Which 2013 new semi-compact digital cameras are compatable with my old but reliable MAC OSX 10.4.11?

Q.

A. While the software included with the camera may not have a Mac version, you generally never need it anyway. Most advanced photographers do not use the included camera software, but simply transfer photos from camera to computer by removing the memory card from the camera and inserting it into a computer (PC or Mac).

In the end, this is easier, and it alleviates the need to install any software on your computer from the camera maker - which can be temperamental.

To do this, you may need to buy an inexpensive memory card reader - but most modern PCs and Macs already have SD card readers built into them.

Macs will read the various versions of the formatting used in the typical camera (FAT). The only restriction is you should never delete a photo in a Mac nor should you format the memory card in a Mac.

Formatting is a no-no as natively, the Mac will not format in FAT, but use the Mac file system - which no camera can use. Formatting the card in the camera formats it in FAT, which the Mac can read. You can actually format the memory card in a Mac, but you have to use advanced commands to do it right. You need to format in both FAT and usually use a 32kb file allocation block, which can only be done with a unix command. It is far easier for most people to just format the card in the camera.

If you delete files off the memory card using a Mac, the files are not deleted but just hidden. Therefore even though you cannot see the files, you will not be able to recover the memory space on the card.

If you delete photos using a Mac - you must also empty the trash bin to recover the memory space on the memory card.

If you delete the photos in the camera, you don't have to be concerned with this.

If you use a camera that produces RAW files, you may need to find a codec that will properly handle them, or use a 3rd party software such as Adobe Lightroom. But JPGs should work fine. This is an issue with PCs as well.

Otherwise you should have no issues.

Original Question

What is a good camera?

Q. I am sick of getting these digital cameras that eat batteries and take fuzzy pictures and then just stop working. My third one just won't turn on any more. Once I take it back, I want to find a new one. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking for around the $100 mark but I'll appreciate any ideas you have.

A. Canon PowerShot A2500 is an excellent camera. This camcorder comes with 2.7-inch TFT color LCD . It also has 16megapixel and ½.3 inch ccd sensor. It can also hold up to 64gb sd card. This camera shoots awesome videos with a 720p HD and have been one of the top recommended in 2013 so far. It would be perfect for your youtube videos. It is sold at amazon for $85 which i think is a decent price for such quality. I have provided links below for you.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5HE2UG/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00B5HE2UG&linkCode=as2&tag=laptop058-20


check out this video that the camcorder took below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2ZTJPm2Fd8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz71kfXPapA

Original Question

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Best filming camera to film movies?

Q. Hi! In 2015, some school mates and I are planning to shoot a remake of The Breakfast Club. It will be the 30 year anniversary and we are excited to start. Anyways, I am looking for a great filming camera for movies. I know it'll be pricey but I seem to get 0 help when I just google it. I also want to know how to make the footage have an 80s feel, quality wise. I will be using the camera that any of you suggest for a number of years and films to come, and I would also appreciate if you have any movie editing software? Thank you!

A. I am guessing you are looking to use some digital camera to film. If you are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a professional movie camera, please ignore rest of my answer.

Most of us know that most compact cameras, or smart-phones like iPhones, are not good at video recording. If light is good, they do an okay job. When light is dull, they are almost unusable. Same is true for most consumer SLR cameras with kit lenses. So what do we do to take high quality High-Definition videos? Should we use an HD camcoder or a pocket camcorder like Sony Bloggie or UltraHD?

Most compact cameras don't do a good job in low light- for still images or for videos. If you zoom in, the shake becomes too obvious. Most DSLRs will do a little better as light level goes down but many of them will not auto focus during videos (because of the mirror which needs to be flipped for focusing). You can bypass this with a mirrorless camera which can auto focus, like Panasonic G or GF series but with Auto focus, you lose the control over which part of the frame, or on which person to focus on. If you have 3 persons in a frame, your Auto-Focus will not know which one you want to focus on. Why not? Silly, it is Auto-focus! It focuses by itself!! That is the reason you never see a professional movie or videos done with Autofocus.

Now read an article here which can give you nice tips:
http://photography-with-any-camera.blogspot.com/2013/03/video-recording-with-dslr-is-it-worth-it.html

Original Question

How long before this camera is considered obsolete?

Q. My son is a high school senior. Next year he wants to go to community college and live at home (at least that is reasonably affordable) instead of going away to school. He wants to take an expensive major however. Video production. We have been able to save about $5,000 towards his education. We are not wealthy people. The rest will have to come from loans and maybe a grant or scholarship.
We are looking at some "entry level" pro cameras in the $1500-1800 range. That's about 1/3 of our savings for his education.
Models include these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518555-REG/Sony_HVRHD1000U_HVR_HD1000U_Digital_High_Definition.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/745707-REG/Sony_HXR_MC2000U_HXR_MC2000U_Shoulder_Mount_AVCHD.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/878341-REG/Panasonic_hmc40kit_AG_HMC40_AVCCAM_HD_Camcorder.html
and
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749467-REG/Canon_4922B002_XA10_HD_Professional_Camcorder.html

My concern is he starts September 2013 so these products may not even be available by then or others will be available. We hope he graduates May 2015. He tells us when he graduates he will maybe find a freelance job or shoot local cable news, build up some experience, maybe after 2 years go for a B.A. at least part time.
Is anything we buy him in 2013 (summer) going to be any use to him as a working professional in 2015 (summer)? So let's say you are a class of 2012 graduate with an AAS in video production. The camera you purchased in the summer of 2010 when you first started, do you still use it professionally? Can you make anything doing freelance news videos, PR videos or local account commercials with this equipment?
We're going to do everything we can to help him. No doubt he will still be living at home in the summer of 2015. By then he's going to have a student loan to pay off. We have a 2005 Hyundai Accent that we are going to give him for college. I hope that thing still runs when it is 10 years old and he isn't making car payments on top of that. The thing has 120,000 miles on it but runs really well. I just fear when he graduates he's going to be in deep debt and have limited employment. I may be wrong. What do you think? Thanks.

A. Hi "Upwardly Mobile":

Fellow Contributor "L" covered most of the bases quite well, but the only point he didn't underscore is that MOST good video & film production programs at community colleges HAVE the cameras, lights, mikes, tripods, and other gear that the students will learn on & use.

When I went to a local (but nationally prominent) university with a Broadcast/Film Dept., portable video was still fairly new, but all the film cameras, tripods, & light kits were supplied by the Department for students to "check out" as-needed for class projects.

And most video production students start out with Studio Production techniques (where it's easier for groups to learn 3-point lighting, camera setup & tripod/dolly operation, shot composition, audio techniques & mixing, etc.). No need for portable field gear there.

For field production & Electronic News Gathering, a good college will have a fair number of camcorders for students to use & check out (if needed for outside-of-class projects).

The same is true for Editing Software & computer workstations. Some college programs might be economizing and making students supply their own laptops for this, but all the major software companies offer Academic Editions of their normally-expensive edit suites at discounted prices. And of course, nowadays, apps like iMovie (Mac) and Movie Maker (PC) come "free" as part of the operating system and can accomplish what older (and expensive) software used to do, as far as basic editing.

As "L" mentioned, do a bit of "homework" yourself by contacting the community college's department head & instructors for your son's chosen major. Tour the facilities (studio and edit suites) and ask about the "equipment room" for student project gear. See what textbooks (a major expense) are required, and whether computer/laptop & software expense will be part of what's expected of your son. Only if there's little-or-no camcorder gear (or no hands-on studio cameras) would I recommend buying anything like the models from B+H that you listed.

Almost every cable TV & freelance video job I've had over the past 30 years has "supplied" (rented or company-owned) the cameras & grip gear I needed. I bring my own gear only when it's a "favor" or when what I have is better-suited to the task, or they want a "director with gear". My point being, your son doesn't need to own =any= camera gear to make a living freelancing. A good camera operator can stay busy in almost any part of the country, with just his/her skills. (Same for sound mixers & boom/wireless mike operators.)

hope this helps, and hope it saves you some money,
--Dennis C.
 

Original Question

Powered by Yahoo! Answers