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

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    Try installing Perian or VLC. Some AVIs require a codec which simply isn't available for Mac OS X.
    (85018)

  • I am trying to connect my Sony DCR-TRV350 to iMovie so that I can make DVD's from family videos.  I am having problems getting the video camera connected.  Any advice on how to do this?

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    [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.
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  • Which cable do I need to connect my Mac Book Pro to my Panasonic PV-GS150 video camera for transferring video to iMovie?

    which cable do I need to connect my Mac Book Pro to my Panasonic PV-GS150 video camera for transferring video to iMovie?

    I totally understand.
    Check some things from here, I have 2 and they have been great so far.
    Check here, lots of storage and reasonable prices. Also great support, you get to speak to a person
    Clean off your on the G5 drive and off you go.
    I suggest buying a second drive and setting it up for a back up, Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner, or SuperDuper (both "bootable" back up) All searchable on the web.
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    Hope this makes you back up and running :-)
    Do get a back up drive, as it is not ""whether my drive will fail, as much as "when my drive fails"
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  • I have Video camera movies that are HD format.. I am doing editing work on them using Final Cut Pro, but using DV PAL format for the projects I am editing. When I then tried to copy my work done in FCP Project that's originally DV PAL , into a new FCP Pro

    I have Video camera movies that are HD format.. I am doing editing work on them using Final Cut Pro, but using DV PAL format for the projects I am editing. When I then tried to copy my work done in FCP Project that's originally DV PAL , into a new FCP Project that is HD, and tried reconnect media with original HD movies (video), the sequence project got distorted for all the text, shapes used and all.. everything changed its orientation and scale.. Is there a way by which I can preserve my work done on DV PAL and switch it preserving its proportions, scale and orientation, but on a HD project sequence?? Appreciate your help and advice..

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  • What is best type of 'new' video camera to buy for editing with PE 10?

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    Dear JM and Steve,
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  • Video camera for greenscreen work +

    Hi.  I'm going to be setting up an in-home studio for a weekly, 1 hour show (to be viewed on the internet, not sure if could ever get it onto public access stations but might like the option). 
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    Thanks

    It's a trade-off ... which is to say, it's like Life in general, right?
    That many people that close-in is gonna be awful tight. Two people, ok ... three pushing it ... four is gonna work you some. Getting talent any farther away from the background given the limited distance the camera can move is not likely, without getting too wide a view from the cam exposing off-screen areas.
    As to the screen blending into the floor ... you can affix the front edge out from the wall such as to get a curved shape that can visually blend wall into floor, you need a good two-feet radius to pull it off though. And if someone steps back, um ... yea, screens and photog's background paper can easily get a fresh new hole in them.
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    Then your screen material can just drap over it and you won't step through it. We built one for our studio, it's 12 foot wide, works great ... and put two layers of 1/4" ply over it, the first stopping just at the edge of the cove form, the other going past that another inche and a half or so.

  • I do video productions for a small local TV station. I use Final Cut Express to edit. I need a new video camera but am at a loss as to what to buy. I know I will get a digital camera but do not know the difference between just digital and digital HD.

    I do video productions for a small local TV station. I use Final Cut Express to edit. I need a new video camera but am at a loss as to what to buy. I know I will get a digital camera but do not know the difference between just digital and digital HD. Also, I can not afford an expensive camera and need some advice on which of the available cameras would be best and also work well with a Mac. One last issue, I currently use a Panasonic #CCD camera that takes a tape. When I load video to Final Cut the audio and video are out of sinc. Go figure. Can anyone help with these questions. Karen

    Hello Karen,
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    Most everything you are going to find on the market today is HD, which stands for "high-def".
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  • What kind of video camera do I need to be able to import to

    I do not know what kind of video camera I need to have to import to iPhoto. My parents have a VHS camcorder. Can I use that one? Do i need to have a digital camcorder?

    Hi Katrina,
    welcome to thsi forum
    to throw in some €cents...:
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    * with the "big" brands (Sony, Canon, ...) you stay save
    * go to a shop and make some "hands on experience"... Panasonic for example is VERY small for some hands...
    * ask for a firewire-cable, 4/6pin to connect camera with your Mac (no, usb DOESN'T work)
    * that camera doesn't need any effects...- you will add this in iMovie..., so a very basic one is good enough
    * get a second battery and a tripod ;-))
    * follow any other advice given you here in this forum
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  • What video cameras are compatible with Final Cut Express?

    I live in Japan and was thinking of buying a Victor " Full High Definition" video camera (1920x1080). The only thing I was warned about by the salesperson is that unless I have a Blue-Ray DVD recorder/player, I will never be able to enjoy true Full HD after burning my video to a DVD. I guess regular DVD recorders/players can't support it yet.
    I have searched to find a page that tells me what video camera is compatible with my iMac G5, but no luck. Any ideas on how to find out before buying a video camera? I would appreciate anyone's advice.
    Thanks, Larry in Japan
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    ...snip...
    You want to stay away from recordable-DVD and hard-disk camcorders,
    ...snip...
    Hope you don't mind me asking why? - As long as they've got a F/W connector how does the source media make any difference? - In fact, I would think that shuttling around would be faster with HD's or DVD's.....
    I also believe the salesperson was trying to say that he's going to need a BluRay deck in order to be able to view his HD material on an appropriately equipped TV - Which is correct, no?
    Thanks in advance for any comments,
    Cheers,
    Ian
    MBP 2.16G / 2GB FCE 3.5   Mac OS X (10.4.9)   etc etc

  • Most compatable video camera with iMovie 09 ?

    Please help !
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    You have euro camcorders I don't know. Assuming the sr8 is our sr7 -- I havent heard anything bad. But, if you shoot where there is loud sounds the issues are:
    1) is the mic itself overloaded?
    2) does the mic overload the camcorder circuit before the gain control?
    3) if the answers are NO, then IF one could adjust camcorder gain -- then that is the solution. But, if the either 1 or 2 is true, then being able to adjust gain will not help.
    Seems like the Sony suffers from 1 or 2 because if it didn't you would have already adjusted the Sony gain -- or the Sony has no gain control.
    If you want to keep using the Sony you might try an external mic.
    Mic output levels typically range from –40dB to -60dBu. (Bigger negative values are softer than smaller negative values.) You want a mic with less output than the built-in Sony mic. But, since you don't have its spec., it's hard to shop for a different one.
    That leaves trial and error, or trying out different camcorders. Since you know at least one Canon camcorder works, I would start with Canon. I'd look for one with an external mic input AND an adjustable level. If not a level control -- a menu item to switch in "attenuation."
    PS1: check if your Sony has a menu item to switch in "attenuation."
    PS2: This is a wonderful example of how in 90% of the talk about camcorders, audio is never mentioned. Yet, if you talk with pros they spend more $ on mics -- often buying several -- than they do on their camcorder. In the situations you shoot at -- audio is more of a worry than video. You are recording VERY loud sounds that can overload anything but a really good mic. (Or, if the mic works -- it may out out a bigger signal than a camcorder can accept.) Which makes me wonder about buying a mic mixer and some good mics rather than a new camcorder. This would be a one time investment. In fact, you could also buy one of these stereo mic-mixer-digital recorders. Record to SD card AND pass a signal to one camcorder. It also opens the door to recording bands. Just a passing thought.

  • Camcorders/Video Cameras recommendationsfpr FCP or FCE

    I wish to buy my daughter a Camcorder/Video Camera suitable for use with Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Express. She is doing Film Studies A level at the present, and her school uses FC Express. The Uni she wants to do Film Studies at, uses FC Pro. She is also keen to have something that takes stills, is HD and uses SD cards. We are looking to spend between £100-250 (approx $140-300 ish). Any suggestions... I have been poring over lots of Amazon entries, spoken to Apple, and also combed through the forums - and I hav'nt found anything yet I'm confident is the correct choice. Please can all you experienced FCE and FCP Gurus out thier give us some advice - Cheers !!

    Well, on a Mac that's running 10.5.2 and probably QuickTime 7.4.5 or later, I would lean toward FCE 4 for stability into the future. I'd remove all vestiges of FCE 3.5 from the machine and then install FCE4. (ps You don't have to remove SoundTrack if you are using it and want to keep it). And you only need to purchase the FCE4 upgrade; you will enter both the v3.5 and v4 serial numbers when you install FCE4.
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    As for FCP, if your target is YouTube videos, I can't imagine what you would need FCP for.

  • Ideas for mixing video camera audio??

    I know there is not one way to modify the audio from a video camera. I have a (dead room sound, not quiet a hiss); are there any recommendations to modify the sound quality? Everyone tells me that you I have to play around with it... But I have no ideas of where to start???

    How someone would decide what adjustments needed to be made is entirely dependent on the condition of the audio as it is. And since we can't hear it, the best advice anyone could offer is just a guess.
    You could upload a sample to a website then post a link here so people would be able to hear how it sounds now and then be able to offer more specific suggestions.
    -DH

  • Motorola Droid Razr M Video Camera Issues

    I have been having some major issues when using my video camera.  If I record anything over 1 minute it locks my phone into the program, continues recording (even thought I've pressed stop), and doesn't save my video (come back as corrupt when I go to play it).  In order to get out of the program, I have to restart my phone (which is where the corruption happens, i'm sure).  Anybody else having this issue?  Verizon, how can we fix this?  I'm missing lots of great opportunities of capturing memories.

        Hello Debb.boggs713
    I'm very sorry your having issues with taking videos. I appreciate the communities advice. Do you have any third party apps that could effect the video? Please power the device in safe mode and retest. Here's how: http://bit.ly/QYIRjG Have you tried lowering the resolution and taking a video?
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    JoeL_VZW
    Please follow us on twitter @vzwsupport

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