Cameras & Camcorders

[xl]

If you are successful at plugging the camera into your computer...

• check to see where the videos are loaded.  Could it be in your "My Videos" or "My Documents" folder on your computer?
• what happens if you look at all the folders on the camera with Windows Explorer? Can you find a "STREAM" folder?  Do you see any large files in there?  I think they are labled as MTS file extensions.

[greencanary]

Didn't find them. I did try to transfer again. It put them in a file, but they are divided into different files, not sure how to explain that. I open the file where they are and there is a list, not normal video files. when I click on the one that has a filmstrip on it, it takes me to windows live movie maker and it shows the frames, with caution triangles on them. This is what it tells me when I click on the triangle...

file may be corrupted or in a format that movie maker cannot read, and then it gives an error message 0xC9460001C

Please don't tell me that I am not going to be able to look at the videos on this computer. I was told that I could use this camera with the computer.

It's and HP Pavilion dv7 1135nr

[xl]

• what's the file extension of the files?  Is it MTF?  Is it MPG?  Some imports will convert the files.... I hate that.
• yes there are many files.  Files are broken up each time you hit pause or stop.  Also when it reaches 2gb, a new file is created
• windows movie maker is designed for SD files.... not HD.  You need to consider a proper video editor like Elements or Pinnacle Studio
• I'm not familar with that error message.
• Not sure if the Canon software will install the necessary codecs for playback.  When I installed Elements and Studio, the codecs came with it.
• Dual-core laptop with 4gb?  Should be able to handle it, but it will be slow.  The 250gb hard drive won't last.  You might be looking at external hard drives sooner than you think, as you work on more and more videos.

[greencanary]

Yes the extension on the file is MTF. The camera films in avchd, I think that was correct. I did find them in a file that said 'stream' where they were supposed to be, I'm guessing.

Yes the laptop it dual-core with 4gb. As for the editing software... which of the Elements is better? I have been reading reviews and people seem to have varying opinions on which one works best. When I get the software and put it on the computer, will I be able to open and veiw the videos? Will they automatically go to that place on the computer or will I have to direct them there or open them with that? How does it work.

[xl]

• I can't give promises, especially over the internet like this.  But it should work.  Then again, I found it works best on my quad-core machine.
• MTF is the raw files, I normally copy the files across with Windows File Explorer to a folder I want.  Yes, the software can offer to do it automatically.  But some products (the Canon software it came with?) will convert it something like MPG.  I hate it when it does this.
• Just get the latest version of Elements.  I think the latest version is 10.  You can get it by itself, or I prefer the bundle that includes Photoshop.

[greencanary]

I lied, they are .mts once on the computer. I downloaded a trial version of Premiere Elements 10, and I can see my videos! I downloaded them straight from the camera to there and I can view them. Altho, there is a line across the middle of the screen that says 'trial version of premiere elements'. I have Photoshop 7 (i think it is 7), but if I got the newest with both in the package, when I download to the computer, do I need to delete the earlier version of photoshop? Or will it just apply itself and replace it?

[xl]

• yes, it should be MTS..... typo on my part.  I like to work with the MTS files because they are the virgin file.  Again some products are known to convert and recompress the files to MPG.  I hate this because it often messes up the aspect ratio
• you should be able to answer your own questions about import now
• since you are into trial ware.... also try out Pinnacle Studio... the interface is very different, but I really like the keyboard shortcuts and speed (eg image stabilization)

[greencanary]

Thank you so much for your help. Hopefully I am on my way to being a video editing genious. Well at least learning how to do it. It's nice to know there are people out there to help with what I don't know. Thanks again. Have an awesome day

[greencanary]

I already have Photoshop 7,  along with the trial version of the premiere elements 10, now.  When I purchase premiere elements 10/photoshop 10 and download to my computer, will it automatically update/upgrade to the newer version or do I need to go in and delete the previous versions?

[xl]

I think it would. That's a question for Adobe.

I just walked into a store and purchased a box with disks inside.