What video camera to get????

Hi all,
I've dug through the posts and can't find an answer yet....
I am trying to choose a new video camera. I am using a MacBook Pro, 2GB, 2GHZ. I plan on using iMovie HD 6 since 08 is missing so many features. I've been given a budget of $500 and could probably add a bit more for the right camera.
I want a hard drive based camera since mini dvds are out due to the slot loading drive and tape just doesn't hold enough video and I don't want to carry around extra tapes.
I know Sonys don't seem to play well with Macs. What brand/model would everyone recommend for the money?
I am getting this camera primarily to have a friend video my wedding, then we are going to keep it for family videos. Probably nothing professional or for profit.
Also, I know iMovie 08 is compatible with more cameras than 06. Would it be possible to import with 08, then edit in 06?
Thanks,
Kris

With regard to reusing tapes. You can buy quality tape fairly cheaply, especially if you buy it in bulk online, say from B&H Photo. Stored properly, tape will probably outlive you, but you shouldn't reuse them more than a few times, if at all, according to many users. Of course, you may wish to archive every tape you shoot, if it is family footage. I will use a once used tape to do an archive of a finished movie by exporting from iMovie back to tape. Your tape heads will last longer and more importantly, stay cleaner longer, if you reuse tapes infrequently.
With regard to buying "old" technology, you should read the posts by David Babsky in a recent thread titled "Video camera recs". Just because tape is an older technology doesn't mean it is going to disappear. It is still superior to any other format on the market and is still the preferred choice amongst professional videographers. You are buying into the manufacturers hype over hard drive convenience.
Capture time from DV tape is real time. A 60 minute tape takes 60 minutes to capture.
If possible, get the Sony HDD cam owner to give you the cam, instead of having him transfer it to DVD. Every conversion results in some degradation of quality and you will be converting that cams info several times in the process of going from HDD to DVD and then finally to DV on your Mac. Better for you to capture the video from his cam to iPhoto or Image Capture and then do the conversion to DV with MPEGStreamclip. The fewer format conversions the better. Hope that helps.
Forest
Message was edited by: Forest Mccready

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Hi. Im planning on buying my first own video camera and also im planning on buying Express next month because i heard its more for beginners. Anyways i was wondering what video camera has really good quality. What I like to film is just daily life with my family and friends. I love being able to watch something later down the road and i want to be able to have a good image of that when it happens. Ive always been raised in a home of Sony products so thats pretty much all I know. (Im 20 by the way). But I was wanting to be open minded with my first video camera purchase and see what else is out there besides Sony. I was reffered already to get a min-DV camera. So I narrowed it down to 2 Sony ones.
These are the 2 and also I was wondering why such a big price difference of $250?
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SYDisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=DCRHC48&Dept=cameras&CategoryName=dcc _DICamcordersMiniDVHandycamCamcorders
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SYDisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=DCRHC96&Dept=cameras&CategoryName=dcc _DICamcordersMiniDVHandycamCamcorders
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Hello dietwater5,
the biggest difference between the HC-48 and the HC-96 is the size of the CCD, which in the end translates as picture quality. Another feature is the A/Vin of the HC-96, which makes it possible to capture video from analog sources.
In the price range you're targeting, I personally would try and see if I could get a good offer on a Panasonic PV-GS300 or PV-GS500. These camcorders come with 3 CCDs and offer very good image quality.
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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?
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... ah,we had that a while ago... no bookmark... hm?? :
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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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What video camera to get????

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