Problems with importing .MTS files onto Mac with HDR-PJ10E camcorder

[baz201]

I imported these video clips (as featured in the youtube link below) from a SONY HDR-PJ10E Camera onto a Mac using iMovie '08 (7.1.4) on Mac OSX 10.5.8. They import as .MOV files, from .MTS files

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXZPPt6oRXg

As you will notice there is a kind of flash in the sky as the intensity  of the light changes as I am panning up the statue just as/after the  women walk past. This is not there when I play the footage on the screen  inbuilt into the PJ10E camera. It must be an iMovie importing problem.

Also, with the following beach scene, you'll notice how very overly blue the waves scene is at the beginning, but then the colour balances out correctly when it pans up over onto the beach. Again, this extreme blueness is not there when you play the footage on the PJ10E's inbuilt screen, or if you project it using the camcorder.

What is the problem with iMovie? Is there a way around this problem. I find it highly annoying I spent so much money for a good quality camera and then get a second rate product because of the Mac software.

Hmmm, just tried playing the original .MTS files on the Mac with VLC Player and i get the same problems described above, whereas when I play the clips with my camcorder into the television via external cable, the colour and light problems are not there.... Something is not right with importing files onto the Mac it would seem. It's a shame Sony only really supported this camera with Windows based software....

I'm attaching the original .MTS files below, maybe they will play without light & colour issues on someone's windows based PC

Any ideas anyone?

thanks, Barry

Message was edited by: baz201

Message was edited by: baz201

Message was edited by: blaireau_photo

[blaireau_photo]

Hello baz201 - welcome to the Sony Forums

First of all, I downloaded your two video clips and had they played back without the issues described in your thread. Therefore, it is probably safe to assume that there is a 'Mac factor' in play here.

I had a look at some discussion on the official Apple support forums, and it would appear that a user has successfully converted a .mts to .mov using a free piece of Mac software called Remux. It is available here:

http://www.nef.wh.uni-dortmund.de/~mt/remux/

There are other paid options mentioned that give more features than just a simple convertor, the full thread is available here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2692697?start=0&tstart=0

Although there isn't a specific mention of your problems here, it may be a good idea to try this first of all to see if this improves the playback on your Mac computer.

Thanks,

Simon

[baz201]

Thank you so much Simon for all your efforts and time and research with this problem. I'll follow your suggestions and links.

Yes, I suspected it was probably a Mac issue. I may have to upgrade my system or iMovie software I expect.

warm wishes from sunny Sydney Down Under

Barry

[baz201]

Hi Simon,

I tried converting the MTS files with Remux, but got exactly the same bad result as with iMovie. It must be that version of Mac OSX (which is a few yearsold) that doesn't read the files properly.

Barry