The brochures didn't tell me this!

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Level 1

15 points

The brochures didn't tell me this!

That was just an attention-grabber, heh.

I'm shopping around for a Mini DV camera, and have almost settled on the Panasonic NVGS 500. Looking through the specification brochure, it's not totally clear to me whether or not the camera can send video into iMovie4 on a G4 eMac using OSX.

I know iMovie accepts almost every Panasonic camera, but I'm not sure about the 500.

How about it, is this a good buy and will iMovie import video from it?

Thanks.

g4 eMac, Mac OS X (10.3.9), 1ghz, 768 mg RAM

Posted on Jul 18, 2006 9:00 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 18, 2006 10:49 PM in response to Kurt Muller

miniDV
firewire (DV-in/out)
=
will work...

nice device 😉

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Answer 2

Kurt Muller Author

Level 1

15 points

Jul 18, 2006 11:17 PM in response to Karsten Schlüter

That's what I figured, but some guy at Panasonic tried to tell me the camera "wouldn't work" with a Mac. After a few more enquiries, I found that what he meant was that the software that Panasonic includes with the camera is for Windows only. They don't include software for Macs, because, (as we already knew), Mac video editing software is already better!!

Salesmen! They'll try to convince you of anything!

Danke schon, Karsten.

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Answer 3

Jul 19, 2006 2:01 AM in response to Kurt Muller

Hi Kurtain,

There is a comprehensive review of the Panasonic NV-GS500 in the latest (July 2006) issue of the Australian Video Camera magazine, which you may find interesting. The magazine is still available in most newsagents - at least in Adelaide. The article does mention that there were no problems with Firewire capture, but is a bit critical of the USB capture and USB export back to camera using certain PC only software. Macs are not mentioned at all in the article (typical)!

A criticism was that the GS500 lacked a digital pass-through ability to convert analog video to digital. So this could be a problem if you were looking to digitise old VHS tapes for transfer to DVD. But other alternatives are available (but at a cost).

A friend has the earlier model (the GS400 model) and reckons it's a great camera. In fact he has 2 of them and often does multi camera shoots (that is, with 2 cameras). But he's a PC user and uses Adobe Premier for editing.

John

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Answer 4

Jul 19, 2006 2:07 AM in response to John Cogdell

A criticism was that the GS500 lacked a digital pass-through ability to convert analog video to digital.

But it does have analog inputs? Then "just" record a miniDV tape from the analog source and import that tape (making a two step operation). This has the advantage of covering "gaps" and drop-outs in the analog recording, which tend to make iMovie stop importing otherwise.

A friend ... But he's a PC user

And you are still calling him a friend? ;-)

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Answer 5

Kurt Muller Author

Level 1

15 points

Jul 19, 2006 2:20 AM in response to John Cogdell

I'll check the magazine out, John. Hope I can get it here in Brisbane.

Transfer of my old analog tapes isn't a problem, because I've still got my Canopus converter for that.

I did hear about the 400, it's supposed to be a very good camera. But I've been haggling and so far I've got the price of the 500 down to $1690, would you believe? So, might as well go for the latest and greatest.

Thanks,
Kurt

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Answer 6

Kurt Muller Author

Level 1

15 points

Jul 19, 2006 2:23 AM in response to Lennart Thelander

"But it does have analog inputs? Then "just" record a miniDV tape from the analog source and import that tape (making a two step operation). This has the advantage of covering "gaps" and drop-outs in the analog recording, which tend to make iMovie stop importing otherwise."

That might come in handy if my Canopus ever gives up the ghost, Len. 🙂

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Answer 7

Jul 19, 2006 2:41 AM in response to Kurt Muller

... the camera has some good/excellent reviews in German testpapers... 3ccd - a dream!!!

besides:
⌥-o = ö
on your keyboard layout.. ;-)))
Bitteschön!

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Answer 8

Jul 19, 2006 3:41 AM in response to Lennart Thelander

Hi Lennart,

Thanks for pointing that out about recording analog to miniDV tape - I forgot about that, even though I've done it myself on occasions (silly me)! But - bad news! The GS500 does not have A/V inputs, nor S-Video inputs (but does have outputs) would you believe! See the specs here:
http://panasonic.com.au/products/specifications.cfm?objectID=3089

Yeh, I'm still trying to convince "the friend" about the benefits of Macs, but he's a lot, lot younger than me and hasn't seen the light yet! However, after seeing some of his excellent edited work (done on a PC), I'm not convinced he needs to change anything 🙂

Regards
John

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Answer 9

Jul 19, 2006 4:27 AM in response to John Cogdell

The GS500 does not have A/V inputs, nor S-Video inputs

OK, that settles it. No analog import, then! :-(

(but does have outputs) would you believe!

Otherwise it would be a neat trick to play the video on a TV. ;-)

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Answer 10

Jul 19, 2006 5:17 AM in response to Lennart Thelander

Ha ha Lennart 🙂

My meaning was: "would you believe - it doesn't have A/V inputs" That's why I put "outputs" in brackets! 🙂

Actually, my Sony DCR-TRV20 has one mini socket for both input and output. Very cleverly, the camera recognises which way to go - just like Firewire. So, maybe that's what the Panasonic does also with A/V. Does anybody know out there? It really does seem strange that a digital video camera does not allow capture of old analog footage. Or am I missing something?

John

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Answer 11

Jul 19, 2006 5:30 AM in response to John Cogdell

Cheaper cameras do not (normally) have analog inputs, but this one with 3 CCDs???? It simply doesn't make any sense.

I have a Panasonic camera of 2001 vintage, which does have analog pass-through, but the cheaper cameras in the same family did not.

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Answer 12

Jul 19, 2006 5:44 AM in response to Lennart Thelander

Thanks for the extra info Lennart - hope Kurt gets something out of all this.

John

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