I need a digital video camera to work with Mac??

Question

What is a good digital video camera that works with Mac?? I want to be able to record on the camera & then transfer the video, I dont need live recording. Any camera sold on the Apple Store site will work right? They sell only Cannons. Is this one good?

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?n=video_cameras&s=topRated&nplm=TM025LL/A&fnode=home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/digital_cameras_video&mco=E54DE642

Or do u suggest something else? I would like good picture quality. It must be under $350. Also do I use firewire? Do any record to Sandisk? Thanks.

Answer 1

If your serious about working with digital video, I'd go with MiniDV, which uses firewire.  All newer computers should have a firewire port and all you'd need to do is buy the cable. Even if you computer doesn't, you can generally buy one for under $40.. depending on what Mac you have. Firewire/MiniDV is a well established video standard that will alwas be compatible with both Mac and PC.

If you bought the MIniDV handycam you should be fine on a Mac, but if you bought the Handycam that records to DVD, then it uses USB 2.0 to offload the footage.  I believe most or all don't utilize Firewire. It uses mpeg2 to record to disc, which is generally more compressed thus lower quality then the DV standard which MiniDV uses... plus editing with DV is easier and more supported.  Alas, transfering video off the disc via USB is not supported on a Mac.  However you can still transfer still images off the memory card.

I would point out that the memory card is only for still images. Furthermore, the guy technically wasn't lying about the camera supporting Sandisk... because Sandisk is a brand name... and they do make Memory Stick Duo memory sticks... I think what you meant to ask is if it takes a SD memory card.

You may however still be able to rip the video off the recorded to DVDs and transfer them to your computer to edit. But again only some editors support mpeg2 editing... other particularly older/cheaper ones will require it to be converted to DV before editing. I believe there may also be third party programs  and higher end editors out their that allow you to download/capture to a Mac via the USB cable. In researching I heard mentions of it being able to somehow work on iMovie on an Intel based Mac and with FinalCut Pro.. but I can't be sure.

Answer 2

You should buy a cannon powershot.  I have a mac and my cannon powershot works great with it.

Answer 3

If the Apple Store sells it, it will work fine.

But, our Sony works fine with our Mac.  Really, any camera should, just read the specs and make sure they do not only list Windows based systems.  

Final Cut Express HD is a great program for editing; Apple makes it.