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General discussion

PANASONIC PV-GS250 for Mac user?

Jan 17, 2006 2:38AM PST

I am a Apple G4 PowerBook user with OS 10.4.4 and am considering purchasing the Panasonic PV-GS250. I know that the included software from Panasonic is not compatible with Macs.

How important is it for the software to be compatible? Will I use iMovie as the default movie editor anyway?

Discussion is locked

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Don't use software
Jan 17, 2006 5:10AM PST

Do NOT install the software that came with your camera. It is a great camera that will work with the iLife suite of programs perfectly. No glitches, no hitches, just easy and fun. All you need to do is to buy what is called a Firewire cable that has 4-pin on the camera side and 6-pin on the camera side. With power off, plug your camera into the Firewire port on your computer, then start iMovie. Once it launches power-up your camera and you will automatically see the import screen. Use the iMovie on-screen controls to control your camera without the need to press any buttons on your camera. The iLife programs are geared for the home-user. If and when you outgrow iLife, you can graduate to higher-end separate programs like Final Cut Express for editing and DVD Studio Pro for DVD burning. I can almost guarantee that you won't outgrow iLife. You will be smiling every second because all of the iLife programs see eachother when you work in one. In iMovie, you can easily add music, sound efx, chapters, titles, transitions, etc. to your movie, then with one click, go to iDVD for burnng your disc. Soon you will be able to do all of this blind folded.

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One more thing...
Jan 17, 2006 5:44AM PST

You didn't say if your Powerbook had a Combo Drive or a Super Drive. If you have the first, you can burn a CD and watch a DVD, but you need the second to burn a DVD. You can buy external DVD burners, but I recommend using Toast to burn to external burners. It does a better job of recognizing them.

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Thanks
Jan 17, 2006 11:23PM PST

Perfect. Appreciate the advice, and I'm going to get it ASAP. I do have a DVD burner, so I won't need to use an external burner. I figured iLife would work with the camera, but wanted to check with somebody who's been using it with this camera. Thanks again.

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PANASONIC PV-GS250 for Mac user?
Mar 14, 2013 4:27AM PDT

Thank you! Your instructions were fantastic, and you've saved my sanity!!