is my understanding that shooting video in 24p mode is as close as you can come to your finished "video" product looking like "film". If that is the case, I would like to try to get my "movies" to look as much like film as I can with an HD camera (and most-likely, separate audio).
My goal is that my short films will look more like something you may see at the Sundace Film Festival and not an after-school special. I am a storyteller and very much enjoy using creative editing to help tell my stories, however, I have not been afforded the opportunity to get any formal education in this arena and I am ignorant as to different file codecs, et, al. and would like to just avoid changing video codes and formats as much as possible and put my focus on producing quality, creative stories.
I am well aware that there is a list of supported cameras on the website, but if you go to websites like B&H photo and look at all the "pro-sumer" grade or lower-end "pro-grade" cameras, the choices are a bit overwhelming and the list on the apple website doesn't even begin to skim the surface of what is out there.
Can anyone recommend a good camera that I can grow with, that peferably has the ability to plug in a microphone externally with control settings. I would like the best bang for the buck and I am aware of the importance that sound plays in making the end-product more professional. If I can get a great camera that shoots great 24p and is able to have great sound, that is a bonus.
Any advice is greatly appreciated and again, sorry for the confusion behind the repost!
Thanks for your time!
Horsemunch

Horsemunch,
If you live within a city or near a city, find a camera store (yes there are still brick & motar camera stores), talk to the folks that work there, and talk to them about your needs. Also, find out if the rent equipment. Also, buy from them (Yes, it may cost more, but.......................).
The bottom line, is going to be, how much, do you want to pay.
Also, look at video's that folks post to You Tube, etc. using that model of camera. You get to see footage.
There are also all-in-cameras, that shoot both still's & AVCHD video. Canon & Fuji have some good ones.
Video- I have two Canon Vivixia's HV 30 & 40 both taped based. I also have Nikon & Fuji DSLR, plus Canon & Fuji all-in-ones.
I'm looking at buying, a new DSLR. I'm leaning toward Canon, cause Nikon is having problems with their shutter's. The thing that I dislike, about both Nikon & Canon is that when shooting video you have to use the back screen, to view what your shooting. Sony has DSLR that use the optic eye piece, but Sony DSLR are crap (That's my opinion).
This is the reason why you go to a camera store and work with ther staff. Also, if they do not carry what your looking for, ask them, if they can get it for you. But make sure that is what you want, cause you will end up buying it from them, if it is a brand that they do not carry.
Final thing, when you by camera equipment from them, if you have a problem, take it back to them, usually it's a minor fix, if not, then they will send it to an approved repair facility.
Hope this info helps.

Prosumer camera advice?

Hi everyone,
I've been posting in the Final Cut Express forum about this, and someone pointed out that this forum was really better suited to my question, so I'm going to ask here too (the thread in the FCE forum is here, just for the record - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6996202).
I'm looking for a prosumer video camera, in the range of $1-3,000, to be used for event videography and fictional/documentary shorts. I know I want to stick with tape-based (miniDV), and it obviously has to be compatible with Final Cut. I want to start using more manual controls, and probably go to HDV, although for now at least I would still shoot in DV (or in HDV and downconvert; several people have been promoting that). Also, I'm a high school girl, and not to stereotype, but I'm probably not as physically strong as a lot of camera-people out there; so having something fairly light is also really important to me (definitely NOT shoulder-mounted, though it seems there isn't much of that in this price range anyway). I'm also looking to get a good tripod, so suggestions on that front would be appreciated too.
It seems that the more research I do, the more overwhelmed I get with all the options! I've never had the choice of what camera to use before - just used the family's TRV330, and when it died, the new TRV38 - so trying to navigate all these features and options, and end up with the ideal camera for me, is quite daunting. I also have a paid project coming up in a few weeks and would really like to use the new camera for it, which means I have to buy something pretty soon so I can have time to play around with it before the event.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Claire

My advice hasn't changed. The Sony DSR-PD170. $2600 at B&H
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/296545-REG/SonyDSRPD170_DSR_PD170_3_CCD_MiniDVCAM.html
If you are going to be recording in any dimly lit room (or even dark room such as most wedding receptions), NOTHING compares to the 170. There is no other way to put it. The Panasonic 100 is a great camera, we have one. However, to make this (or any camera really) shine, you must have control over your lighting. Shooting events means you have little to no control over your lighting. If I put a Panasonic 100B next to a Sony PD-170 at a typical wedding reception, the 100B will have a very graining, very dark image lacking most color saturation. The 170 will be, IMHO, at least two-stops brighter, and though grainy, it will be less grainy and have some sort of color detail. To recommend any other camera to be used for event work (unless working your way up the Sony line) simply comes from users that haven't used all the models. We have used:
Sony: 1000, 2000, 2100, 150, 170, and the DSR 250
Canon: Gl1, Gl2, XL1, XL1s, XL2
Panasonic: 100a, 100b
Each camera has their own merits. Each is capable of recording a great image. Under controlled circumstances, any of these cameras are excellent. Event shooting is mostly uncontrolled, unscripted.
The only other camera I would consider is out of your price range: the Panasonic HVX200. I believe Panasonic is shipping a more sensitive version of this camera very soon and new models are salted for release this fall. I say this camera because it will record in the DVCPro HD format. Which in my opinion, is MUCH better than HDV. It allows allows DVCPro 50, which is better SD quality than DV. But again, when you add the cost of P2 media and the cost of the camera, you are well out of budget.
In terms of tripods, the least expensive I would consider is this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/481931-REG/BogenManfrotto__190XDB501H_Video_TripodSystem.html
And, while I don't have a 503 head, I have read that it is much better than the 501 on the model listed above. I do have 501 heads and they are OK, at best. If you really want to know the difference, go rent a $2,000 tripod and head. Might cost you $50 to rent but you will really be able to tell what the difference is. I have found the 501 head to be the least expensive head that I can live with. However, for most work that is scheduled in advance, I prefer to rent.
Having said all that, as Bilbo Baggins might say: it's time to stop thinking and wasting the day.
Your equipment is your tools. The tools you use to create something; to turn your visions into something concrete. Sure, you want the best tools you can afford. But learning to use the tool is for more important than the tool itself. In the end, it's just a tool. You are the part that makes the difference. Just get started.
Mike

Video Camera Advice

After purchasing a JVC Everio HD camcorder, I found out that hard way, that getting a hard drive camcorder to work with a Mac is not as easy as it sounds.
With that said, I want to find options that will make shooting, transferring, and editing video on my (mid 2011) Macbook Pro, as easy as possible.
I know that there are different converters out there, but from what I have read, they are time consuming and many times still don't help you accomplish what you are trying do.
What types of camcorders should I be looking for? I know there are many professional style cameras that will accomplish what I am looking to do, but they almost always start at about $1000 and go up from there. Some people have suggested that I buy a SVR camera because they all shoot video as well, but now I am concerned that I will run into the same transferring issues with a $700 SVR camera that will have run into with a $300 HD camcorder.
Any help that is given will be greatly appreciated. My wife is due to have our first child any day now and this video camera issue was unexpected and has suddenly become an unneeded point of stress. Oh, on a side note, I went to an Apple store yesterday and they gave me two suggestions.
1) Use an iPhone.
2) Come on these forums and ask...which is what I did.
That was the best they could do, as they weren't really familiar with this problem.
Thanks, in advance!
Jason

The following should help you decide what camera to replace the Everio with!
iMovie 11 - cameras supported:
http://help.apple.com/imovie/cameras/en/index.html?lang=en_US
iMovie 9 - cameras supported:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290?viewlocale=en_US
iMovie 8 Camcorders supported:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014
iMovie tutorials:
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#imovie
and also this:
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/imovie_09_stone.html

New Sony DSC T900 Camera Advice

This is my first post on the Apple forums although I have read many post on here from others and found it a very useful and informative place to learn, I am also to fairly new to Final Cut also making the transition over from iMovie 08 so please be patient with me, thanks.
I hope the links work I have inserted have and I have given enough information to you all to try and help.
My system is a iMac 24 inch Intel 2.4GHz processor with 1 GB of memory
Here go's, my query is about the new Sony DSC T900 still and video camera that I have recently purchased, I have shot a 15 minute 1 GB HD movie in 1280x720 widescreen on it with a Sony pro duo 8 GB AVCHD memory stick, which is formatted to MS Dos(Fat32) according to the Apple info tab and is "as is" when i purchased it.
I can not find much out about this camera on other forums as it as only just come out from Sony I think.
The camera uses a USB docking station to connect it to the computer and I am using a
2 terabyte Western Digital external hard for media storage which is formatted in Mac OS extended journaled and set as my scratch disk storage
My question is how or can I upload direct into Final Cut Express 4 HD from this camera using USB connection, I have all the setting correct I think in F.C for my system and camera, and also have Tom's book for reference which I have found very very useful but I am not having any luck, after trying numerous things to get the footage into F.C. I can easily load it into iMovie 08 and export as an XML file and I can use import in F.C direct from the memory stick but when I try any other methods in Toms book i have no luck.
Are there any advantages or disadvantages to any of these methods I have used so far as opposed to the likes of Log & Transfer and which should I use if it is possible to to achieve the best results and to retain the best quality of the footage in the final rendering of the movie.
If anybody can help and needs more information to help I will post further details so please just ask.
Thanks in advance
Guy
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/CodecSettings.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/SystemSettingsMemoryCache.pn g[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/SystemSettingsPlaybackContro l.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/SystemSettingsScratchDisks.p ng[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/SystemSettings.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/UserPrefsEditing.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/UserPrefsGeneral.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/UserPrefsRender.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/UserPrefsTimeline.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/Memorystick.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/MovieSize.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/FinalCutGuy/Movieimagesize.png[/IMG]

Welcome to the forum!
FCE can only capture or ingest DV, HDV, or AVCHD directly and can only edit DV, Apple Intermediate Codec, or some other Quicktime formats natively. I don't believe the footage taken by this camera meets any of these specifications. You should first convert the footage taken on your camera using [MPEG Streamclip|http://www.squared5.com> to a format FCE understands.

Camera Advice - HC7e

Hi all. I need a new DV cheapish camera for capturing some old DV tapes and noticed that my local Sony dealer are selling off HC7s £290 GBP (or about 410 USD) Thats not much more than I was gunna pay for a SD DV - and it will give me HDVto boot. God deal do you think?
Thanks
Mick

I use a Sony HDR-HC7 (same camera?) for my B-roll footage. Outstanding HDV image quality in good light; not very good for low light situations. Manual controls quirky or limited so it's best suited for point-and-shoot situations. Battery life not very good. Great price! I'd get it.

HDD Camera Advice

I work in a college (UK) and we want to make the transition to HDD instead of DV. I am VERY confused as to which formats will work on OS X and Final Cut 3.5.1?
And if you want to suggest some Cameras then that would be great...

_FCE 3.5.1_ can capture DV or HDV video direct from camcorders. If you have other types of video (AVCHD, MPEG4, H.264, AVI, etc.) you will need to convert it to either QuickTime/DV-PAL or QuickTime/Apple Intermediate Codec before importing it into FCE.
_FCE 4_ can capture DV, HDV or AVCHD direct from camcorders. Other types of video still need to be converted to either QuickTime/DV-PAL or QuickTime/Apple Intermediate Codec before importing into FCE.
Note the following:
• You need an Intel Mac & FCE4 to work with AVCHD video
• Only FCE 4 is supported on Snow Leopard
I noticed that your profile says you have a 27" iMac running 10.6.2 - you need to upgrade to FCE4. There is no guarantee that FCE 3.5.1 will run at all on this machine.

OT - camera advice

Does anyone have any experience or thoughts regarding the quality of the Sony PD170 and the Canon HV20 VS. the DVX-100 and the HVX-200?
Thanks.

In addition to what has already been said you may want to know why the HVX is far superior than the HV20 and the majority of HDV cameras.
Besides the capability of the HVX 200 to shoot at variable frame rate (12fps and up to 50fps) I will mention a crucial feature which is missing in HDV cameras.
The HVX-200 features a full 4:2:2 color sampling, which means richer image information (particularly useful when colour grading) and great video quality.
Should you wonder what colour sampling means then take a look at [this link|http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/colorspace>.
Also DVCPRO HD is a less compressed format compared to HDV and much, much easier to edit and export.
HVX 200 can record DVCPRO HD on solid satate P2 cards and Standard DV on miniDV tape.
Mighty PD 170 is not longer shining as much as still is the impressive Panasonic DVX-100 . Just google the two cameras specs and you will find out why.
Giangi

Alternate Camera Advice

Hi. Proud owner of a shiny new 17" MacBook Pro with built-in iSight. I travel with this computer.
I'm also the proud owner of a 15" iMac G4. This baby, obviously, stays at home.
In light of the recent iSight woes, I'm looking for a good alternate camera to video iChat with my kids while I'm on the road with the MacBook.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Both computers run 10.4.8; I'm not sure if the G4 has USB 2.0 or not (but I think it does). Frankly, I'd prefer a firewire solution, if one exists.
Thanks in advance!
iMac G4 w/Superdrive Mac OS X (10.4.8)
iMac G4 w/Superdrive Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Hello Rowdy D,
And Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Since this if for the iMacG4, if you have a video camcorder that has a FW connection, you might have a "built-in" solution without having to buy one for home? If not, then we will have to come us with a better solution.
I was going to suggest Unibrain's FW camera but seems like they are rushing to fill the opening with the loss of iSight and have a more consumer-freindly(looking)version coming out in February. Details can be found here: http://www.1394store.com/eshop/product.asp?dept%5Fid=55&pf%5Fid=5310
In gereral the people at Unibrain know FW and have always supplied quality product, so I would expect great things from their forthcoming cam as well. With the old version you would have to have used a separate microphone. Maybe someone else can come up with a FW camera they have actually used for a recommendation.
Respectfully,
Bill Gallagher

Any recommendation for a rooftop video cam?

Hello!
I'm wondering if anyone here could recommend a video cam to install on a 10 to 15 foot pole on top of my roof. I'm trying to have a view of the beach and ocean across my house. I've done a "quick and dirty" Google search and so far, none look that good. The one's I've seen from a Google search are wireless, which is good, but the image quality may be mediocre. I don't necessarily need to record the images, but would like to be able to scan and zoom if possible. An interface to my computer or to one of the inputs available from a high-definition television monitor are hopefully available options.
Thanks.
~Raymon

Hi, Raymon.
Take a look at Ben Bird's Security Spy. This seems to be what you want w.r.t. an computer interface for the camera. Ben may also be able to recommend some cameras to you. He has a little "generic" info about using cameras outdoors here, but I'd suspect he could give you some good camera advice since it could also lead to your buying the software.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

HD camera compatible with Premiere Pro CS3?

What is the cheapest high definition camera compatible with PPCS3? Or, best deal for the money without spending a fortune? If not a particular brand/model, what output formats can I look for and be sure of native compatibility? I also would prefer a camera that records to an internal hard drive and/or flash card.
Thank you very, very much in advance!

Attention Ayn Randian,
Getting camera advice from the user forum may prove a contentious issue. I don't doubt you'll get the opinions of a couple of different users who have very differing views. I'd suggest you call Adobe Tech Help or look for it in the 'Knowledgebase" where you can find a list of cameras Adobe 'supports' with CS3. Go with what Adobe states it supports, not the regards of users on this forum. Take for example the other post listed here. HDV is definitely a good choice when looking into camera options. However not just 'Any hdv camera will do', and any user that infers otherwise is not assisting you. Going out and buying even a good hdv camera may leave you with a unit that isn't supported by Adobe and hence useless. As previously indicated Adobe supply's a list of compatible cameras, use it. Otherwise I suggest you do not purchase a camera unless you know for sure whether it will work with Adobe CS3.

Camera Advice

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for