[dreyfus]

d2hamilton said:

My question (which I always have a hard time finding) is "is the HD - hard disk / SDHC based - version compatible with iMovie / iDVD?" When I researched in the past, it seemed like it was only the tape based versions which you could import into iMovie.

There is no easy answer to that one. Apple maintains a compatibility list here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014 - it is never up to date and it is never complete. Some manufacturers do provide QuickTime plugins with their cameras (unfortunately sometimes not included in the box and well hidden on a Taiwanese, Japanese or Chinese Web site) - these do sometimes work until QuickTime gets updated or not at all. In general: If a camera is not on Apple's list and there is no indication of Mac compatibility on the box: hands off, unless you have personal info from a reliable person (not some anonymous @@@ on the Web) that it does work. With most cameras (as long as you can access the storage, this normally is a given unless the camcorder uses Mini DVD, in which case you could be royally screwed) there are ways to convert the material to something iMovie can read (using MPEG Streamclip and other tools), but even that may prove to be difficult if the camcorder uses an odd resolution or framerate. With quite a few AVCHD formats you can end up with audio and video being out of sync after a conversion... unless you really know how to deal with all these issues... better get something that is officially supported.

[ericem]

{quote}A 60 minute tape is 5 bucks and once it has been captured, just move it to a safe location and you have a backup. Much more painless than any other technology.{quote}

You're right on everything (except I'm not sure where you get $5 HD MiniDV tapes), but you're right about that convenient backups. Which is exactly what I want. The footage I take today with my HV20 will be preserved for years to come on MiniDV, but I willing to bet that I'll have to scour the ends of the earth or pay through the nose to find something or someone that can playback a MiniDV tape in 2020.

[gugy]

Can wait for my Red Scarlet.....
I know the price is more than few of these camcorders, but Scarlet will blow them all!

[bgillander]

Schneb said:

I'll stick with my HV20 until they decide to go with pure progressive scan capture.

Actually, the Canon site reads to me like they actually are finally recording 24P to tape, rather than the "24P written at 60i" of my HV20. The HV40 is very interesting, if this is true.