[cambsno]

I currently have a Sony DCR-HC40e camcorder i purchased about 4 years ago and am now looking to upgrade to a HD one. Can anyone help with a few questions.

I have a Sony HD TV and a normal Sony DVD player (HDMI connected upscaling).

If I get a HD camcorder I know I can watch through the TV but:

- Can I edit this HD footage on my iMac (using imovie)?
- If I burn to DVD will I get better picture quality than my current camcorder (while accepting without a blu ray player I will not get the full works).
- What are the best HD camcorders to get - around £500, I do have a preference for Sony but anyting considered.

Basically I dont want to fork out £500 and then learn the only way I can view a HD picture is to plug the camcorder straight in without editing. I am happy to edit, then to copy edited footage back to camcorder tape and then view via TV.

[senu]

Originally Posted by cambsno

I currently have a Sony DCR-HC40e camcorder i purchased about 4 years ago and am now looking to upgrade to a HD one. Can anyone help with a few questions.

I have a Sony HD TV and a normal Sony DVD player (HDMI connected upscaling).

If I get a HD camcorder I know I can watch through the TV but:

- Can I edit this HD footage on my iMac (using imovie)?

Yes

- If I burn to DVD will I get better picture quality than my current camcorder (while accepting without a blu ray player I will not get the full works).

More than likely the HDV camcorders are generally very good SD camcorders as well

- What are the best HD camcorders to get - around £500, I do have a preference for Sony but anyting considered.

There are no "best" . All the Models by Sony and Canon are good
With £500, you should consider the Sony HC5 or 7 . Canons HV 20 is considered "the star" in this group ( although its build quality is not to every bodies liking) but even though there is an HV 30. For sheer Image quality and cost it is the one to beat

I am happy to edit, then to copy edited footage back to camcorder tape and then view via TV.

That you can do
I would say though that although you may find the PC less attractive for a lot of things, it does have the advantage ( compared to a mac) of having a lot more variety of software to edit HDV , . However imovie 08 should do fine
HTH

[JUS]

Senu,

I've been thinking about buying a MacBook...I took my external HDD with all my AVCHD files (moff, modd and m2ts files) into an apple shop to see how well it would handle editing and iMovie just didn't recognise them.

Should you convert them some how before you can use them on a mac?



Regards

Jus

[senu]

Good one.
I do have a Mac at work and will try it there but I dont use a mac as such. I have seen AVCHD edited in Final cut. ( which I dont have)
Did you refer to imovie08 though?

[JUS]

Yes, imovie08. Final Cut is extra cost and doesn't look as incredibly user friendly as imovie08...In the ilife demo on the apple site he does say it can handle avchd...but you have to convert it first I though iMovie would have done that step for you.

Just found this fella...I'll take it into the shop later

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32746

[JUS]

Quick update...went into the shop with the trail version. Converted a few files. Looked great until the camera moved and the who picture went all jagged