How easy is it to convert to a DVD? For someone who is not computer savy, how easy is it create a DVD from the SD card used in the Canon Vixia HF-100?
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It turns out that it is pretty easy to convert AVCHD to DVD with the included software that Canon provides. Your PC will chug along for the conversion to finish. But the steps you take are quick: 1) Load the .m2ts file onto your PC. This can be done by connecting the camera to your pc, or by getting the hp driver so your PC can read SDHC cards, and moving the files to a folder on your pc. 2) Add the new AVCHD movie to the library using the included software. This is done automatically if you used the camera to put the file onto your PC. 3) Optional- Edit the AVCHD file to add title and remove boring stuff. Saving the edited file takes about 2 hours. 4) This is the step that not many people know about- take the AVCHD movie in the library and add it to the DVD list. Click 'Write'. The AVCHD will be written to standard DVD. Again, the write process takes about 2 hours. It is all done within the ImageMixer3 software Canon supplies. Done! The DVD quality is pretty good. I gave my review before I figured out secret step #4.
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I'm in the same boat --- have lot's of 8Hi camcorder tapes I would like to convert to DVD --- will this machine do this function?
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Hello K. Thomas,I have had the Canon FS10 for 2 months now and have just 'finally' been able to edit a movie successfully after much research and trial and error. However, it was very painful due to the .mod format. The camera itself is very nice, small, and simple. Unfortunately, even after converting the files to .mpg, all of the Microsoft editing and DVD burning software, using Vista, continue to give me errors. I do not want to trash the technology as I may be unknowledgable, however, it's not for the casual editor. I am returning the camera today and looking for one that is more compatible with my software. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Hello K. Thomas,I have had the Canon FS10 for 2 months now and have just 'finally' been able to edit a movie successfully after much research and trial and error. However, it was very painful due to the .mod format. The camera itself is very nice, small, and simple. Unfortunately, even after converting the files to .mpg, all of the Microsoft editing and DVD burning software, using Vista, continue to give me errors. I do not want to trash the technology as I may be unknowledgable, however, it's not for the casual editor. I am returning the camera today and looking for one that is more... » Read More Hello K. Thomas,I have had the Canon FS10 for 2 months now and have just 'finally' been able to edit a movie successfully after much research and trial and error. However, it was very painful due to the .mod format. The camera itself is very nice, small, and simple. Unfortunately, even after converting the files to .mpg, all of the Microsoft editing and DVD burning software, using Vista, continue to give me errors. I do not want to trash the technology as I may be unknowledgable, however, it's not for the casual editor. I am returning the camera today and looking for one that is more compatible with my software. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. « Show Less
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Thanks Mark. I have since noticed that the owner's manual for what I think is a predecessor camera (Sony HDR-HC1) is available on amazon. It says that that camera can transfer images recorded in HD to a camcorder or other firewire compatible device that records in SD and convert the images to SD. Assuming that's true for this HD3 as well, then even if my computer and TV are not up to HD editing, I could convert the images using my existing camcorder and edit the SD version, while preserving the HD originals for the day my computer and TV can handle them. I have a son who's growing up fast and I'm eager to start capturing images in HD. Any idea whether a 1080p camera is around the corner? Thanks Mark. I have since noticed that the owner's manual for what I think is a predecessor camera (Sony HDR-HC1) is available on amazon. It says that that camera can transfer images recorded in HD to a camcorder or other firewire compatible device that records in SD and convert the images to SD. Assuming that's true for this HD3 as well, then even if my computer and TV are not up to HD editing, I could convert the images using my existing camcorder and edit the SD version, while preserving the HD originals for the day my computer and TV can handle them. I have a son who's growing up fast... » Read More Thanks Mark. I have since noticed that the owner's manual for what I think is a predecessor camera (Sony HDR-HC1) is available on amazon. It says that that camera can transfer images recorded in HD to a camcorder or other firewire compatible device that records in SD and convert the images to SD. Assuming that's true for this HD3 as well, then even if my computer and TV are not up to HD editing, I could convert the images using my existing camcorder and edit the SD version, while preserving the HD originals for the day my computer and TV can handle them. I have a son who's growing up fast and I'm eager to start capturing images in HD. Any idea whether a 1080p camera is around the corner? « Show Less
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You would have to convert the video to an appropriate format to be written to a standard DVD. They won't "play" if simply burned to a DVD. There are many freeware applications out there that should be able to do this.
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Thanks. Do you know where I can find information about how to save the DVD to the HD?
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Excellent review. My questions are: 1. After you made your 17 Gb movie did you burn it into iDVD? If so, how did you fit that size movie into a 4.7 GB DVD?ThanksSony DCR-SR100 novice mac user (G5 imac)
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For pictures, I use Verbatim CD-R discs without any fuss. They transfer directly from my Canon camera without any drama. I'm sure you'll get a more complete better answer from a more knowledgeable computer user
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You pretty much can't. DVD-based recordings are in a completely different format than what you can use in iMovie. In order to translate the video into DV, you have to download a Quicktime update, an MPEG translator, and a semi-legal DVD ripping software program....I just returned my camera and got a Canon miniDV camera, and I'm very happy.... The sony was nice though.
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I don't know if you'll ever see this reply but it's worth getting the word out anyway. I recently purchased the new Small Wonder combo kit from TigerDirect.com. RCA has put out this DVD burner/Small Wonder camera combo package that is PERFECT for what you are asking about. The camera docks right onto the DVD burner, which connects to a t.v., and the videos will transfer directly into the DVD burner! It's so cool and easy. Plus, the DVD burner acts a stand-alone DVD player AND it will take inputs from other transmission sources (video camera, t.v. tuner, etc). This is a great product and a great value!Thrilled Small Wonder User I don't know if you'll ever see this reply but it's worth getting the word out anyway. I recently purchased the new Small Wonder combo kit from TigerDirect.com. RCA has put out this DVD burner/Small Wonder camera combo package that is PERFECT for what you are asking about. The camera docks right onto the DVD burner, which connects to a t.v., and the videos will transfer directly into the DVD burner! It's so cool and easy. Plus, the DVD burner acts a stand-alone DVD player AND it will take inputs from other transmission sources (video camera, t.v. tuner, etc). This is a great product and a... » Read More I don't know if you'll ever see this reply but it's worth getting the word out anyway. I recently purchased the new Small Wonder combo kit from TigerDirect.com. RCA has put out this DVD burner/Small Wonder camera combo package that is PERFECT for what you are asking about. The camera docks right onto the DVD burner, which connects to a t.v., and the videos will transfer directly into the DVD burner! It's so cool and easy. Plus, the DVD burner acts a stand-alone DVD player AND it will take inputs from other transmission sources (video camera, t.v. tuner, etc). This is a great product and a great value!Thrilled Small Wonder User « Show Less
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I have writer 2.0 and started using it up to the point where I was going to burn the disc...It accepts dvd-r and dvd-r dl. Dvd-r dl is not exactly easy to find as I use dvd+r dl. I hope that it will make transfering the avchd files quickly. I have already succesfully copied the avchd files in windows explorer to a blank dvd+r and played them back in PS3. I wanted something that could create menus which is why I was trying hd writer. update: I have used this with -r and it works quickly, creates an avchd disc that plays automatically in ps3 with menus and chapters.
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There is a lot of advice on burning to regular DVD-R in the discussion "How to put small clips together". I have a Vista dual core 3GB system and use the Pixela Image Mixer SE software included in the camcorder package. It is not very sophisticated but I find it pretty stable and it does an adequate job of making both regular DVD-R's and AVCHD movies on DVD-R. To just join AVCHD clips together with no editing it is quite fast and I believe it does "smart-rendering" ? Otherwise, the computer may take a few hours to process. Viewing directly on an SD TV is no problem. You just hook up the supplied red/yellow/white AV cables to your TV and put the other end in the back of the camcorder. Best to power it from the power cable though. You will need to come up with a plan to archive your AVCHD video for future use for when you get your HDTV. Otherwise your video may be "gone from the flashcard". When you get your HDTV you might want to think about getting a PS3 or Blu-Ray Player to play your alternate AVCHD DVD-R disks. You can use the supplied HD component video and audio cables to hook up the camcorder to the HDTV, but long-term a Blu-Ray Player is probably a better option. If you want a miniHDMI-HDMI hookup you will have to buy the cable as it is not supplied with the HF100. Currently, a 16GB SDHC card (2 hours FXP AVCHD) costs about $50. It takes 4 standard DVD-R's to store 2 hours of AVCHD at a cost of about $2. Also, how long can you expect the video to last on the flash card ? I have hard drive backups of the raw .mts files, DVD-R backups of the .mts files and DVD-R's of edited AVCHD movies. Oh, and I have edited standard DVD-R's in both NTSC and PAL(for my family in the UK, available from the "settings" tab).....
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I missed the DVD part of the question. It is definitely possible and easy to burn onto a DVD with software. Your imac should've come with iDVD. There are lots of tutorials on youtube and it's easy to learn.
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I don't know guys, I still haven't figured it out. Reading thru other posts here is making me think I'm going to return this thing. I really thought I'd like it, but if I can't string together my video clips to burn to DVD, WHAT is the point? It doesn't seem you can ask this question at the Vado official site either w/out first entering all the numbers off the box it came in. What a pain, I don't carry the box around w/ me. They also do not have an 800# that I can find on the site to call. Frustrating! I wonder how many customers they are losing?
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Thank you Frolian. I've been trying to burn a DVD for a couple hours, and I didn't know until you shared. I have DVD+R DVDs. You're my hero!!
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Couple questions:-Did the smaller files you converted play on the Latte?-What software are you using to do the conversions?-I know bluray movies come with digital versions, but I've not heard of this on DVD's. I have no idea if they copy-protected it from being reconverted somehow, wouldn't make any sense, but then again, most of the stuff they do doesn't make sense. It sounds like it's probably copy-protection, but I can't say for sure. Is the picture scrambled on the computer, before loading it onto the Latte?
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That is correct, you first put the pictures on a memory card from this machine and then transfer to you computer. From there you can transfer to a DVD. It worked great and the pictures came out perfect.