Re: Can any help recommend a Camcorder for FCP 6 ?

Can any help recommend a Camcorder for FCP 6 ?
Needs to be:
1. hard drive based
2. around 1,000.00
3. Firewire
4. 1080 P


Does it exist ?

There is a Sony HD HDV camera for around $1,400.00.

Is this price too high?

--ken

Ken

that is around the amount.... (What is the model Number) so far, I purchased a Sony Hard disk recorder...model SONY HDR-SR11 but it turned out that it did not have firewire, so I returned it .... then I purchased a JVC Model GZHD5US with Firewire(i link HDV)999.00 and it was incompatible with FCP 6.. i returned that one... i'm batting less than 100.

I guess an alternative might be to buy a affordable converter like Black magic, AJA, or Canopus. I but I'm not sure which one would convert an HDMi cable to I link to get it into FCP? I know... Questions Questions... it sure is confusing finding the right camera with a limited budget.

you web site is the best .... thanks for your response

Darryl

Hi Darryl,

Richard Randolph just bought the camera and did some tests with it, in FCP 6.0.3. Log and Transfer worked very well, but I believe that it is USB2. Many cameras are going with USB2, no more Firewire. USB2 seems very fast for file transfer.

I can get the model number from him tomorrow if you like.

Let me know.

--ken

Ken is correct. If the camera records to a hard drive, you don't need to have a Firewire connection ( Firewire is for capturing from tape). Just transfer the files to your Mac via USB, convert them to an editing format and then import them into your FCP project.

-DH

You can also choose ProRes 422 in the Log and Transfer window so that the HDV gets transcoded to ProRes on ingest.

--ken

If I could chime in ... your list of qualifications for your new camera said it must be "hard drive based". I just upgraded FROM a hard drive based camera, and I don't think I'll ever go back. I used the JVC Everio camera I can't remember the model number, but it was something like MG555 - it was really a pain ... all of the files had to be converted to a Mac-friendly format, and they didn't look very good. Couldn't key stuff out on a green screen. Heaven forbid I move to quick, and the video pixelates. Also, don't treat it too rough while you're shooting ... the hard drive will crash. I just got upgraded to the Canon HV30. Wow. Beautiful 1080 video, 30 fps, and it's UNDER $1000! Although it's not 1080 "p". Just 1080 "i".

john