What is the best camcorder to use with a MacBook Air?

best camcorders of 2012 image

Mikayla

I just got my MacBook Air (10.7.4) a couple months ago (about august 2012) and I am looking for a camcorder that is compatible with it. I just got a Sony handy cam camcorder for my birthday this month and it is not compatible with my MacBook. Any suggestions? I heard the Cannons are good?

Answer
"Handycam" is Sony's generic name for all their consumer-grade camcorders. If you got a new Sony Handycam that records to high compression AVCHD MTS files and saves to flash memory or hard disc drive, it will work just fine with your MacBook Air.

Connect the camcorder's USB cable to the Air's USB port. Put the camcorder into Play/PC mode. If iPhoto launches automatically, quit iPhoto. Launch iMovie. Name the project. Under "File" import or capture the video. There is no software on the disc that came in the box with your camcorder that your Air needs - for that matter, there is nothing on there a Windows based computer needs, either.

If you need to change the default launch behavior when you plug the camcorder into the computer (i.e., you don't want iPhoto to automatically launch), use "Image Capture" in the Applications folder to make the change.

The Canon HF R, HF M, HF S series camcorders also capture consumer-grade high compression AVCHD MTS files. Comparably priced camcorders will behave similarly. Connecting them to a Mac is the same as the instructions provided above for your Sony.

If you were lucky enough to receive a miniDV tape based camcorder for your birthday, your computer *must* have a firewire port. The MacBook Air and a couple of versions of MacBook do not have a firewire port and have no way to add one. All other Apple Macintosh computers made in the last 10+ years have a firewire port.

What is the best HD camcorder for 2012 under $200?

Tic

I'm a YouTube beauty guru looking for a good HD camcorder, but I am on a budget! I do need it to have continuous automatic focus, please. What is your pick for the best HD camcorder in 2012 under $200?

p.s. I have a Flip UltraHD, so please do not suggest that one. Thanks!

Answer
The Toshiba Camileo line that starts with X100 & the JVC Everio E10.
These are the only 2 in this price range that shoot full HD & have optical zoom,
(the kind that doesn't lose any clarity when you zoom, as opposed to digital zoom).

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Compare quality on digital 8 sony camcorder and sony hard drive type camcorder?

best sony digital 8 camcorders image

ang

I currently have a sony digital 8 type camcorder, as well as canon sd400 camera which can take video. I like the idea and size of the current hard dirve camcorders, but quality of video is of utmost importance to me. How does the quality of video compare on these models? Thank you,

Angela.

Answer
since all digital video is compressed, the most accurate figure of merit for quality is the data rate, expressed in megabits per second. Your digital 8 camera has a data rate of 25 mbps, the canon sd400 in its best mode is 11 mbps. There are other differences, the digital 8 has stereo audio, the canon is mono. the compression scheme for digital 8 is DV, and for the canon is Motion-Jpeg (not as good). The pixels for DV (720 per line) converts to analog video much more precisely than the pixels for VGA (640) will. DV is interlaced, m-jpeg is not, resulting in superior fluid motion presentation.

How do you transfer footage from camcorder to Laptop?

N1BZ

I have a Sony Digital 8 Handycam Camcorder and I have a usb cable for it but I cant put my footage from it onto my laptop all I can do is record while it is connected to my computer.
Can anybody help me please?

Answer
You should be able to open up your documents program then look at the top where you would find the different drives listed and find one labeled SONY DIGITAL 8 (D:) it could be a different letter though. Then open the file and find the one you want and the download to your computer.

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What's the best way to make video look like film?

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Das Boot

I have a Mini-DV camcorder and I'm interested in making my own short movies. I would like to know how to emulate the look of film as closely as I can because it is a vastly superior product in comparison to footage shot on DV.

Answer
The easiest way to make a video look like a film would be to change the settings on the camera to Letterbox settings (the black strips that are the top and bottom of the screen). It works for me when I did film and televsion :)

What is the best high definition camcorder to buy?

Kaylee

I looked up a couple cameras and read that a Canon HV20 mini DV/HDV high definition camcorder was good. I want a small camera like that, but is there one that will have a better picture, better audio, better anything???

Answer
Be careful about asking about the "best high definition camcorder" without qualification, or some joker's likely to point you at a CineAlta or The Red One or something (though technically, these are video cameras, not camcorders).

But back to your question. I would claim the Canon HV20 was certainly among the best consumer-priced (under $1000) HD camcorders, at least until recently. From Canon themselves, they've replaced it with the Vixia HV30, which is a minor improvement. The HV30 uses the same sensor as the HV20 (and the HV10... I have one of those), but adds a 30P mode on top of the previous 60i and 24P modes, and perhaps some other refinements. You certainly can't go wrong with the HV20 or HV30.

As far as quality goes, that's a valid question, but ultimately, it's not going to be a huge difference. Can you get better audio than an HV30? Sure.. .use any old DV camcorder... DV records audio uncompressed (16-bits, 48kHz), while HDV used MPEG Layer 2 audio compression.. but at a fairly high bitrate. Your best bet on improving audio will be to get an external microphone.. the ones built-in range from poor to bad to downright evil (on some camcorders you can actually pick up motor noise with your built-in mic, though I don't believe that's true of the HV20 or HV30).

For video quality... maybe, but it depends a bit. Until recently, HDV was without question the best quality HD recording medium available to consumers. And there are good reasons to reject other media anyway: Hard drive cameras can be fragile and power hungry, DVD based camcorders only record 20 minutes per DVD in the best quality mode, and even at that, their best quality mode is lower than on other formats. And flash memory was too small and too pricey.

Well, today, I claim you can actually get better video on the very latest AVCHD flash-based camcorders, at least some of the time. AVC was chosen over MPEG-2 for these camcorders (HDV uses MPEG-2 compression) because, ideally, it can give you the same quality as MPEG-2 at 1/2 to 1/3 the bitrate. In practice, though, while this is certainly true of commercial, non-realtime encoders used to make Blu-Ray discs, it has not been true of the on-chip encoders used in consumer camcorders.

But time has passed... the AVCHD algorithms have improved, and some newer models allow higher bitrates. Canon is supporting 24Mb/s in their new models, and full 1920x1080 recording. HDV is 25Mb/s MPEG-2 at 1440x1080, while most sensors in both camera types are 1920x1080... so there's more resolution and no loss from resampling in the flash-based models.

As well, flash memory cards are in price free-fall.. I saw a 16GB SDHC card on sale the other day for $19... I pay about $8 for an 83min pro-class HDV tape... also a 16GB item. So flash, being reusable, is actually going to cheaper these days than tape in the short term.

I would only look at the latest flash-based camcorders as alternatives to tape. Read the reviews, check things like low-light performances, look for 24P support if you're into film-look (or film school), 30P is also a nice option if you do on-line video. I would consider the Canon Vixia HF11 or the new HF S10 or the Panasonic HDC-TM300.

It's up to your.. tape IS still quite fine; both of my HD camcorders are HDV. However, if I added another today, it would probably be a flash-based model.

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What is the best version of the flip camcorders?

best 720p camcorder reviews image

amrrashed6

These things: http://www.theflip.com/en-us/, there are like 4 different versions.
I want a camera that can take still photos, and take videos that are at least 1 hr long.
I also want it to be good quality, and I don't want it to be any more than $150.
Which one of them would be best for me?

Answer
Skip the Slide, unless it's on sale for unbelievably cheaper than the other models. Unless you expect to be away from a computer for a very long time (to offload and make space,) or absolutely must review on a 3" screen instead of 2", the 2 hour capacity of the others are plenty.

The Ultra and Mino I assume shoot comparable video, so the main advantage of the Ultra is the replaceable battery and mechanical buttons if you plan to get the underwater housing. The Mino has touch buttons which can be a little difficult to use, (but the record button is a mechanical one,) and is very compact

Note however, because of a filesystem limitation in the Flips, you won't be able to record more than an hour at a stretch. So while 8GB Flips claim a 2 hour capacity, you can't shoot a single 2 hour long video. (At best, you can shoot two 1 hour videos, or a whole bunch of videos that adds up to 2 hours.)

None of the Flips shoot still photos, only 720p video. In theory you could take still frames from your video, but it will likely be blurry, and less than one megapixel in resolution. (2MP is the recommended minimum for printing 4x6 photos.) Look into the other pocket point-and-shoot cameras on the market if you want still photo capability. Though even then, some of those don't have optical zoom or flash units.

What is the least expensive digital video camera out there that has slow motion?

one8092460

y'know ..like one that you can capture 60 and 90fps - legit! Consumer or not ..doesn't have to be HD. Thank you.

Answer
Technically speaking, I believe JVC has the win here, with qualifications. Quite a few of their consumer DV camcorders, such as the GR-DF450 ($299.95 at B&H) have what they call "Live Slow" mode. This mode apparently cuts resolution for a boost in frame rate... I haven't found too many details on it. It does allow real time sound recroding at the same time.

Sony introduced a somewhat similar function in their HDR-HC3 e... it will capture 240 fields in 3 seconds to buffer memory, then write it out to tape at the normal 29.97fps. This is not full quality, and there's no sound. See here:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/The-Quality-of-Sony-HC3-Slow-Motion-Video.htm

This mode also exists in Sony's current line, including the HDR-HC5 and HDR-HC7 HDV cameras, the HDR-SR5,7,8 HDD camcorders, and the HDR-CX7K flash-based camcorder. See review here:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-HDR-HC7-Camcorder-Review.htm

For any extended filming at a higher frame rate, you might look at the Panasonic HVX200. When recording to P2 cards, it can run at frame rates from 12 to 60fps. This is in 720p mode, so it's HD-ish. Some of the recent models in the JVC ProHD line also support 60p recording, though not the full "varicam" range of speeds.

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In how much time an online company will ship the electronic items like digital camcorders?

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In how much time an online company will ship the electronic items like digital camcorders, digital cameras and others after placing an order?

Answer
Most sites tell you how much time they take to ship. Unless the item is out of stock, back-ordered, they usually ship as soon as possible. It may be the same day, the next day, or two days at most (not counting Sat/Sun).

And then there's the shipping method you choose. UPS or similar ground shipment can take upwards of 5 days, depending upon distance. 3-4 days is more common. You'll pay a lot more for Next Day, or 2nd Day air shipment, but it does get there faster. But that only applies AFTER it's been shipped. If it takes 2 days to ship it, and another 3 days to get it, is it worth paying extra for 2nd Day just to get it in 4 days rather than 5?

So you could get it in as little as the next day, or as long as 7 days later. And a few companies will tell you right up front (like Walmart's Site To Store) that it may be almost two weeks before it's there.

(Overseas shipments WILL take a lot longer, as Customs is involved.)

should I buy an expensive camcorder or an expensive digital camera?

guy3090

I want to take quality pictures & videos with no intentions of doing one more then the other but when i got to "best-buy" it seems like both(camcorders & digital cameras) can shoot video as well as take pictures. so i don't know which one to choose over the other since i know nothing about either.

Answer
Digital cameras take video nowadays. You don't need camcorders anymore!! Go with the digital camera! I haven't heard of camcorders taking pictures. But digital cameras are also smaller (from what I've seen).

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What is the best camcorder to use for a short film?

best camcorders for short films image

latoya

I need to make some short films an I need to best of the best camcorder I can get. Does anybody know of some? I don't have a budget for it. Just need it ASAP.

Answer
Red Epic.
Canon EOS Cinema cam.

remember to add a few mics (Sennheiser, Audio Technica), tripod (Manfrotto), lights (lite panels), mic boom, shock mount, cables, camera crane (Kessler), cases, Steadycam vest stabilizer system, power supplies... and be sure whatever computer you plan to edit on can deal with the captured video - same with the editing application you plan to use.

What camcorder under £300 should i get for filming a short film?

Chuck Test

I'm looking for a camcorder under £300 ($500), i will be using it for filming short films. i am looking for it to have a nice focus with a good depth of field.

Answer
HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi port processor computer with the big 1GB Graphics card and a Sound card that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files these camcorders produce.

DSLR Cameras, all Makes, all Models, all have the same problem when video taping some long videos, all overheat at the 13 to 18 minute mark, depending on the Make and Model. This is unavoidable, it all has to with the fact, video is an afterthought in DSLR camera production.

Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording Consumer Level HD Camcorder and DSLR Cameras, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders and DSLR Cameras or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hv40#Overview

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Where may I purchase a thermal video recorder like the ones they use on Ghost Hunters?

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KillingTim

I'm looking for a Thermal camcorder like the ones they use on ghost hunting and what not. I'm looking for one that works well, as well as a low price.

Answer
Any Sony camcorder with "NightShot", NightShotPlus, or "SuperNightShot". Like my HDR-HC1.

what is the difference between full spectrum and IR night shot?

Ok so i have seen camcorders that are HD with Full Spectrum and i have seen some that are HD IR night shot. What is the difference. Which one is better for ghost hunting. And which camcorder is the best for a price of 350 and less.

Answer
IR is not visible light, thus it has no color. IR is monochromatic image aka black/white although some cameras give it an artificial color tint. because it has an eerie characteristic that is not natural, it is "perfect" for ghost hunting, tracking down what is both invisible and non-existant.

Full spectrum is just that, it is a normal color picture. If you have the IR filters removed, then the normal daylight viewing will have false colors. that is why normal cameras have an IR blocking filter.

i don't know how you judge a cheap camera. make a selection of features you need, and go with that.

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What are the ten top ranked video cameras?

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Kristin A.

What are the ten top ranked video cameras, how much do they cost, and how many mega pixels do they have?

Answer
Which camcorder? Pocket cams or consumer cams or prosumer cams or professional cams?

Ranked by what? Lowlight performance, or ease of use or ease of editing the video or ease of transferring to a computer or ease of archiving the video or video quality or audio quality or something else?

camcorderinfo.com is a good place to start. cnet.com is pretty good too.

what is a good non expensive video editing software?

Love,music

I would like it to be able to enhance the video and sound of my camcorder footage. Also be able to add music, add sound effects, cut out unwanted parts, and make an end credits. remember, non expensive meaning $50 dollars or less. maybe 100 if it's REALLY good.

Answer
Check out Cyberlink Power Director and Corel Video Studio Pro. Top ranked and below 50.
http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

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Is it possible for a camcorder to have 100x optical zoom? Would it be possible to use even with a tripod?

top sports camcorders image

Jake

My cousin has a camcorder with 70x optical zoom and it works fine.
I recently saw one that had 78x optical zoom, it was Panasonic.

Why do people say it wouldn't be possible to have 100x optical zoom?
78x optical zoom isn't that much less than 100x.

Answer
optical zoom over 20x is not very practical. megazoom is a result of using very tiny CCD imagers. for a 1/4 inch format CCD, the normal focal length is 4mm, 20x is 80mm which is 3 inches a rather reasonable size lens for a plam held camcorder. 100x would be 400mm or 15 inches, that is a lot of glass to hang in front of a 1 inch thick camera. then there is the problem of light gathering. for reasonable pictures in daylight, the lens needs a minimum iris opening of f4. the "f" factor is the ratio of focal length divided by lens diameter. so for 400mm to achieve f4 it would need to be 100mm diameter or 4 inches. But you might realize that the biggest problem is stability, to prevent blur, OIS is usable to 20x. That prevents blur but it does not control bounce or similar unintended movement, that is you will have sharp images of something that is bouncing. Here is where a tripod is needed. Television sports cameras use 40x to 50x lenses from Center field at baseball, or stadium top for football. But that camera is mounted on a $250,000 vibration supression mount, not a simple tripod. The megazoom may be something of value for still digital photos where the effective shutter speed can be increased to get a clear single frame. CCDs are getting down to 1/8th inch size with would reduce the example numbers in half. but then you have to cram the 12 elements used in a normal servo zoom (one that tracks focus) into minimum thickness of 2mm. that is why the flip cameras don't have optical zoom. and the funny thing is, all the sports people want to put "baby death" super fisheye lenses on their cameras, just the opposite of megazoom.

What is a good vid camera that will make good vids for youtube, and be easy to transfer to a comp for editing?

Drew

I'm looking for a good camcorder with good picture and sound quality. I know very little about the different types of video cameras (hard drive, etc.) I plan on using it to transfer and edit videos on my computer. I won't spend more than $350. A specific model would help me most, but a simple explanation about which type of camera would be best for me would be appreciated.

Answer
The Optura 600 from canon

The Optura 600 represents the flagship of Canon's 1 chip MiniDV camcorders, the king of the Optura line. Retailing at around $1100 (up approximately $400 from the Optura 60), your money might be well-spent. The 600's huge 1/2.8" CCD promises excellent video performance, a category the Opturas have traditionally faired well in. Matchbook bodies seem to be all the rage, combining portability and deed. Many matchbooks, however, present handling issues, and may annoy those expecting a professional feel to match the large price tag. We hope the Optura 600 brought its "A-game," because we dropped it in the middle of the ring to face off against the top MiniDV consumer cams of the year.

Video Performance
The Optura 600 sports an enormous 1/2.8â CCD with 3.5 effective MP. The camcorder also uses Canonâs RGB Primary Color Filter for a boost in video performance. The difference these specs makes becomes obvious when you compare it to the Optura 60. The picture appears sharper and the colors are richer. The grayscale is also much more sharply defined.

Because this is Canonâs top of the line consumer camcorder, we held it up against the top models from other manufacturers. Compared to the GR-X5, one of our top video performers this year, the colors are a shade darker, and overall you might say that the Optura 600âs spectrum is more even. The black/white contrast looks better in the JVC GR-X5, however. The colors from the Sony DCR-PC1000

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HELP made an entire video with sony vegas and i started it with the wrong resolution?

best camcorder mac 2011 image

Michael

Now it is all blocky no matter how I render it. I already have all the clips where I want them and there is no way I can remake this video, it is VERY important. is there any way I can select the clips in the order and length and copy them to a new template with the correct resolution.. I am lost...

Answer
Fast Editing with no Rendering on Mac - AVCHD HDV to Apple ProRes AIC

Face problem when trying to import and edit AVCHD and HDV camcorder videos on Mac? For the first week of 2011, Aunsoft Studio announced the updated of Aunsoft Video Converter for Mac with Apple ProRes and AIC for Mac users who would like to edit camcorder videos with sony vegas ,iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express with highest quality.

What's new in Aunsoft Video Converter for Mac?
1. Added output profile like Apple ProRes, DVCPRO HD, HDV series format for FCP/FCE users.
You will find Apple ProRes 422, ProRes(HQ) 422, ProRes(LT) 422, ProRes(Proxy) 422, ProRes 4444, DVCPRO HD 1080p, DVCPRO HD 1080i, DVCPRO HD 720p, HDV 1080i, HDV 1080p, HDV 720p as options for exporting the right format according to your videos.

2. Added output profile like Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC), DV-PAL/NTSC, DVCPRO-PAL/NTSC, DVCPRO50-PAL/NTSC for iMovie as Mac QuickTime formats.

3. Added output profile like Avid DNxHD (*.mov) for Avid editing software users.

http://www.aunsoft.com/video-converter-mac/

Best cheap screen recording software for Mac?

Alex

I need an app that allows me to record my Mac's screen in HD and I'd like it to be as cheap as possible.
While searching the Mac App Store, I've stumbled across Screenium and iScreenior Pro. Has anyone of you tried these apps? Are they good?
Please recommend any other free or cheap (under $30) screen recording apps. They must have HD capabilities.

Thanks,
Alex.
I need it to be available on the App Store :)
Jing only has annual subscriptions and I don't really like that :(

Answer
A couple of years ago, Apple got tired of people asking this question, so they added screen recording to QuickTime Player in OS 10.6 and later. To record in HD, you must use an HD camera. Starting with Early 2011, iMacs and MacBook Pros have FaceTime HD camera. For any plastic MacBook, MacBook Air, or any older Mac, you need an external HD camera.

-- Connect your HD camcorder (if your Mac does not have a FaceTime HD camera).
-- Open QuickTime Player X.
-- Go to the top menu bar, File > New screen recording.
-- Click the drop arrow at the right end of the recording bar, and choose "Maximum" under "Quality".

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How can I save DVD movies from a Sony camcorder in my Mac Book Pro?

best camcorders with mac image

isaacve

I have a Sony DVD Camcorder and a Mac Book Pro.
I havent been able to dowload and save all the mini dvds I have in the mac.
Is there a free software that does that?

Answer
Which Sony DVD camcorder?

I would suggest that you get an external drawer loading DVD drive (I like the ones from LaCie). Download and install HandBrake - and rip the video from the miniDVDs to a format iMovieHD and FinalCut likes... like .mov or .mp4. Then drag the converted file to the clips pain or timeline of the video editor.

NEVER put a small (8cm) or odd sized optical disc in a slot loading optical drive - you will scratch the disc and break the drive. Connecting using a USB cable will not work. That is generally only for webstreaming or transferring stills from a memory card. Neither iMovie nor FinalCut will recognize that there is video trying to come in from the USB port. DVD consumer camcorders do not have a firewire or DV port.

How can I get my Mac to recognize my Panasonic Camcorder?

Flo

I have a Panasonic SDR H60 camcorder and Mac OS X 10.4.11 computer. I use iMovie '08. I have been able to upload video from the camera directly to iMovie before, but now I can't. My dad used the camera on his PC with the software provided with the camera, and I'm wondering it that may have messed up the ability of the camera to work with the Mac. How can I get the camera to be recognized by iMovie again?

Answer
Make sure the camera is in playback mode.

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What camcorder under £300 should i get for filming a short film?

best camcorders for short films image

Chuck Test

I'm looking for a camcorder under £300 ($500), i will be using it for filming short films. i am looking for it to have a nice focus with a good depth of field.

Answer
HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi port processor computer with the big 1GB Graphics card and a Sound card that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files these camcorders produce.

DSLR Cameras, all Makes, all Models, all have the same problem when video taping some long videos, all overheat at the 13 to 18 minute mark, depending on the Make and Model. This is unavoidable, it all has to with the fact, video is an afterthought in DSLR camera production.

Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording Consumer Level HD Camcorder and DSLR Cameras, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders and DSLR Cameras or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hv40#Overview

How many camcorders do I need for a short film?

movie_mani

I make videos with my friends and family for fun. How many camcorders will I need if we make a short film (because of the camera angels)? I want it to look somewhat professional. Not Hollywood material necessarily, but good enough for a short film festival.

Answer
If you shoot like Hollywood, then you generally need only one. Just reshoot using the same camcorder after you move it to the new location.

If you think it is easier by shooting multiple angles at the same time, then I guess that is up to you. But I presume you have a budget - just as the big players do and they do not want to pay for more cameras, people to run them, editing, tripods, cranes, mics and everything else - just like you don't want to - and their cameras are in the $100,000 range - than absolutely necessary.

The only time simultaneous multiple camera angles are used "in Hollywood" is when it makes financial and logistics sense. For example, if the scene is a conversation betwen 2 or more people, it is cheaper to reshoot scene by moving the camera for the different people speaking. If the scene is high-action, stunt-driven, explosions and all that stuff, it makes more sense (from a safety perspective) to shoot it only once (less chance of people getting hurt, no need to re-build the set, no replacement props, etc.) so multiple cameras are used... and how many depends on the scene's requirements - could be up to 6 or 7...

The "requirements" are determined by story-boarding the scene and making a shot list.

I typically use two cameras... but many people don't have that capability.

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What is the best software to edit videos and put on DVD for a camara that creates m2ts files?

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slb1969

I have a Sony Camcorder and right now I am converting the m2ts files that it creates to the supported format for pinnacle studios. The conversion takes a long time so I am looking to skip the conversion step.

Answer
I think your trying to create a "classic" dvd, possibly with menus? The problem is that your m2ts files are probably high definition, and old fashioned DVD is not. Your software has to reduce the resolution of your video to convert to standard DVD "vob" files, which can be a slow process. But you may not necessarily need to reduce the definition of your files to an old outdated format (and why would you want to?)?

Most newer DVD and BluRay players recognize video files with the HD type compression format (AVI files compressed with either h264, xVid, etc...). In other words, if you use a conversion program to instead convert your files to HD avi, they may play directly in your player by just burning them as files onto a DVD disc. A good (and free) program that does this easily is the freeware program Freemake. It will will combine, merge, and save multiple files into a single HD file if desired. Think it will also burn them for you onto a DVD. Check the following two links out, think they'll help:
http://ezvideoedit.blogspot.com/2012/10/joining-merging-splitting-cutting-and.html
http://ezvideoedit.blogspot.com/2012/10/free-video-converter-software.html

What are some good camcorders that emulate the look of 35mm film?

Liv96

What are some great camcorders under $1,000 $5,000 and $10,000
What are the best cameras in each of these price ranges

Answer
Sony HDR-CX190 High Definition Handycam 5.3 MP Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom (2012 Model) has been a great HD camcorder so far. It is very small and lightweight, to say the least. I think the 70 series battery I bought for this unit weighs almost as much as the camera. The controls are good with the little screen joystick and menus. The color is very good on the screen, and the video is sharp. I like the 30x for videoing my stepsons' wrestling matches.

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How do I best record audio for my movie?

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Jonas

Hey world. I was wondering what some experienced people thought about audio for low budget filmmaking. I've been planning on getting a Canon EOS 550D, and a Zoom H2, or maybe Zoom H4n.
Now, taking quality, practicality, long-term and short-term cost into account, what do you think is the best kit?:

Canon EOS 550D and a separate recorder like the Zoom H4n, or a prosumer-type video camera with XLR inputs?

My theory is that the EOS 550D and separate recorder could do great stuff if used the right way. And as for picture quality, I feel like the EOS performs pretty much just as good as any prosumer camcorder, and has a wide range of cinematographic options considering the comfort of using a dslr lens, which, if using a dedicated video camera, would have to be achieved through a 35mm/DOF adapter...right?

Answer
The problem with shooting a Movie with a DSLR camera is the fact it does not matter what model or make, all DSLR cameras overheat and shut down, after 13 to 18 minutes, depending on ambient temperature and make and model of the camera. Also, DSLR camera interpolate the Video, making it terrible for any action scenes. You would be better off spending your money on a MiniDV tape Camcorder, they do not have an overheating issue and have the best Video Quality going.

Using Zoom H4N or similar device, put it at one end and on the other end of the Boom Pole put a Shotgun Microphone, hire someone to hold that above the actors heads. Make sure the Shotgun microphone is is a furry cat wind screen and hook it to Zoom H4N.

How to sync you Zoom H4N and your Video - http://youtu.be/5aeuy6MrbHY

What is the cheapest but high quality prosumer camcorder?

eric o

I have been researching high end camcorders, such as the XL2 and the DVX100B, however, they're both too expensive for my monetary situation. Does anyone know of a camcorder that is more frugal that also offers similar functions as the aforementioned camcorders, and not that Sony HVR-1000U?

Answer
The least expensive cameras that would qualify would also have a mic-in jack, full manual control of the major functions (audio level, zoom, exposure, focus) and use miniDV tapes:

Canon HV20, HV30
Sony HDR-HC7, HC9

For using pro-grade (XLR) mics with the 1/8" mic jack, you will need an XLR adapter like those from BeachTek or juicedLink.

Also, from the Sony pro line, take a look at the Sony HVR-A1U. It is the "pro" version of the HDR-HC1 from a couple of years ago (but the A1U has a lot more functionality than the HC1), plus it has XLR mic jacks for pro-grade mics. It is more than the HVR1000U, but less than the XL2 or DVX100B... and the A1U will do high definition AND standard definition the XL2 and 100B are standard definition only). The A1U will not behave quite as well as the XL2 or 100B in extremely low light - but it is not so bad, either.

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how do i copy by camcorder videos so i can watch them on a dvd player?

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James T

I have copied my camcorder videos to my computer and external hard drive and then to a dvd. When I put the dvd into a dvd player it doesnt read it. What did I do wrong?

Answer
There are lots of standards regarding video format, disk format, file names etc that have to be followed to make a playable DVD. DVD Flick is a free app that will do all the conversions and DVD burning for you, and it's free.

Where to go to get your old camcorder videos onto a CD?

Dan B

I have old camcorder videos and need to get them on my computer. But the only thing is my camcorder has broken and need to go to a place to get the videos onto a disk or memory card so i can access it on my computer! Please help : )

Answer
I have a friend who took some old camcorder tape to Walgreens to have them converted to DVD. You might try some camera specialty stores, but I they might be more expensive. I think my friends said that the DVD's were $10-$20 each. Hope that helps.

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How do i import videos from a memory card on a Canon NTSC ZR200 camcorder to imovie?

best camcorders with imovie image

Q. PLEASE HELP ME. please...
i have a Canon NTSC ZR200 camcorder and a mac with OS X software.
i want to upload some videos i made on the cameras MEMORY CARD to the computer.
i tried to use a firewire AND usb (not at the same time).
none of them work.
please help me. im desprate. please.
thank you.

Answer
Not directly.

Take the card out and use a card reader to copy the files to the Mac.

Download and install MPEG StreamClip and convert the very highly compressed video to MOV or MP4 format that iMovie can deal with.

When the conversion is complete, quit MPEG StreamClip and launch iMovie. Drag the converted video to the capture area or the clips pane (depends on the version of iMovie).

Warning: The original video on the memory card is REALLY compressed. When you fill a monitor or TV when playing back, the video quality will be terrible. This is not unexpected.

If you want high quality video, then record the video to the miniDV tape. That is DV-format and can be imported to iMovie with the firewire cable connecting the camcorder's DV port to the Mac's firewire port - and the camcorder in Play mode.

How do you convert your iMovie HD video into a video for youtube with good quality?

Saffia

I uploaded my video from my Macbook on iMovie HD directly, but it couldn't convert it on youtube. I then converted it to Quicktime, Full Quality, but it's taking tooo long. I did Web streaming and web, but the quality is awful. How do I make the quality better? How do I convert it to be uploaded to Youtube?

Answer
Aunsoft Video Converter for Mac is a really helpful and self-explanatory assistant for converting almost all popular videos like TV shows (*.tivo, *dvr-ms, *.trp, *.tp, *.ts, etc), HD, AVCHD videos (*.mod, *.tod, *.m2ts, *.evo, *.vro, *.m2t, *.mts, *.tp, etc) from DVs or camcorders (JVC, Panasonic, Cannon, Sony, etc), DVDs (*.vob), QuickTime videos (*.mov), YouTube videos (*.flv, *.f4v), and common videos (*.avi, *.mxf, *.vp6, *.wmv, *.mkv, *.dts-hd, *.truehd, *.dts, *.ac3, etc.) to MOV, MKV, WMV, MP4, H.264/AVC, MPG, MPEG, AVI, MP3, AAC, AC3, M4R, etc with pristine quality and without A/V out of sync.

With this Mac Video Converter, you can enjoy tons of videos on your iPad, iPod, iPhone, Android phones, PS3, PSP, Xbox, Zune, Creative Zen, cell phones and so on, or edit them in Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, FCE, Avid, iMovie, etc, or insert to PPT for presentation; or even upload to YouTube, websites for sharing.

http://www.aunsoft.com/video-converter-mac/

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does the speed of an HDSC card make much difference?

best camcorder kodak playsport image

XXeviloliv

I'm buying my first video recorder (a Kodak Playsport), and am planning on buying a class 10 32gb HDSC card for it, but I'm confused about the speed thing. I don't know if I should buy a more expense faster card. Does it really make much of a difference?
Do you think a 133x/20mbs would be good for HD video?

Answer
the data rate is controlled by the camera, not the card. a Class 6 card should be fine for your Kodak. If the card class is too low, data will get scrambled and files corrupted, so it does make a difference. a class 10 card is pretty fast and usable on even the fanciest camcorders.

that being said, there are a lot of "fake" cards on the market that are marked as class 10 but in reality are a class 2 or 4. These are made in China and while not legal for export, are widely sold on eBay and other asian based internet businesses. So getting a card from a reliable source is very important.

What are your thoughts on the Kodak PlaySport Camcorder?

Ivo C

I need a cheap camcorder to record my high jumpers in track and field. Is this camcorder any good for this. Also can I transfer the files to my computer and what type of files will it upload to my computer. Should I invest the money on this camcorder or is there others I should consider?

Answer
The PlaySport would probably be fine for what you're talking about. It has 4x zoom which is twice as good as the Flip (but keep in mind it's digital, not actual optical zoom). It saves videos as MOV files and includes a USB cable and software to download them to your computer. It only has 128K internal memory so to record anything useful you'll need to get an SD memory card with it. Another pocket video camera you should look at is the Sony Bloggie touch. It's about $40 more than the Zx3 (or $20 less than the Zx5), doesn't need a memory card, and has a bigger screen.

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