alternative to AVCHD format for hi-def card based camcorders?

For HD video, I think you're going to be stuck with the AVCHD format. Yes, there are video cameras that beat the HF100 in performance (see this http://www.camcorderinfo.com/ratings.php) for specific models. The Panasonic HDC TM700 shoots gorgeous, super crisp full HD video at 60P (progressive, not 60i interlaced like most camcorders). It does pretty well in low light conditions, although the Sony CX550V is probably better. You think AVCHD loads into iMovie too slowly? Maybe that's a relative thing. I've been thinking of getting the TM700, and have been playing around with some 60P raw video I found over at this http://hdcam.web-pda.info/. I can import a 1m23sec clip into iMovie09 (with Optimize Video->Full Original Size checked) in about 3m16sec. I have an iMac 27in with a quad i7, and to me, considering the size of the video (260 Mb), and that it's 60P, I think that's not bad. (Note to potential TM700 buyers...iMovie can't read 60P AVCHD natively; read the description of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOqckhj1BnU for a workaround) Regarding your 3rd problem, iMovie09 also tells me to import at the 960x540 size, despite my machine. As for the 2nd problem of backing up...shrug. If I were to buy an HD camcorder, I probably wouldn't backup the raw video files. I would edit it down, and just backup the final result.

Is there any reason you wouldn't go with a non-AVCHD HD camcorder? If you like the Canon, hop over to the HV series (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001OI2Z4Q/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/ for example), which has (subjectively) better quality and records to MiniDV. As long as you have a firewire port on your computer, you can ingest the video to your computer without having to decode the sluggish AVCHD. If recording digitally to a hard drive or SD card, then yeah, you're probably stuck with AVCHD.

thank you all for answering my question. as an aside, i really need to look into my system of tracking responses here. i thought i had created an RSS feed but clearly that did not work and I was wondering why nobody replied. I will now on figure out a different way of tracking. @circular: i was thinking of avoiding AVCHD kind of decoding experience. ideally a format that Aperture can ingest and then I can import Aperture included videos into iMovie - on an as needed basis. therefore perhaps needed a different camcorder. @jaimev: your m/c is super powerful. my sep 09 macbook pro is not nearly as fast. and the entire AVCHD workflow is a chore. first import into imovie, then process. then publish. then archive the image using disk utility. @nitsuj: reason i avoided HV40 when I purchased this one was that HV series tend to be bulkier. process-wise they might just be much better. so i might even switch considering aVCHD is what i am stuck with if I record to flash media. still confused. still hoping that some time in the near future there can be a format that Aperture can import and the format be of high quality... any ideas on what the next worse video quality option is to import into iPhoto / Aperture, will be highly appreciated. thanks!