Question about Video Cameras? (for a Mac)

[MVP]

ok i have a question about the best video camera for easy use for downloading/editing to a Mac. is mini dv good, is mini DVD good, or a HDD good. This is for my Grandpa that i looking for a good quality video camera for to download and edit with ease to a mac, i know nothing about mac so i need some help!
PS yes i will PM DaddyB!

[Dr. Monsanto]

Check into how the camera records its video.

The Sony HDD cams compress into Mpeg2 which apparently is not native to or workable in Imovie.

Also if you're looking to really edit the video you don't want a format like HDD or DVD because it immediately compresses the video.

MiniDV is not the most convenient of the formats but you have a better raw output for editing. So find the cameras with the features you like first and then see if they meet your initial criteria.

I'm thinking for your grandpa ease of use of like a DVD cam would be best. I'm not sure how much actual "editing" he's looking to do though. The absolute best cams were done about 2 years ago for Panasonic.

The PV-GS250 and PV-GS400 are 3CCD minidv cams. If you can find one of those i'd buy that. Just plug the firewire in and import directly to Imovie.

[MVP]

hmm sounds good i look in to that for him...looks like i have a lot of research a head of me!

[Chris]

We're moving this topic over to the Audio/Video forums... Hang tight folks..

[MVP]

We're moving this topic over to the Audio/Video forums... Hang tight folks..


Whoops i knew i should have put it there!

Ok I have heard a lot about Panasonic and Mini Dv. so what are your takes on this? If there is anyone out there that has a Mini DVD Video Camera Please let me know how you like it and is it easy for editing?

[Where'sYourLaughinPlace?]

First off, what kind of Mac is he using? If he is using a mac with slot-loading drive (G5 or Intel iMacs, iBooks, MacBooks, Powerbooks, MacBook Pro's), then you should use a tape format as the Mini DVD will not workin inside the drive(Don't even THINK about sticking that mini dvd in the drive!!!!!).

I own a couple macs, and I do quite a bit of editing in iMovie and FCS. I personally use a Canon MiniDV camera, but I really want to get Canon's HV20, which is their High Definition consumer camera..... When it comes to video, I always reccomend using tape over miniDVD as some of the mini DVD cameras do not have a firewire out on the camera(I'm lookin at you sony!)

[MVP]

Does anyone know if the Panasonic PV-GS320 is compatible with a mac. the specs says "The supplied software is not compatible with Macintosh Operating Systems." So does anyone know/have this camera? What are your thoughts on this Video Camera?

Link:
Panasonic PV-GS320 (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?surfModel=PV-GS320&catalogId=13401&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&modelNo=PV-GS320&itemId=105042&catGroupId=25002&surfCategory=Digital+Camcorders&cacheProgram=11002&storeId=15001&displayTab=S)

[Executioner]

What? Sony has firewire output on their cameras. Oh Wait..... Their miniDVD. OK. My bad. But their MiniDV cameras do. I use them all the time. And Sony integrates quite easily with Mac programs. They like each other. I love the Sony Pro-sumer cameras. PD-170's are awsome. I have never had an issue using a Sony camera and going out firewire to the Mac and editing a show. Infact I have the cable right here in my hand to do so. 1 hour of miniDV tape equals about 13 gigs of space at full quality. Remember that too.

[k_peek_2000]

I've never used a handheld on a mac. The camera's i use with a Mac on Final Cut are always high end DVX-100, HVX-200, JVC Pro HD, XL1s. But I would recommend a Panasonic, any camera really. Panasonic makes some of the best cameras on the market.