July 13, 2006

Questions about software and hardware

Building on the earlier post about switching to the Mac platform, I have some questions (from the Dear One, mainly) about media options. What is/are the best way/s to transfer video onto the machine? I'm talking VHS (the wedding video, of course), as well as stuff from the camera (which is @6 years old and records on smaller tapes, but tape nonetheless).

Also, we're in the market for a digital camera: basically for family stuff as well as the blog. I'd like one with a powerful battery and sharp ability to focus in, as well as go wide (the one we used to have until it got boosted was deficient in both regards). Does it make sense to get something that combines stills and full video?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

(The Dear One came around to the efficacy of getting a digital camera by the fine folks at Masondixonknitting. The Dear One is a big knitter and needlepointer [like blue ribbon best in show at the county fair type craftee) and she's a huge fan of Ann and Kay's shenanigans. If she does indeed start blogging, it's going to be because of Ann and Kay rather than yours truly.

You know, I always thought the craftee thing was harmlessly wholesome: if you scroll down to the bottom of this post, though, doubts are disturbingly raised...)

Posted by Steve-O at July 13, 2006 07:01 PM | TrackBack
Comments

The only advice I can offer is ask Lileks - he seem to be doing this sort of thing all the time!

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at July 13, 2006 08:27 PM

Not sure if this isn't overkill for you, but I use a Formac Studio TVR ( http://www.formac.com/ ). It allows me to take audio from any analog source, be it records or tapes, and import it into the Mac. Same with analog video and video with audio: Just record them onto the Mac's HD (I actually got a seperate FireWire HD just for this purpose). Then, it has a TV tuner built in, so you can record television as well. It works so well having cable piped into my computer that I don't even own a TV anymore.

Posted by: Hucbald at July 13, 2006 08:50 PM

For converting VHS there's this. Should work with the camera, too I'd imagine.

Posted by: Matt Navarre at July 14, 2006 12:25 AM

I have an ElGato EyeTV 250 for converting non-digital motion video to digital. Not enough experience with it yet to strongly recommend it, but a friend also has one, is transferring VHS tapes, and says it works well. It should work for the old school video camera too.

Posted by: Any A. Mouse at July 14, 2006 08:17 AM

On the camera front, don't bother with hybrids unless you are not particularly concerned about quality. Most digital cameras now will do video, but the resolution is of the 320X240 variety (quite small). But the new cameras are really compact and convenient and that is all I care about. Video cameras now will also take stills, but the same problem, not as good a resolution as a real camera and the cameras are much bigger. I have a little Casio Exilim which has all the bells and whistles of the Canon or Sony but is about $75 cheaper. The feature I think is most important is the size of the LCD screen in back.

Posted by: LB Buddy at July 14, 2006 09:45 AM