What type of camera should I buy, that is best for editing on my MacBook?

Question

I have a MacBook, and was looking into camcorders that are best for editing on my laptop. I have heard that Sony Mini-DV's are good. However, I am not sure.

Answer 1

Most any would work well.  But you have to ask what exactly you are going to be using it for.  Then we can recommend one.  Also your price range.

Answer 2

deciding on a format to suit your style is a tricky proposition. most people are getting Hard drive cameras without thinking of the implications of the design. i will keep using mini dv tape myself until the bitter end as i think they are still the best format for low budget film making. you can use them in many HD cameras and will offer better archival storage and far superior image quality compared to DVD and HDD.

also, what sort of shooting are you looking to do? indoor studio? or outdoor sporting events etc. many cameras are good for one but might be lacking for the other. try to find something that suits your needs and work out features you may find useful. eg - night vision sounds great but it's highly unlikely that you'll use it regularly. but if you found something with decent mic inputs and separate sound controls you may find that FAR more useful.

consider you applications, decide your format and look at how much you want to spend. make a short list then try them out.

specifically, i would recommend anything that shoots in HDV (or pro HD if you have the budget). standard defintion broadcasting is dying quickly and SD cams will follow suit.

there are many good consumer HDV cams available from sony, jvc and canon which would be around the $600 to $1200 mark depending on what you're looking  for.

failing the hdv option try for a 3ccd cam that shoots widescreen. it won't be as good but it's far better than most and is easy on the pocket.

good luck to you.

PS - for the record, I use a sony hvr-v1p. it is an amazing cam and looks as good as super 16mm film.