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The best way to convert AVCHD footage (also called MTS or M2TS) is via a brilliant little video convertor by iSkySoft... "iSkySoft Video Converter for Mac". You can convert these files to Final Cut Pro-usable H264 .MOV files without the massive up-sampling in file sizes with the Apple Intermediate Codec route.
As for Image Stabilization, another alternative for these small HD cameras is to buy a "STEADICAM MERLIN" (a cut-down version of what they use in Hollywood) for a much more elegant solution.
Just Google any of the above terms and you'll find them.

One thing not mentioned in any of the reviews or overviews is whether the USB port is "live." I know many people who'd like to use small HD cameras for live web streaming (think Mogulus, Ustream, Justin.TV) and only know of fading firewire cameras for live output.
Do any of the consumer tapeless HD cameras have a live output USB port?

A lot of good information but not a single recommendation? I have the Vixia HF-100 (200 is not available yet) and it does a very nice job when used with a real editor like Premiere Pro (vs. say iMovie). I can recommend it without hesitation for anyone who wants high quality footage from a relatively inexpensive camera that is small and lightweight.

bq. "A newer version of this camcorder, the Vixia HV40 HD, should be available by the time you read this. Its feature set is similar to that of the HV30 but, in a sign of the times, eschews FireWire."

In the sign of WHAT times? It HAS firewire. Without a FireWire port, there isn't a way to get DV or HDV off the tape.
Canon's own site clearly indicates there's a Firewire port on the HV40. Go to "Features" and then "Edit and Share your video"
www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=177&modelid=17996#ModelFeaturesAct

Apple may be able to "eschew" FireWire from it's own machines as a sign of it's own times, but that's just Apple. Not a sign of the times.

Anthony Burokas
http://Techthoughts.org

Chris: how about a review of digital SLRs that also record HD video? Also, recommendations/ratings would be nice to see.

thanks.

Thanks for the confirmation, but I didn't find it particularly clear. When I first read about the HV40, I assumed it didn't have firewire either--it's conspicuously absent from the specifications page. Only when I dug down to find out how the heck you were supposed to get the video out, did I see mention of IEEE 1394.

"Clear" as in "certain"? Yes. Clear as in "obvious." No way.

> Most full-size camcorders provide either tape-based or tapeless storage.
[/quote]
Chris,

This line reminded me of the gag, "There are three types of people: those who can count and those who can't..."

Ken :D

I think Chris was just trying to clarify that few cameras are HDD systems.

Photonerd said:

First off, I recently bought the HF-100, asnd I agree that it's a very nice camera.


The problem with recommending specific camcorder models is that so many of them are either end-of-life or not-yet-released. Companies don't want to send out review units of models that they're replacing with newer ones, and many of the newer ones aren't available yet. So we tried to talk about what to look for in a camcorder, and offer some examples of what's out there. I wish we could have included many more reviews, but several of the models in the story have been reviewed (anything with a mouse rating has a link to the review included, and a few items in the chart link to our reviews as well).



Here's a link to our camcorder review page, with the latest reviews at the top. I've added it to the story as well.

Costco has the Canon HG20 for $599. Good deal??

len5 said:

Pretty good...that's the same price as Amazon.

Ken: great point. ..."Most camcroders are either tape, or tapeless" is a pretty pointless differentiation without the "as opposed to... hard disk drive or optical disk" part of the sentence.

HappyMac: Hard drives don't use tape, so they're included in tapeless. :)
bq. "Progressive video looks cleaner than interlaced video, particularly when there’s a lot of movement in the image."
Now, he thankfully admits that "TVs are designed to account for interlaced video—they either support
interlacing natively (standard-definition TVs) or include deinterlacing
circuitry (HDTVs)" but I would think that most HD camcorders are shooting HD video destined for a TV screen. If you're shooting for YouTube or something, widescreen / or square SD is plenty.
bq. "Pocket camcorders don’t include image stabilization..."
Interestingly enough, the "pocket" camcorders are what started as "disposable" camcorders, and are really only half or 1/3 as small as the palmcorders he calls "full size." As someone who has shot with an on-shoulder camcorder for nearly 20 years, I really hesitate calling simething the size of a soda can "full size" because I can stick any of the "full size" camcorders he lists into my jacket pocket.

Overall, though, it's a pretty good guide for newbie camcorder buyers at the low end of the consumer market.



Anthony Burokas

http://TechThoughts.org

I thought HDV had to be converted to AIC before it can be edited in iMovie or FCE. Because HDV is lower resolution (1440x1080 interlaced) than AVCHD (1920x1080 interlaced), converted footages do not occupy as much space (about half as much, in fact).