Sony DCR-SR82 Handycam Camcorder

If I were considering this camera, I think I'd want this point confirming from someone who has one.

It's not clear to me what resolution this camera works at but it seems to handle capture in much the same way as an HDV camera but with a HDD, so I imagine there is a good chance it will work but how im08 will handle what appears to be a sort of reduced HD resolution, I don't know.

I like Canon MUCH better than Sony. Sony is a direct competitor of Apple and as such I think they support Apple with reduced enthusiasm.

Canon makes excellent equipment and their technical support people always seem Macintosh savvy (They were very familiar with iMovie).

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid= 173

I use my Canon with iMovie 06 and iDVD 08. (and occasionally with iMovie 08)

Verify that your canon is supported. I just got this response from Canon regarding my camcorder. They specifically say that iMovie is not supported by Canon.

*****
Thank you for your inquiry. We value you as a Canon customer and
appreciate the opportunity to assist you. I am sorry that you have not
been able to import video from your DC20 to your Mac.

The software provided does not support Macintosh, so regrettably that
wouldn't be an option here. The iMovie software is not supported by
Canon so regrettably we cannot provide troubleshooting information for
it. The file format would be that of a movie DVD. So movie playing
software would be necessary to view these disks. If you would like to
edit the video it would be necessary to purchase a third party program
that can edit .VOB and .IFO files.
***

Lida,

Canon is right about +The software provided does not support Macintosh,+ ... but there's no need to use the Windows-only software from Canon; connect your DVDcorder via usb2 to your Mac and follow instructions given by iM08 ...

Thanks, I tried that. iM08 could not read the disk at all or even register that the camera was connected. Eventually, I discovered the work around (which is a PITB) .... copy the disk as a disk image via the Media Browser in Toast 8, then rip it with Handbrake, and then iMovie was able to import the files.

where/what did you find out? I just got the same camcorder and cannot get iMovie or my computer to recognize it. PLEASE help!

Hi, We bought a Sony DCR SR82 in April from the USA (we're in the UK) and we had the same problems as you, although we were told that this camera was compatible with the Mac and iMovie. From reading other threads, we were able to sort it but it meant spending out again! We needed to buy the new version of iLife (iLife 08). Then we needed to download the (thankfully free) Quicktime mpeg2. Finally, we needed to purchase the add-on MPEG Streamclip 1.8 (around $15). After installing these, iMovie is now working perfectly with the Sony camcorder. I'm a bit of a techno twit and I was able to download/install and apply these quite easily, so it isn't difficult, but it IS annoying that Sony and Apple don't work together and that, having paid out mega loads for a Mac and then even more for the camcorder, you still need to shell out to get the two to co-operate. Now that it's all set up and working, we have to say that iMovie is fantastic, so do perserve - cos the Sony camcorder is also top notch (we think). Best of luck to you and hope this helps!

so, if I download the latest free QuickTime 7 version as well as MPEG Streamclip 1.8 (which they are saying is Free, not $15), then this my computer will then recognize my camcorder (which it currently does not) and I will be able to use iMovie 08?

My macbook won't even recognize the camcorder as being attached either. I want to know who at apple "tested" this camera and how they got it to work. I'm so incredibly frustrated at this point and at the fact that it seems sooo difficult to get things to work with MAC!!

Oops, my bad. Imovie '08 is awesome and totally works with this camera. *sigh... still learning.

where/what did you find out? I just got the same camcorder and cannot get iMovie or my computer to recognize it.

iMovie '08 Camcorder Support

Hi, We bought a Sony DCR SR82 in April from the USA (we're in the UK) and we had the same problems as you, although we were told that this camera was compatible with the Mac and iMovie. From reading other threads, we were able to sort it but it meant spending out again! We needed to buy the new version of iLife (iLife 08). Then we needed to download the (thankfully free) Quicktime mpeg2. Finally, we needed to purchase the add-on MPEG Streamclip 1.8 (around $15).

Basically, there should be two ways to get video into iMovie '08 --

1) directly from the camcorder ("capture"). In this case, if the file compression format is already compatible with iMovie '08, the files (DV) are simply copied to the iMovie event folder. If the movies are not already compatible (e.g., HDV, AVCHD, MPEG2), then they are converted and then copied to iMovie '08. Apple describes this in their Importing from a Camcorder tutorial.

2) as a video file transfer in the Finder. In this case, if the camcorder device is recognized as an external hard drive, then the video files can be simply copied from the device to a convenient system hard drive. Unfortunately, if the device's "native" compression format is not iMovie '08 compatible, they will have to be manually converted by the user. With regard to MPEG2 content, this is where the QT MPEG2 component ($19.99 -- not free) and MPEG Streamclip (not $15 but free) come in. This combination can convert your files to DV, AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec), Motion JPEG, Apple Video (limited color depth), Apple Animation (bug in iMovie '08 doesn't export it properly), MPEG4/AAC, or H.264/AAC compression formats, all of which can be imported and edited in iMovie '08.

so, if I download the latest free QuickTime 7 version as well as MPEG Streamclip 1.8 (which they are saying is Free, not $15), then this my computer will then recognize my camcorder (which it currently does not) and I will be able to use iMovie 08?

No, this software is only used for manual conversions. It has nothing to do with iMovie's ability to "recognize" a device. More likely a change in your workflow is required to get your hardware to be recognized. For instance, some users reported that they had to connect and turn on camcorder before opening iMovie '08 in order for the camcorder to be recognized.

After browsing many forums and finding no detailed results I decided to play with my Sony SR 82. Just go to the home menu and press the formatting button (the luggage tag looking icon) and then press the formatting button on the left for your hard drive or the right for your flash disk. Let it format and then it’ll be ready for imovie 08. Just plug the USB to the computer and open imovie.

I have a Sony SR82, and I purchased "CaptyEdit Mpeg2 EX" to use as the 3rd party program to run between the camcorder and iMovie. Now I'm stumped. I can not get my Mac to recognize that ther is even anything plugged into the USB port. I don't know where to go from here!! Any sugestions??

I am sorry to stir the pot here but I am getting so many conflicting reports of working and not working. here's my story:

I bought the Sony DCR-SR42 and brought it home last night after the guy at the store told me it works with my mac. As I unwrapped it I noticed that it doesn't have any disks for the Mac OS. So I just assumed it would work. It didn't. I did a lot of research, including finding on Apples site that it is not listed as one of the compatible cameras with iMovie 08. I have an intel based iMac with OS 10.4 and iMovie 08. I did see that the DCR-SR82 is on Apple's list of supported cameras for iMovie 08. So I went back and bought the SR82. It wasn't in stock so it is being sent to me.

Here's the issue, I keep finding different reports of the camera not working and in some cases people saying it worked just fine. I don't know what to believe now. By working I mean, I will be able to plug the camera in (via base) and open iMovie and take the movies off of it much the same way I do with my digital camera. I don't want to mess with a bunch of manual steps using 3rd party software. Although I already bought the MPEG-2 plugin for Quicktime.

Can someone please answer me with a definite yes or no that it will work with my definition of work (plug in and use the movies in iMovie 08)?