How do I use a Panasonic HDD Video Camera with an iBook?

From what I've found through reading the topic in several digital movie
forums, you should be able to use iMovie and have it import the file
from the camera for use and editing in the Mac.

This path may be version dependent for best results; and I am not
sure which versions of iLife's iMovie would be best for use with the
digital camera and also may be compatible with the older Mac iBook.

Some Panasonic digital video cameras are also seen by iPhoto and
in some cases, that can find the movie file and import it for iMovie.

And there are other Panasonic video devices which create the same
kinds of files, and there is a free or shareware software out there to
help use them. This may include players by third parties and others
which may be able to edit digital movie files.

In some digital movie forums, there is an awareness of Panasonic
products not necessarily being the best supported for Mac OS X;
while many pro users of Panasonic products have Macs, among
them are newer Intel Mac users with Parallels, BootCamp, etc
and they can run XP or Vista-ready software. If this is (still) true,
then Panasonic may be missing out; since modern products
should have support in their retail box for both major platforms.
Some Panasonic products have shipped with Mac software for
several years now; along with Windows software. Some didn't.

Hopefully iMovie can see the Panasonic digital movie files; if the
iBook can support the feature set of iMovie. Some aspects of
this part of iLife require the ability to record to DVD media and
also may require more system assets & resources than you have.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

This post is to add a little more I found out, regarding other methods
and means of making use of the files from your model Panasonic in
a Macintosh... Seems there are others who've had issue with this.

A few replies to some of the items found in this search result do answer
your question; some refer to other software and procedural means to
get this model of digital video camera to work in a roundabout way.

' Panasonic SDR-H40P Mac OS X compatibility ' - google search:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=PanasonicSDR-H40P+Mac+OS+X+compatibility&btnG=GoogleSearch&aq=f&oq=

The newer Intel Macs may be better suited to more natively handle this
model of Panasonic via USB 2.0 cable, and a later version of iMovie.

I suggest reading through the links within the search, and also inquire
of Panasonic's database; a third party software had been shipped with
other Panasonic digital movie cameras for use in Macs. The product
should appear in some of the results. I forget the name of it and didn't
have any Mac software with a Panasonic camera I own which can
make movie files and stills. I manually deal with the still images.

Good luck in this matter! 🙂

Funny you should find that link, since the page with the download
software was one I referred someone else to about a year ago;
and had inadvertently discovered it by accident in a digital camera
site. The same software may work in other Panasonic devices...

And I see what you found (still isn't the actual third party SW) is
similar to other sites where they tell you to do a few steps. Be
sure what they tell you will work with a PPC Mac, since the page
you cite above is for MacBook an Intel-based Mac with USB 2.0.
And and older version of iMovie may not be able to handle the files.

The lack of support by Panasonic in this case is a reason why I
see some interested parties go with other brands when it be-
comes known that a product is a headache to the retail buyer.
I know certain Canon products often 'just work' and offered FW
support when some others were still working with stone knives.

Glad to hear you at least can make some use of the video unit.
Short of a donation to some charity fundraiser; or convert to the
dark side (or get a new Mac with Intel processors, etc.)

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂