Canon HF100 - Getting The Videos Onto My Mac

[Alscott]

I got the Canon VIXIA HF100 camera today and I am very impressed with it, but I am having a hell of a time getting the files onto my Mac Book Pro.

I downloaded all their software onto my computer, but it dose not make a difference. I took a video on my SDHC card, and tried connecting the camera to my Mac Book Pro via the USB port, but nothing showed up on my apple. I tried bringing up iMovie, but nothing work.

Then I took out the SDHC card, and put it into a card reader, and I finally got something to show up. The problem is, I get a whole bunch of folders with weird titles and I can't find the video.

NO NAME > PRIVATE > AVCHD > AVCHDTN, BDMV, CANON.

I looked inside all the folders, and I got were weird files like .BDM, .CPI, .ILP, and others. My mother also had this problem when she got her camera. But her camera came with a Firewire cord, and that worked, but as far as I know, they don't have Firewire for the HF100.

How do I get it to work? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks.

 

[NRose8989]

How do I get it to work? Am I doing something wrong?
.

You are doing everything wrong, and i'd suggest reading the manual.

First, never, ever install anything that comes with a camera (or camcorder) because 9 times out of 10 it is CRAP. You don't need it to use your camera.

Second, When you try to plug your camera into your computer, you need to rotate the mode dial to movie playback, and be sure to have the power plugged into a outlet or else it won't work.

Third, Don't mess with the file structure, there is nothing in there that you need to be messing with. Just insert your SD card into a card reader or connect your camcorder to your computer. Once it mounts as a drive, open up iMovie. It should automatically open up your importer controls.

Here's a link to apple's website detailing everything: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#imovie-oneplace-15

 

[Alscott]

The video you pointed me to talks about how to do it for a Firewire, my camcorder dose not have Firewire.

I got my camcorder connected via USB, and now I got a picture I took, but the video is not there. When I connected it, iMovie did not show up. Nothing did except the icon for it "NO NAME".

My version of iMovie is 6.0.3 (iLife 07). I have set it to the correct mode. (The one that shows and plays all the videos on the SDHC card). And the manual dose not help too much because it mainly talks about Microsoft Windows, unless I missed something.

Thanks.

 

[nutmac]

iMovie 6.0.3 does not support AVCHD. Use iMovie '08 (7.1.4) or Final Cut Express.

 

[NRose8989]

The video explains everything you need, I know your camcorder doesn't have firewire because I have a HF-10 and the video above just shows a fire wire cable but specifically says "connect your camcorder to your computer using the cable that came with you camcorder".

iMovie will not automatically open up when you connect your camcorder. once you connect your camcorder to your computer using the USB cable OR connect your SD card via card reader. THEN open up iMovie and the importer (within iMovie) should automatically open.

Your camcorder does not records video in a format that is playable directly from the camera. It is recorded in .MTS files which need to be transcoded using iMovie's importer. As for the pictures, you should be able to connect your camcorder (OR SD card) to your computer then open iPhoto and import them into your iPhoto library. You also can dig into the file structure and manually get the pictures off because they are recorded as JPEGs. But don't mess with the file structure because it's how iMovie (and every other NLE) distinguishes that it's AVCHD.

Here's a test to do, Connect your camcorder to your computer, Once it mounts as a drive (on the desktop), open up iMovie. Does iMovie open up the window in import your video (like in the video link above)?

Also is all of your software updated? Click "" in the top left of your screen, then "software update"


EDIT: Are you using iMovie 08'? or iMovie HD? I don't use iMovie so i don't know what the current version is but if your using iMovie HD, then hate to break the news but it's not going to work, without some third party work around, like Voltaic. Using a piece of software like this will transcode your AVCHD file (.MTS) to Quicktime format which you then can use in iMovie HD.

Judging that your using iMovie 6.x.x and browsing through apple.com and seeing that the latest versions are iMovie 7.x.x, I'm going to have to say that your version of iMovie does not support AVCHD.

 

[Alscott]

That must be the reason why, I have iMovie HD. Nothing shows up when I start the app. If I upgrade to the newest version of iLife, will this solve the problem?

But if that was the problem, why didn't the software that came with the camcorder recognize it?

Thank you.

 

[robcochranlaw]

hd video asset management software question

I have a canon hf10, with similar questions to this thread starter.

I only have imovie 6 presently, so apparently I need to buy some more recent software to download and manage my hd video (which, by the way, is purely for personal purposes-- videos of the children, etc.).

Would I be better off buying imovie 08, or final cut express? There is not much of a price difference.

I do not particularly need the extra editing functions of a more full featured program. Ease of use and ease of asset management are my main goals in life.

I have heard rumors of limits on the CODECS of imovie08. Once I store my precious video of my children, I do value flexibility of use many years later. In other words, I would prefer to store the video in some format that will not likely become obsolete in the near future. Does Final Cut Express give me more insurance or flexibility in this area? Or, is there a better way to go?

Thanks.

 

[NRose8989]

I have a canon hf10, with similar questions to this thread starter.

I only have imovie 6 presently, so apparently I need to buy some more recent software to download and manage my hd video (which, by the way, is purely for personal purposes-- videos of the children, etc.).

Would I be better off buying imovie 08, or final cut express? There is not much of a price difference.

I do not particularly need the extra editing functions of a more full featured program. Ease of use and ease of asset management are my main goals in life.

I have heard rumors of limits on the CODECS of imovie08. Once I store my precious video of my children, I do value flexibility of use many years later. In other words, I would prefer to store the video in some format that will not likely become obsolete in the near future. Does Final Cut Express give me more insurance or flexibility in this area? Or, is there a better way to go?

Thanks.

For you, I would recommend just getting iLife 08' which has the version of iMovie you need to edit AVCHD. FCE 4 (or Final Cut in general) has a very steep learning curve, which once you understand, can be just as easy if not easier to use than iMovie. If you don't feel like spending a lot of time learning a editor or don't need that amount of control, then i'd just get iLife. As for archiving your video, Read this thread

 

[robcochranlaw]

Thanks

Thanks for your reply to my question. I will refer to the thread. thanks again.