Chapter 1. The Digital Camcorder

My copy of iMovie sat neglected on my hard drive for months because I had no easy way to import video footage. Sure, I could have used an analog-to-digital converter to bring in the contents of some old videotapes I had lying around (see Chapter 7), but it would have been a hassle. What I needed was a digital camcorder.

Digital camcorders weren't much more than proof-of-concept devices only a few years ago, but the rapid advance of technology has made them plentiful today. Although digital camcorders cost more than analog models, you can still get a good quality one these days for less than $800. You can also easily spend $5,000 or more, with plenty of models falling between those ranges.

For the money, you also get a host of features and gimmicks. If you've not yet purchased a digital camcorder (and I highly recommend you get one to use with iMovie), this chapter will help you decide which combination of features is right for you. Note that I'll give some examples, but won't be recommending any particular model because (like all technology) the field can change pretty quickly. If you already own a camcorder, give this chapter a quick skim to see which features are important and which you should leave turned off.



iMovie 3 for MAC OS X. Visual QuickStart Guide
iMovie 3 for Mac OS X (Visual QuickStart Guide)
ISBN: 0321193970
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 125
Authors: Jeff Carlson

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