03-25-2012, 07:19 PM

Hey all -

I currently have a sony camcorder, one that records to a small disc and is not compatible with the new iMac that I just bought. So therefore I will be soon purchasing a new camcorder to go along with the new computer. I was wondering what you all would recommend. I do not want to break the bank, so it would be somewhere in the $400 range. I also would like to make sure that it is compatible with the iMac. Any suggestions out there? Any and all responses are appreciated.

Thanks,
Hwilensky

03-26-2012, 12:18 AM

<mini-rant>

I really wish all these video camera makers would collaborate on ONE standard for AVCHD (or whatever!) and use it universally. All these nearly proprietary versions and iterations are just punishing the consumer and making video editing software more complex. </rant>

Anyway, to answer your question, nearly any non-minidisk video camera should be fine, though you MAY need to convert the video files to something iMovie likes first. I'd stay away from Sony for this very reason.

If the camera says it records in MP4 you should be good to go. A lot of companies will put a Mac symbol on the box somewhere to ensure compatibility, and Apple maintains a list here.