Best consumer HD video camera for Final Cut Express

Hi Guys,

I bought a JVC HD30 3 months ago and then bought a new Macbook Pro 2 weeks ago. The .TOD files are not compatible with Final Cut Pro and although there is a mechanism for converting the files, it looks tedious and I am worried about losing quality.

So, I am going to try and return the camera and get a new video camera.

Can I ask for advice on getting a good hard disk high def camcorder that will work immediately with my mac and final cut. I can spend up to £500.

Many Thanks

Tom Mcguire

I don't know off, off hand, any hd camcorder that records in a format that is natively editable by FCE. Personally, I'd just suggest getting an AVCHD camcorder and use the log and transfer function to convert the AVCHD footage to Apple Intermediate Codec. There are quite a few AVCHD camcorders out there with a lot of really nice features.

You could get an HDV camcorder, but that will require tapes to lug around instead of either an HDD or SD camcorder (plus I don't know if all hdv camcorders are compatible with FCE).

IMHO stay away from camcorders that use their own special format, like the JVC as it will add extra steps of annoyance to the editing process.

I use footage from a Canon HF100 (HD camcorder that records on SDHC cards) and although it takes a little time for FCE to do the conversion through log and transfer - it's all done for me instead of having to use extra software to convert the footage.

Most consumer HD cameras seem to be using AVCHD. My understanding is that currently Final Cut Express and iMovie convert that to Apple Intermediate Codec. I'm not sure what FCP does. Given this, I'd look into your conversion options with your camera. I see via the JVC page that there is a 1440CBR mode that is output via the firewire cable as HDV. Current versions of Final Cut can edit HDV natively.

Have you installed the JVC software and worked out the conversion process. With such a bandwidth for the FHD video, I suspect you won't notice much if any loss in the quality. The reality is that it will be there though.

Have you watched the video regarding import. It talks about using QuickTime Pro to convert the FHD videos. You have QuickTime Pro since you have Final Cut Pro. Instead of converting to AIC, you could see if another codec such as Prores gives better results. Since you are new to Mac, I'm assuming you have FCP 6.

I think it is Panasonic who has or is releasing a camera that records to a QuickTime file that Final Cut Pro can read. It is a professional camera and is way more than £500.

FCP needs .mov files, as it runs off of the QuickTime engine. Use Compressor or QT Pro Player (you have both when you install FCP) to convert that stuff to AIC or Pro Res (Pro Res is preferred). Apple has a compatibility list on their FCP web page. You may also want to check out forums that are more FCP knowledgeable such as
2-POP
S. LA. FCP Users Group Network - Support for Final Cut Studio Users in South Louisiana
But you need to have .mov files to work inside FCP, and you want Pro Res (not Pro Res HQ).

BenB: The OP specifically stated Final Cut Express - which means no compressor and no Pro Res. An AVCHD camcorder can have its footage ingested into Final Cut Express (or FCP for that matter) through the use of the Log and Transfer function - no need to transcode through something else before ingesting into the editing software. Since the OP is looking to get rid of his JVC, the best thing for him is to find a camera that can be ingested directly through the camera capture capability or log and transfer.

Actually the OP stated FCE in the title and FCP in the body of the question. Now I know why I was confused when first responding to this request.

Hmm, seems your right xstep - I misread the final cut pro in the body of the message.

Regardless tho - fcp is able to directly ingest footage from an AVCHD camcorder without having to convert first to mov... I'd still suggest going with an AVCHD camcorder over JVCs custom format based camcorders so the op can just log and transfer instead of having to go thru a separate program (compressor) to convert the clips to then import into fcp... I'm just one of those that prefers to save launching external apps when it's not needed