Which Camcorders (if any) Allow For Importing Video Files Directly To Mac?

I've been having trouble finding the answer to this question and I've already tried a Canon camcorder but returned it because it only came with Windows software for importing video to a computer and I really don't want to install another program to convert video files just so I can view and use them on my Mac.

So... does anyone know which camcorders come with software or produce standard video files that can be read by a Mac? From what I'm seeing this is actually a problem that isn't being addressed by Apple of the makers of the camcorders.

Is there a solution? I really don't want a DSLR or point and shoot just for video.

Oh yes, I just need a simple camcorder. Nothing extensive and it doesn't have to have amazing optics or extremely high resolution. it just needs to shoot clean video and produce files I can then use on my Mac.

Suggestions?

any camera that doesn't shoot to tape will be fine.

Chippy569 wrote in post #12659820
any camera that doesn't shoot to tape will be fine.

Not true. That's why I posted the question.

The Canon Camcorder I got and all the others I'm seeing come with a Windows disk with some form of software to import and/or manipulate the files.

Without a Mac version of that software, none of the files can be read or imported using any of the Apple applications or Lightroom.

After doing even more research and some searching on the net, it seems this is a huge and common problem.

I used to have a camcorder that used DV tapes and those do work fine. It's the older tape camcorders that had no problem. The newer flash and hard drive camcorders present the problem.

you can get osx versions of the software off canon's site through the support pages. No idea what model you had, but for example: http://www.usa.canon.c​om …/fs200#DriversA​ndSoftware

also, not sure what model you had, but any of the flash-based HD cams shoot to H.264-compressed mp4. If you don't have the plugins for quicktime to play that (I'd recommend downloading Perian, a free set of a bunch of formats for qt), you can use MPEG Streamclip (free) to convert to H.264-compressed .mov.

Chippy569 wrote in post #12659897
you can get osx versions of the software off canon's site through the support pages. No idea what model you had, but for example: http://www.usa.canon.c​om …/fs200#DriversA​ndSoftware

Been there. You didn't dig deep enough. The software that is available for the Mac is Imagebrowser and Camera Window, both used for still photos, not video. The camcorders come with a program called Pixela and it's only for Windows. There is no Mac version.

I've been down this road and that's what leads me here. If you search for this problem or situation you'll find that this is a big problem. Some are working around it by using a third party video format converter but without that, I'm not seeing camcorders with software for direct import to Mac.

Do you just want to view the files, or convert them to something like Prores to edit them?

I want the files to be in one of the usable and popular formats for use in iMovie or another video editing program.

Just so it's understood... I'm not a film maker or a video guy. I'm going to be making behind the scenes videos of photo shoots and demo videos for use on YouTube or within web pages and blogs. I just want to take the clips I shoot and do a little trimming, basic transitions, adding text and a music track. Basic stuff.

OK, now we understand.

Usually, the native Canon format in not at all what you want to be editing in (same with Sony).

So you convert the files into a format that you can edit. I use FCP so I convert my video files into Prores.

And before everyone attacks Mac, in Windows the Canon .mov files do not natively play either.

Most PC people download the VLC player to even be able to view the clips.

I was surprised to find out that this was common and wondered why Canon provided Windows disks but not an OSX disk.

Do you know if there are camcorders that offer the software or that record the files in a format that is not proprietary and be read and used?

Does Final Cut read those camcorder formats or do the files still need to be converted?

TMR Design wrote in post #12660115
Canon provided Windows disks but not an OSX disk.

canon doesn't make the software, they contract it to a separate software developer.

Mac's market share is only 15%.

Camera manufacturers want a file format that is super compact and easy for its internal processor to create.

People who edit video understand that there is an intermediate step to convert that easy for a tiny processor to create file (.mov H.264) into something that can be edited to sub frame accuracy (Prores). We call this "workflow".

Canon makes a plug in for FCP that is a free download.

vid1900 wrote in post #12660238
Mac's market share is only 15%.

Camera manufacturers want a file format that is super compact and easy for its internal processor to create.

People who edit video understand that there is an intermediate step to convert that easy for a tiny processor to create file (.mov H.264) into something that can be edited to sub frame accuracy (Prores). We call this "workflow".

Canon makes a plug in for FCP that is a free download.

If you install the plugin in Final Cut, you can import directly to FC?

vid1900 wrote in post #12660238
Mac's market share is only 15%.

I know but I though that the makers or video camcorders would be doing what they're doing with point and shoot and DSLR's. I can't think of one manufacturer or model still camera that doesn't come with software for both platforms. I thought it would be the same for video but apparently not.