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What HDD Hard Disk Camcorder can I use with an Apple Mac?

I have recently purchased an iMac and Macbook laptop. I want to get a Hard Disk HDD Camcorder for movies and need it to be compatible with the Macs.

Any ideas?

I have got Firewire on both and also USB. I like the Sony Camcorders but would also consider Panasonic. Which one will be compatible as all this MPEG 2/3/4 stuff confuses me. I have iMovie for the Macs.

Public Comments

1. i think macs use mp4, cause i can't send a quicktime movie (made BY apple) to my iPod touch. cause they're stupid.


i reckon anything should be alright, but maybe go and ask someone in the apple store? i don't have a mac, so don't base your opinion on my ramblings!

2. You can use any camera. You may have to convert the files to a different format to play them. Or flip 4 mac will let quicktime play them.

3. What is your budget?

I'll stay with consumer-grade camcorders...

For standard definition video:
You can use pretty much any miniDV tape, hard disc drive (HDD) or flash memory camcorder. Any Mac with a firewire port can import from miniDV tape directly to iMovie. Consumer HDD or flash memory camcorders use the same video data files types and you copy the video files to the Mac... you may need to convert the files using StreamClip
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html

For high definition video:
MiniDV tape requires you have the Apple Intermediate Codec installed - this is a simple "Custom Install" done with the OSX system disc. It is a QuickTime component. Importing is also done using Firewire and all iMovieHD versions back to iMovieHD05 can deal with HDV. Consumer HDD or flash memory camcorders generally use AVCHD compression and ONLY the most current version of iMovieHD '08 will be able to deal with these files.

I no longer recommend HDD based camcorders for three reasons:
1) Consumer AVCHD is WAY too much compression. (HDV is much less, but if you must go tapeless, at least skip HDD and go with flash memory like the Canon HF series or the Sony HDR-CX11/12 for high definition or the Canon FS series for standard definition. For miniDV tape, the Canon HV30 and Sony HDR-HC9 do both standard and high definition video and have a mic jack and are the least expensive camcorders with decent manual audio control).

2) All HDD camcorders have known issues with vibration. This can be from loud audio like very loud crowds, loud engines and loud music. The hard drive heads will park and not allow recording. They are doing their job trying to protect the hard drive platters from damage because with the strong vibration, the heads can scruff - and crash - the hard drive. MiniDV tape and flash memory do not have this problem. This limitation will be in the camcorder's manual. This is not a Sony-specific issue.

3) All HDD camcorders have known issues with high altitude... anything over about 9,800 feet. The low air pressure does not provide anough air for the hard drive heads to work properly. The hard drive heads will park and not allow recording. MiniDV tape and flash memory do not have this problem. This limitation will be in the camcorder's manual. This is not a Sony-specific issue.

I suggest you do a little more checking before you buy... after you *think* you have decided on the camcorder you want, go here:
http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa
enter the model number of the camcorder you *think* you want and see what others have already gone through. There is no need for you to bump your head on the same stuff other people have already been through. Learn through their pain - and don't bump your head. There is no reason to think you will be immune.