Mac OSX compatible camcorder software?

Q.

A. OSX is bundled with iMovie. It can deal with a few different video file types and camcorders.

It would be better if you told us which camcorder (manufacturer and model) and which Mac. That way we can help with specific steps and cables and downloads if needed.

A new question with that detailed information will be needed to be posted.

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Sony HDR-Sr5 high definition Camcorder ..good deal?

Q. so my buddy is selling his sony hdr-sr5 for $300..the camera works flawlessly and includes camera docking bay and battery do you guys think this is a good deal?

A. What do you need in the camcorder? What will you be using it for? What will you edit the AVCHD compressed high definition video with? (MovieMaker can't handle it - the new version of Sony Vegas will do.)

I would not spend my hard earned money on a camcorder that stores high definition video using AVCHD.

Here is a link to the camcorder manual...
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=HDRSR5
This camcorder barely has manual audio control (you can switch between "Normal" and "Low" mic gain for loud environments) and does not have a real mic-in jack (it can only use special Sony mics in the "Active Interface Shoe". You can't use is in REALLY loud environments because the vibrations will shut down the recording to the hard drive (see page 5) and it looks like really high altitudes are not so good, either. MiniDV tape and flash memory camcorders do not have these environmental issues.

I guess for $300 it would be an interesting toy, but I'd rather save for a more useful camcorder...

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Want to buy Camcorder for a mac, numerous questions. quite clueless thank you!?

Q. Do I need a recorder with firewire? Or just a usb connection?
I am leaning toward a recorder that is hard drive based. The one thing I don't like about that is having to burn a dvd on my computer to watch things (correct?) I have Imovie, does getting a hard drive recorder create to much memory to store on your computer, since not using a flashdrive/memory card? Should I get a combo then? How can you tell how much hard drive on the recorder do you need. Looking for 2 /12 hours tops I guess. Sorry about all these question in one ha
thank you for your time! Cheers

My budget is small let me know what you think of this one that looks good to me. I cannot go over $300 and would prefer cheaper if possible. For birthday present last minute for wife tomorrow.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8696324&type=product&id=1198888712721

A. You did not tell us which Mac, which operating system version or which version of iMovie you are using.

The new MacBooks and the MacBook Air do not have a firewire port or a way to add one, so you will be limited to USB connectivity to the camcorder. This means ONLY hard disc drive (HDD) or flash memory camcorders. Because HDD camcorders have known problems with vibration and high altitude, I don't bother with them Flash memory uses the same file types HDD does.

Camcorders with a firewire/DV connection are miniDV tape based - and while they continue to provide the best available video quality when compared to any other consumer storage type, they do require firewire to connect the camcorder's DV port to the computer's firewire port.

DVD based camcorders barely make useful doorstops and should be avoided.

You do not HAVE to burn a DVD to watch things.

Typical flow:

Capture video.

Flash memory or HDD: Copy over USB to Mac.
MiniDV tape: Import video to Mac over firewire.

Flash memory or HDD: Convert video using StreamClip to a format iMovie can deal with. Make copy of data video file and burn disc (DVDs are easier because they can hold more data - this disc is not playable in a DVD player and is only computer-readable).
MiniDV tape import goes straight into iMovie - no extra step for conversion; no extra step for making a backup or archive because if you don't reuse the cheap miniDV tape, then the original tape is the archive. Lock the tape.

Edit.

Save.

Share or export:
One "full quality" version. Burn to disc (this disc is not playable in a DVD player and is only computer-readable).
One "uploadable" version will be compressed to a format YouTube or Vimeo can deal with - this is optional if you are not planning to upload.
One DVD player version is made using iDVD.

In addition, if the video source was miniDV tape, export the finished project back to the camcorder tape. This is expecially handly if you get a DV/HDV camcorder and want to watch the finished project on a HDTV. Just connect the camcorder o the HDTV with the component or HDMI cables and use the camcorder as the playback deck.

There is not consumer camcorder with a "good" battery in the box (unless the camcorder is flash memory based - no moving parts = longer batter life with the same batter that minDV tape and hard drvie based camcorders use.

If you get a HDD or flash memory high definition camcorder, they generally save to a relatively new "AVCHD" format that ony iMovieHD '08 or the current versions of FinalCut (Express or Pro) can handle - and the MAf must be running on an Intel chip. Earlier versions of those editors or non-Intel Mac (even with the current versions) won't work.

Canon ZR900, ZR930; FS100.

Original Question

Mac OSX compatible camcorder software?

Q.

A. OSX is bundled with iMovie. It can deal with a few different video file types and camcorders.

It would be better if you told us which camcorder (manufacturer and model) and which Mac. That way we can help with specific steps and cables and downloads if needed.

A new question with that detailed information will be needed to be posted.

Original Question

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Mac OSX compatible camcorder software?

Q.

A. OSX is bundled with iMovie. It can deal with a few different video file types and camcorders.

It would be better if you told us which camcorder (manufacturer and model) and which Mac. That way we can help with specific steps and cables and downloads if needed.

A new question with that detailed information will be needed to be posted.

Original Question

Sony HDR-Sr5 high definition Camcorder ..good deal?

Q. so my buddy is selling his sony hdr-sr5 for $300..the camera works flawlessly and includes camera docking bay and battery do you guys think this is a good deal?

A. What do you need in the camcorder? What will you be using it for? What will you edit the AVCHD compressed high definition video with? (MovieMaker can't handle it - the new version of Sony Vegas will do.)

I would not spend my hard earned money on a camcorder that stores high definition video using AVCHD.

Here is a link to the camcorder manual...
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=HDRSR5
This camcorder barely has manual audio control (you can switch between "Normal" and "Low" mic gain for loud environments) and does not have a real mic-in jack (it can only use special Sony mics in the "Active Interface Shoe". You can't use is in REALLY loud environments because the vibrations will shut down the recording to the hard drive (see page 5) and it looks like really high altitudes are not so good, either. MiniDV tape and flash memory camcorders do not have these environmental issues.

I guess for $300 it would be an interesting toy, but I'd rather save for a more useful camcorder...

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How to make a live video feed with an HDMI Camcorder?

Q. How can you make a live video feed on an HDMI camcorder? People come with solutions, but they don't describe how they work or how to use it. I want to make animations, but with a poor quality video capture USB, the quality and video resolution is crap. I have a SONY HDR-CX190. If you do come up with a solution, please tell me how to use it.

A. Live feed to what? From the camcorder to a locally-connect (with a cable) computer?

Blackmagic Design has a couple of video converter boxes. Connect the camcorder's AV-out to the video converter box; the converter box connects to the computer.

The preferred method is to use a firewire connection because firewire is designed for streaming - USB is not (it is a bursty protocol). But your CX190 has no firewire connection - for consumer grade camcorders, this is normally the domain of miniDV tape based systems.

If you choose to do a high definition stream and want to send that out to the internet somewhere, we'd need to know a lot more about your computer, the local network connection (wired ethernet - 100baseT or gig bit ethernet) will be needed) and the internet service provider needs to be very robust. Video like this uses a TON of bandwidth and can easily bring a poorly designed (or congested) wifi network down.

Back to the camcorder to computer connection... Most low-end video editors cannot deal well with USB-based streaming (in high quality video - in this case, high definition video) becasue USB is not designed to carry this sort of high-bandwidth video. Most of the time, the camcorder's analog AV-out is used, then the analog video get digitized and shoved over USB. You have already discovered this. If we can't replace the camcorder then something else needs to happen. But you told us nothing about the computer.

Looking through the Blackmagic Design product list, you'll see cards with HDMI inputs that use an expansion slot inside the computer. These are not inexpensive... and the files will be huge - but the video quality will be there. There are other video converter products available from other manufacturers - but without knowing your budget, computer and operating system, it is impossible to make any specific recommendations - only general ones...

Original Question

How can I get the slow motion effect from MXF 60p recorded by P2 HD Camcorder?

Q. I have some MXF video files shot with my P2 HD Camcorder. I am shooting at 60P, but I want to slow the footage 50 percent for editing. I assumed that if I selected the 30P setting that the footage would be slowed, but the converted shot is the same length as the original footage that was shot at 60P. How can I get the slow motion effect?

A. You did not tell us what you are editing with or where you "selected the 30P setting" to slow the video playback speed.

Don't convert anything until the video editor can deal with the video. Then use the video editor's controls to do what is needed.

+++++

I just answered your FCP question.

Once the video is in FCP, place the clip you want to slow into the timeline. Click once to select it. On the command line, under "Modify" select "Speed". Adjust as needed.

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How can I upload pictures and videos from canon legria hfr205 to a mac?

Q. I bought this camcorder thinking that I will be able for echoed videos and then show it to everyone.. When I tried to do it on a mac it's saying that it can't read the program.

A. You did not tell us which Mac, which version OSX or what application your are trying to use to get to the video.

The Canon Legria (PAL localized - the Vixia is NTSC localized) HF R205 is a great entry level consumer camcorder that records very compressed AVCHD format video to MTS (or M2TS) files.

We'll need this (link to the camcorder manual):
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/8/0300005308/01/LEGRIA_HFR26_R27_R28_R205_R206_UserGuide_EN_1.0.pdf

Your Mac does not need - and cannot use - the software that was included in the box with the camcorder. For that matter, neither do computers on Windows, but Windows users *think* they need it...

Assuming your Mac is relatively new, you have two options:

1) Connect the camcorder's USB port to the Mac's USB port and turn the camcorder on. Put the camcorder into video Playback mode (see page 28 in the manual). If any applications (like iPhoto) start, after they are "stable" quit them. Launch iMovie. Under "File", select Import or Capture. Follow the prompts...

If this does not work,

2) If the memory appears on the Mac's desktop, you can locate the video files in the folders... You can copy the MTS files to your Mac.
DO NOT CHANGE the names of the files on the camcorder's memory card;
DO NOT MOVE the files on the on the camcorder's memory card;
DO NOT USE THE COMPUTER to delete the files on the camcorder's memory card.

Just copy the the MTS files to your Mac's hard drive...

If this does not work,

3) Use a card reader. Take the memory card out of the camcorder, put it into a card reader connected to the computer. As indicated in option 2, copy the MTS files to your Mac.
DO NOT CHANGE the names of the files on the camcorder's memory card;
DO NOT MOVE the files on the on the camcorder's memory card;
DO NOT USE THE COMPUTER to delete the files on the camcorder's memory card.

Just copy the the MTS files to your Mac's hard drive...

+++

In the case of options 2 and 3, if you want to playback the video, Quicktime cannot do that. Download and install VLC Player from www.videoLAN.org.

If you want to edit the video, you will need to transcode (convert) the MTS files to MOV or MP4 files so iMovie can deal with them. MPEG Streamclip from www.squared5.com is a good transcoder there are many others. After the video is converted, launch iMovie and either drag the converted file to the library or use the "Import Movie" command (under "File") to bring them in to the iMovie video editing application.

Original Question

Where can I buy a mac compatible camcorder?

Q. I am trying to film by school before an upcoming protest, and I want to edit the film on my Mac; however, I have yet to find a Mac compatible camcorder. Please help.

A. Hmmm. You did not tell us where you are looking.

According to Apple, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290
... but since you did not tell us which Mac or which version of iMovie you are using, we have no idea what you have to work with.

I have a PowerBook G4, an G5 iMac and 2 6 month old 24" iMac. Over time, I have successfully connected a Canon Elura 60, Panasonic PV-GS320, Sony HDR-HC1, Sony HDR-FX1, Panasonic AG-HVX200, Canon HG-10, Canon HF S100 and a Canon DSC SD-750 camera - among many others - with either a firewire cable (for the miniDV tape camcorders) or USB (for the others) and one or more of the computers has always been able to deal with the transferred/imported video.

Just because the software in the box with the camcorder is not "Mac compatible" does not mean the camcorder will not work with a Mac - that software is typically useless - even in the Windows environment.

What is your budget?

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Are any camcorders good in low light environments like indoors?

Q. I have a camcorder I bought for €235 in 2011 which is 10MP. Indoors it is always grainy and fuzzy except in some very bright lighting. Outdoors it's better. Are there any camcorders available that are sharp indoors and in low light/dark environments and have little/no visible noise/grain?
My camcorder only has ISO controls for photographs and not video. It has a "Night mode" and white balance but no matter what settings I use, I almost always get grainy video indoors even with lights on.
My camcorder is Toshiba Camileo A35.

A. Good low-light means large lens filter diameter and large imaging chip. The large lens allows in more light; the large imaging chip can deal with what little light is available. You have already discovered that small lens diameter and small imaging chip doe not behave well. As camcorders increase in price, their lenses get larger - so do the imaging chips... You did not tell us which camcorder you are currently using, but at your price point, I would guess 30mm filter diameter and 1/6" single imaging chip. or you are using a digital still camera (maybe even a bridge camera) that happens to capture video as a secondary "convenience feature".

For low-light conditions, at a minimum, I use my Sony HDR-FX1. This was replaced by the HDR-FX1000. 72mm filter diameter lens and 1/3" 3CCD imaging chip. If it is really dark, then Panasonic AG-HVX200 with 82mm filter diameter and 1/3" 3CCD imaging chip works well... above this they start to get expensive.

If these cameras are too expensive, you have an alternative... learn to shoot "day for night". ADD light during video capture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MaC44MU4iw
and use a decent video editor...

Original Question

What kind of a good, cheap camcorder is good for filming skateboarding?

Q. Okay, here is the deal. I am really into filming my friends skateboarding, but my brother just graduated and is taking his camcorder with him. This would be fine, but I know almost nothing about cameras, and would like to buy my own!

What I need is this:
1) A sharp clear picture for faster, more "Sportlike" videos
2) A price range of less then 500 US dollars
3) Something that isn't very bulky, like a small size like this (http://tinyurl.com/yogbdy)

Please and thank you!

A. I hope you aren't serious about it being small like the one in the picture...

Check out the Canon ZR series. That is probably going to be the best line of cameras for you.

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