Panasonic SDR-H200 30GB 3CCD Hard Disk Drive

Question

Level 1

80 points

Panasonic SDR-H200 30GB 3CCD Hard Disk Drive

I would like to buy this camcorder. It is listed as compatible for iMovie '08 http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014#2 and according to the manufactor manual it is Mac compatible. Anybody have tried it or now about this camera? Thanks so much in advance.

Powerbook G4 1.5 GHz 2 GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Apr 22, 2008 10:22 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 24, 2008 1:15 PM in response to allanart

Excellent choice and you will be impressed with the quality of the video too, I'm sure. The GS-500 can also shoot in 24 fps, which gives your video a "film look" quality.

If you want to pick the brains of other Panasonic 3CCD users, go to this very informative website.

http://www.pana3ccduser.com/forumdisplay.php?s=8b722d3c98c5012437a68ecef324cdfb& daysprune=&f=6

Forest

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 22, 2008 1:52 PM in response to allanart

I see you have a G4. Did you use iMovie HD or HD6 previously? Have you tried, or looked at iMovie 08 yet? There may be issues with you running iMovie 08 on your G4 also. Not sure about that one.

If you want better video quality and easier capturing to your Mac, take a look at the Panasonic GS-320 3CCD miniDV model. It will also allow you to use iMovie HD6, in case 08 is not to your liking.

Reply

Answer 3

allanart Author

Level 1

80 points

Apr 23, 2008 7:19 AM in response to Forest Mccready

I will actually be using a Dual 2.7 GHz PowerPC G5. I do have iMovie '08 in that machime. In the Power Book G4 i got iMovie HD 6.0.3. I need to take a decision today and I'm not sure how to go. I do have the money (about $800.00). I would really a HDD or Flash Card, but need to think about the miniDV.

This are the choices so far (no miniDV in these)
Canon FS11 Flash Memory Camcorder with 16GB Internal Flash Memory and 48x Optical Zoom

Panasonic SDR-H200 30GB 3CCD Hard Disk Drive/SD Palmcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Panasonic HDC-HS9 AVCHD 3CCD 60GB Hard Drive High Definition Hybrid Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Suggestions, please. BTW I'm not going to be doing any pro work. Is just for High school, but I need to get the best I one possible because I don't know when I will be able to upgrade (if I ever get more $$)

Reply

Answer 4

Apr 23, 2008 2:44 PM in response to allanart

You can lead a horse to water . . . . miniDv will give you the greatest flexibility between your two computers. Any of your listed choices will not work with iMovie HD6. Recording back to tape gives you a place to archive your movies. Hard drive cams can't archive anything because you need to clear it to use it again. If a hard drive cam fails, your video files are gone, whereas with tape, you might lose a couple of minutes if a tape is eaten. Tape will produce superior quality video because it is not a highly compressed format, as HDD is. You could buy a very high quality miniDV cam with the money you have. Check out the Panasonic GS-500 on B&H Photo's website.

Reply

Answer 5

allanart Author

Level 1

80 points

Apr 23, 2008 5:56 PM in response to Forest Mccready

Thank yo so much for your time and advice. I'm a stubborn person. However, age had changed me. A little. The GS-500 is my wish list now and I do have a couple of days now to make a decision. I have read the advantages of the miniDV cameras and if I go for one of those the one you recommend looks great. I understand the better video quality but loosing your video files from the HDD camera is something that can happen to any electronic device, and most likely I'll transfer the videos to an external media for editing later. So I'm still in the look and now the miniDV is also an option. Maybe one a little less "professional".

Reply

Answer 6

allanart Author

Level 1

80 points

Apr 24, 2008 12:29 PM in response to Forest Mccready

I have taken a decision an I'm going with the Panasonic GS-500. I thought about and I want to use that camera with different computers, so compatibility is the most important issue here. Thanks for you help.

Reply

Answer 7

allanart Author

Level 1

80 points

Apr 22, 2008 11:25 AM in response to allanart

Or you would buy this one

Canon FS11 Flash Memory Camcorder with 16GB Internal Flash Memory and 48x Optical Zoom ?

Any advice s appreciated

Reply

Answer 8

Apr 24, 2008 9:25 PM in response to Forest Mccready

Sorry. Correction on that last post. I should have said 30 fps in the Pro Cinema mode, which gives the film look. Thanks for the star!

Forest

Reply