Most compatable video camera with iMovie 09 ?

I think there's only one camera that currently has an iMovie logo on the box, and that's the new Sanyo's just released in October

http://us.sanyo.com:80/News/SANYO-Dual-Cameras-are-World-s-First-with-iFrame-Vid eo-Format

I'd say they're probably most compatible. 🙂 But, there are no official reviews done for them, yet, so you'd have to go to a camera store to shoot some sample video to see if they're what you're looking for. There are many other cameras (you've seen the compatibility page, yes?) that will connect to and transfer video to iMovie in a LOT of price ranges that could possibly suit your needs, though.

My Canon Vixia HV30 records to miniDV tape, but otherwise fits your criteria, and it works fine with iMovie. But then, so should've your Sony Handycam. I know others here have reported success with other Canon models.

The canon that's record avchd 1080 30p is your best option for the highest resolution that still maintains progressive format.

I work for JVC and would like to try and help.

The GZ-HD300 records in AVCHD and is an excellent choice for iMovie '09 as long as you have an Intel processor on your Mac. iMovie '09 supports AVCHD which makes the GZ-HD300 about as close to a plug n' play setup as you can get.

These look like incredible cameras!
Whats this iFrame video format (960 x 540), is that a HD format?

They also do Full 1080p HD Video (60fps).

What file type is this ? AVCHD?

IFrame is higher def than standard, but it's not as good as 720p or 1080p. By the way, iFrame is just another option, really. You can use it for stuff that you want to shoot and edit quickly and you sacrifice some quality. It's just another option. You CAN still shoot in both of those other resolutions, though, and it looks pretty good. I like mine the more I use it.

The file type is regular MPEG4, so there are no "tricks" to getting the content off. Insert the card into your card reader, start iMovie and you're ready to import.

The perfect match for iM09 is the Canon HF100, HF10, HF11. These cameras shoot true HD resolutions because they have an 8Mpixel chip. This means you should import at FULL. (Any single-chip camera with less than 6Mpixels -- just import at LARGE as there isn't enough real rez to need FULL.)

Shoot 1080p30 and you can use all FX without worrying about iM09 chopping resolution to 540p OR worry about scaling artifacts.

As much as I loved my JVC HD1 and HD7 -- they have fallen very far behind in CMOS tek. Sony has good CMOS, but their camcorders don't shoot progressive. Pana uses 3 chips, but doesn't shoot 30p -- only 24p, which iM09 will not import.

Since Canon has equal to Sony CMOS tek and shoots 30p -- it's a no brainer.

PS1: Avoid the Xacti it has really poor stabilization. (The Canon's is great!)

PS2: avoid iFrame -- it ain't HD.

Steve, what's your thoughts about audio.

I got the Sony HDR SR8 more or less the day it came out and paid more than I should. I now have a camera that shoots 1080 x 1440 interlaced, which actually I could live with although I appreciate I could do better. The big issue I have with it is audio.

I shot some video at a party and the audio is, without exaggeration, unusable. Luckily I had my Canon xm2 running all the time and I have used the audio off that to put together a video of the band at the party. However I get the same problem to a lesser extent down at the motorsports track. Basically it distorts with either loud noises or bass.

I'm considering getting a second HD camera and wondered what I should get. The reason for getting it would be to be my main camera and also to use alongside my first HD camera for two camera shoots. Audio would be vitally important as I would now be using it in place of my xm2 and as I would be losing a good audio source, I must replace it with something that would at least be acceptable.

Hope I explained reasonably well, what do you think.

You have euro camcorders I don't know. Assuming the sr8 is our sr7 -- I havent heard anything bad. But, if you shoot where there is loud sounds the issues are:

1) is the mic itself overloaded?

2) does the mic overload the camcorder circuit before the gain control?

3) if the answers are NO, then IF one could adjust camcorder gain -- then that is the solution. But, if the either 1 or 2 is true, then being able to adjust gain will not help.

Seems like the Sony suffers from 1 or 2 because if it didn't you would have already adjusted the Sony gain -- or the Sony has no gain control.

If you want to keep using the Sony you might try an external mic.

Mic output levels typically range from –40dB to -60dBu. (Bigger negative values are softer than smaller negative values.) You want a mic with less output than the built-in Sony mic. But, since you don't have its spec., it's hard to shop for a different one. 😟

That leaves trial and error, or trying out different camcorders. Since you know at least one Canon camcorder works, I would start with Canon. I'd look for one with an external mic input AND an adjustable level. If not a level control -- a menu item to switch in "attenuation."

PS1: check if your Sony has a menu item to switch in "attenuation."

PS2: This is a wonderful example of how in 90% of the talk about camcorders, audio is never mentioned. Yet, if you talk with pros they spend more $ on mics -- often buying several -- than they do on their camcorder. In the situations you shoot at -- audio is more of a worry than video. You are recording VERY loud sounds that can overload anything but a really good mic. (Or, if the mic works -- it may out out a bigger signal than a camcorder can accept.) Which makes me wonder about buying a mic mixer and some good mics rather than a new camcorder. This would be a one time investment. In fact, you could also buy one of these stereo mic-mixer-digital recorders. Record to SD card AND pass a signal to one camcorder. It also opens the door to recording bands. Just a passing thought.

Steve Mullen wrote:
The perfect match for iM09 is the Canon HF100, HF10, HF11. These cameras shoot true HD resolutions because they have an 8Mpixel chip. This means you should import at FULL. (Any single-chip camera with less than 6Mpixels -- just import at LARGE as there isn't enough real rez to need FULL.)

That's and interesting comment, would you care to expand on that? I though HD resolution was 1920x1080 = 2MP. Whatever exceeds that is for the photo taking, not video. In addition,the reviews show that the max motion resolution achieved by these cameras is about 600-800 horizontal lines...

PS. The HF range uses a 3MP sensor. It's the HF-S's that go to 8MP.

Thanks Steve, I've looked for audio controls but unless I'm being incredibly stupid I can't see any. I'd thought of an external mic, but shied away from this route because I want to run around with this camera (Run ? Ha, long time since I could do that properly).

I'm intending getting another HD camera anyway so both the cameras I use for two camera work are HD, I just wondered if you knew or had an opinion about which cameras have the best audio side of things.

Generally I find bass to be more of a problem than volume, clearly the microphone on the xm2 is of much higher quality than the average consumer camera but it's only SD and I didn't really want to dig that deep for something like the Canon XL/XH range.

Be careful with the PAL versions of the Canon Legria Camcorders (which you would be buying since you are in Australia).

I purchased the Canon Legria HF20, and have had major headaches.See link below:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10587656#10587656