I am considering buying a Flip video camera since we are having our first kid in a few weeks. I'm a Mac user and have read about some compatability issues with software.
Any recommendations as to which camera? Would like to keep it under $200.
Any suggestions or feedback on the supposed software issues?
I'm no computer whiz so ease of use is important. Thanks!
I've got a Flip HD with a wide angle lens that I use for in-car. I really like it. Can't comment on Mac software, but the PC stuff is smooth as silk to use. Couldn't be easier.
I have a nice Canon all-digital HD camera that I paid ~$350 IIRC for about 2 years ago on a smoking hot Dell deal. It only comes out for school concerts so that I can use the zoom. The rest of the time I use my iPhone4's built in HD video camera. It takes surprisingly good video. The best camera is the one you have with you and use.
My phone handles all my video camera duties and other than not having a flash, I love it. It's a Samsung Galaxy S and provided you're ready for a new contract, I've seen em go for around 100 bucks for new customers.
If you want a good stand alone HD camera this is in the same line as the one I have, works well (spotted on Techbargains.com):
Canon VIXIA HF R10 8GB Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder $304.95 Free Shipping, Oct. 8 10 AM Canon+VIXIA+HF+R10+4387B001
Buydig.com has the Canon VIXIA HF R10 8GB Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder for $304.95 Free Shipping after Coupon Code: BDREWARDS10 (Exp 10/31). Tax in NJ.
records up to 3 hours of 1920x1080 video to 8GB internal flash drive or directly to removable SD memory cards; 8oz; 2.39MP CMOS sensor; 20X optical zoom; 2.7" LCD
we've been dealing with Imovie and it's incompatibility with mpeg2 vid format...
ended up having to change the format to get it to work with the mac... but it works just fine with the MS "junk" that comes on my win7 box... :)
for mac, try to find a point and shoot that does wvga (16:9) mjpeg. my inexpensive panasonic p&s does the trick (close out for under a $100). easy to edit in imovie, quicktime pro, etc. and what's nice about mjpeg, you can use quicktime pro to expand the movie as a set of jpegs to get a nice still as well. you can do the same with achvid (h.264) from a flip, but doesn't look as good due to interlacing of frames.
I've been using a Sanyo VPC-CG20 for a few months now and really, really like it. $150 bucks on Amazon, shoots 1080i full HD in mpeg-4/h.264. Plays really nicely with my Mac.
My only complaints- 1) I really wish it had an external microphone input. 2) I wish the wide angle setting were a bit wider. I end up backing away from things that I want to shoot close up. There's plenty of zoom to get a close up, but I want a bit more of the wide-angle stuff.
Keith wrote:I've got a Flip HD with a wide angle lens that I use for in-car. I really like it. Can't comment on Mac software, but the PC stuff is smooth as silk to use. Couldn't be easier.
I assume the wideangle version is for shooting the drivers compartment. I also assume the camera is inside the car, not outside in the weather? Is it usefull for shooting through the windshield at the track ahead?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPWTZ9XnLEE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DWz23GlxN4
The wide angle lens simply screws on, so I can use it with the unmodified lens when I want. I also picked up a telephoto adapter, works fairly well for autocross sideline shots. The Flip has a certain amount of digital zooming built in, but it's not enough for in-car use. I think the cost of the wide angle setup was around $5.
With and without the wide angle adapter:
I have shot with the camera mounted above the windshield, in "the weather". I don't have any video from that, as the last time I tried I managed to catch a bug dead center in the lens 
Wind noise is a problem in that situation and the Flip won't take an external mike.
