Rupert... I use a Xacti HD1A and the newest version of FCE, and have no problems whatsoever with the MP4 files. Just sayin...
David King davidleeking.com - blog http://davidleeking.com/etc - videoblog On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 4:10 PM, Rupert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Well... aha! Tying into the other thread about Macs versus PCs... > > If you're shooting on a Xacti (or any other camera or phone which > stores video as MP4 files on memory cards), then in my opinion you're > better off cutting on a PC with Sony Vegas. Vegas (which a lot > cheaper than FCP but just as good for 90% of jobs) will take your > files AS THEY ARE, with no importing or conversion necessary. This > can save HOURS. As you say, Neil, if you have three hours of > footage, then you need around three hours for conversion. WTF. All > because Apple can't make FCP work with MP4 properly. > > But that's not all. When you convert your MP4 files for use in FCP, > after you've waited all that time, you'll find that their image > quality may be impaired by the conversion from 640x480 to a .dv > file. Particularly a NTSC .dv file, which has a different ratio. > > Vegas cuts the files *as they are* - it will match the sequence > settings to the clip, not vice versa. For people shooting on Xactis > or little digital point-and-shoot cameras or mobile phones, Vegas is, > in my opinion, a much more user-friendly experience. Shoot, cut, save. > > I say this as a 8-9 year user of FCP and a life-long Mac user. Apple > have dropped the ball in the important area of non-DV cameras and > amateur video. And don't get me started on the new iMovie. > > Rupert > http://twittervlog.tv/ > > On 17-Jun-08, at 1:49 PM, Neil Katz wrote: > > Neil Katz here, a journalist. I have had very good experiences with > the Xacti CG65. Small, cheap, shoots well in low light, and is > stable on zoom, and files sizes are small. I did an entire video > story for the NY Times with that camera and even snuck a shot into a > report for CBS News on national TV. > > http://video.on.nytimes.com/? > fr_story=74e0011bd397f3fdad54e60c3b52612d009fa8bf > Judge image quality for yourself. And keep in mind the NYT site is > playing at about half resolution. > > I have purchased and returned every camera in the Xacti line except > the CG65. The others have better specs, but nothing has a better > picture. And it fits in your pocket, which means you will get the shot. > > Battery life is poor. Buy three batteries and a quick charger. Use > an online site to buy non Sanyo batteries. They run $20/each. > > The only negative is in order to edit you will have to convert the > native mp4 files into DV. Sanyo says you can edit with mp4 files and > technically you can import them into Final Cut Pro. But it doesn't > really work, trust me. > > That conversion process will take about 1 minute per minute of > footage. So if you shoot three hours, expect three hours of > conversion when you come home. > > As an aside, working in India, if you don't have Sony, you can't get > it fixed or spare parts, adapters, etc. > > N > > --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com <videoblogging%40yahoogroups.com>, > Rupert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > I agree. I've been using a Canon Ixus 860 (European name for > > Powershot, I think) and it shoots beautiful video. I love it. And > > it's FANTASTIC in low light. Better than Xacti. But not quite so > > good a grip. I think the Xacti pistol grip is the best way to shoot > > - better than the traditional camcorder grip. > > > > It produces big video files, though, compared to other little cameras > > I've used - so get yourself an 8GB memory card or two. I found the > > best deals for memory cards online - shops will rip you off. > > Rupert > > http://twittervlog.tv > > > > On 12-Jun-08, at 12:48 PM, Jay dedman wrote: > > > > > I'm heading to India for my honeymoon and the entire summer and > > plan to vlog > > > and do some > > > interviews from there. > > > I *do not* plan to bring my macbook. I just want to bring a > > firewire or usb > > > cable and upload > > > at cafes. > > > It needs to be small, light and easy to travel with and have > > decent sound. > > > > the canon powershot is actually a great choice. > > it has good sound, its small. > > > > It also records in AVI so a PC in an internet cafe will read them. > > Just use Windows Movie Maker that comes with XP. > > should be on most public computers. > > > > Jay > > > > -- > > http://jaydedman.com > > 917 371 6790 > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
