DVD to .mov

Is it possible to extract a DVD to .mov without having to spend money?

Yes. However the question of which software applications can be used will depend on whether or not the source files are copy protected and the nature of your use of the content.

I use Handbrake, which is great; however, I would prefer to have my files as .mov instead of .mp4.

MP4, M4V, and MOV are all file container types. While there are technical differences betwen the containers/use of these containers, they all may be used to wrap the same basic types of MPEG-4 video and/or AAC audio content and all QT based players will play this basic content in essentially the same way. So, unless you have specific requirements (e.g., muxing a secondary AC3 audio track but not wanting iTunes to be the default opening/managing app) there is no real reason for choosing an MOV file container over the MP4 or M4V file containers. In most cases, it is best to select the file container based on target device use and/or file type management options.

Are there other alternatives?

Any QT based application having access to the "Save As..." option can save the content of any other QT file container type to an MOV file container on a system configured to handle the source file compression formats. This includes the ability to place WMV, DivX, "muxed" MPEG, and other types of content into the generic QT MOV file container without having to totally recompress the source data. QT 7 Pro and the free MPEG Streamclip apps are probably the two which are most commonly used by QT users.

I know about software out there that does this, like quicktime pro and dvd ripper. I feel that there shouldn't be a reason to shell out more money for just converting files. We all know being a videographer isn't cheap.

I fail to see your connection between videography/videographers and the making of fair use personal backups of intellectual content for which you hold a lifetime lease or the creation of content in the best interest of the general public as provided for by US law or as may be allowed by the consent of the legal copyright holder.

Since I need to bring my mini-tapes to a media transfer store to be made into DVDs, I thought I might be able to bring it to that same place or a rite aid or duane reade to be converted to .mov files instead of a DVD.

This statement seems to imply the content is of your own making and for which you hold the legal right to use as you please. Unless you are paying extra to have the DVD content copyprotected, such DVD content as is currently being converted by your HandBrake to MP4 file content can be readily re-wrapped to either MOV or M4V file containers. For MOV file containers, the free MPEG Streamclip would probably be best option under the conditions you've stated and does not require the use of paid "outside" services unless you want to avoid the time and effort of converting and re-wrapping the content yourself.

Again I think the best thing is able to import footage right from the original source (the tape you recorded your footage on ... in my case/ a mini-DV). But this method is definitely better than Handbrake, which compresses the files to .mp4 files. At least with .cdr files, the original footage from the DVD isn't compressed. Handbrake is great if you already have a .mov file and you need to compress it for the web. If you use FCPX like me, and don't want to spend $50 on Compressor, this is great as well.

I am totally confused by the question you originally asked and the rather roundabout work flow you claim to be a solution to your problem which, as far as I can see, has yet to be stated. The normal approach is to import the MiniDV content directly from the recording or playback device to the editing application you wish to use for editing or to import the MiniDV content directly from the recoding or playback device directly to your hard drive using a dedicated import app like Vidi. (I prefer Vidi to QT X or QT 7 Pro for import here because it maitains the original frame rate in the same manner as editing apps.) Files imported directly from the MiniDV recording/playback device will normally be DV or MOV files depending on the whether the source MiniDV content was encoded as DV or HDV and/or what app/settings was actually used for the import. (I.e., apps like iMovie convert HDV to AIC/AIFF but FCP allows the user to target a specific targeted editing compression format as desired and Vidi only supports DV file which are directly supported by all video editors.)

I figured out I didn't need handbrake, mpeg streamclip, or any other DVD ripping software. I just needed to use Disk Utility to create a DVD/CD Master disk image (.cdr file) and import footage using iMovie. When I click on File > Import from Camera, iMovie recognizes the .cdr as a device and I am able to import all of my footage without any compression. Then I send all of that footage to FCPX.

I still don't see why you are using an intermediate step to image the MiniDV content before sending it to iMovie or FCP X since the files imported by one Apple video editor should be compatible with all other video editors on the same Mac system using QT open codec configuration support. Files managed by any editor can be transferred/imported either at the Finder level or imported from within a selected video editor or, in some cases XML'd between apps. The Disk Utility app only images or burns content. It cannot transcode it from one compression format to another like QT 7 Pro, MPEG Streamclip, Compressor, GarageBand, or any of the video editor apps.

You were also right about there not being a need to transfer my footage from DVD to .mov. I learned that it isn't the containers that make a difference, it is the codec. I use the .H264 codec and that works fine on both containers. I just need to become a better cameraman.

Still not sure regarding the specifics of your work flow but generally speaking, the H.264 compression format is primarily a distribution and delivery format—not an editing format. Basically, H.264 is a highly compressed format, so by the time you get around to editing your content much of the original data has already been literally "thrown away" during the compression/re-compression of the DV-25, DV-50, or DV-100 data as originally recorded on your MiniDV tapes. (I.e., DV and HDV compression formats are only lightly compressed so the files are rather large but contain most of the original data detail.)

You are absolutely right about everything. It is much simpler to just transfer my footage from mini-dv to the computer via FireWire. I just need to save up and get another camera... I don't know why I was coming with all those stupid steps above with Disk Utility.

Since you previously mentioned your were using a professional camcorder, I assume you are referring to a cost of thousands of dollars instead of hundreds here. Also not sure if this would help or not, but rather than purchasing a second camcorder, have you considered the purchase of a dedicated miniDV VTR which you could leave connected to your computer? Like the camcoders, they come in all price ranges depending on your professional needs so I'm not sure if something as simple as the Sony GV-HD700 (about $1,000+ street price) would meet your needs here.

Like you, I still use a MiniDV camcorder since I prefer to use a self-archiving form of media. Thus, I use the tapes only once, process the content, and store the tapes against possible future needs. Also like you, I prefer not use my camcorder (only a "prosumer" model) for direct content playback or capture/editing. Luckily, I have a friend that travels to Europe several times a year and who has been known to loan me his older MiniDV VTR while he is gone. However, of late I have been considering the purchase of my own lower-end unit for home and mobile editing use since I am a non-professional with more modest needs.

Until then I have to keep on transferring from mini-dv to DVD.

It is still unclear to me why you "have" to do this or if you are transferring the data in its original DV/HDV format or having the content burned as multiplexed MPEG-2 content for playback in a commercial DVD player. The former limits the number of minutes that can be transferred to individual optical discs and the latter re-compresses the data to a format having a data rate somewhere between that of DV/HDV and HandBrake's H.264 encodes adding an additional layer of potential video degredation.