Sony HDR-SR5: Can't import video from camera

Hi. On my Sony SR-1 i do what you do. However, on the camera itself I go to the menue that tells the camera to send info from the camera to the computer via usb. Are you putting the camera in the Camera to computer mode. It will not do it automatically. Hope this helps.

Hi,

I have the Sony HDR-SR8 and initially had the same problem. I found that the more video is stored on the Sony Camera the longer it takes. With 30 GB of ACHVD video footage it takes upto 30 minuts. Maybe you just have to wait a bit longer. On the Sony LCD screen its stated all the time that it is connecting.

I used the one with the disk.
I started Imovie since it doesn't launch the application by itself.
Then import from camera, although I don't think it is needed since it automattically comes up with the "little tumbnails".

Has anyone had any success importing movies shot in HD on the Sony SR8e and then importing them into iMovie 08? I can see the files there, but they are all greyed out as if they are not compatible. I've imported them on a seperate PC running windows successfully, transfered the files onto memory stick and put them onto my Mac desktop, however iMovie rejects them if you try and drag them in.

Everythings upto date, can anyone help?

Thanks, Neil

Hi There

Glad to see I'm not the only one pulling my hair out. I thought iLife 8 was supposed to support AVCHD and HD import. I checked the apple website before buying my Sony HDR SR7E as it claims to be compatible. However I can only import Standard def. clips. It recognises High Def clips but as soon as I try to import them iLife just shouts down!!??

Anyone got any suggestions? Pleeeeeezz.
Cheers
Steve

It recognises High Def clips but as soon as I try to import them iLife just shouts down!!??

Can you describe what the mean by "shuts down" here? Also, how many GBs do you currently have stored on the camera. And lastly, can you tell us how long you left iMovie '08 running before you "quit" the application?

Have noted that if I open iMovie '08 while I have a DVD image file open on my desktop that I get a quick modal message stating that a video camera was detected and iMovie '08 is importing the files. Of course I don't really have a camera connected, but the "beach ball" begins spinning anyway and I can't do anything for the next 15-20 minutes. Not really sure about the exact time here, but the application appears to be loading the 4-7 GBs of data on the currently opened image. In any case, when the "pseudo-import" finishes, a progress window then opens telling me that iMovie is now generating thumbnails and I am again "locked up" for another 10 minutes or so. Finally, when the application thinks it is done, what I assume to be a "new" Events window opens with any number of graphic thumbnails and a few image "blanks" which I assume to be BUP and IFO files not containing video data. So much for a wasted half hour or more.

In any event, was wondering if this was something like what you were seeing. Since I understand your camera can hold 60 GBs of video data, I assumed it might take hours for iMovie '08 to "download" any really substantial amount of data and you may not have waited long enough for the process to be completed.

IT WORKED - HDR-SR5. I have been frustrated with this for weeks until I read this post. Keys are:
1. plug the USB into the Mac
2. Turn camera on
3. Hit Computer disc on the camera LCD
4. See the NO NAME icon in the Finder
5. Start iMovie '08
6. Boom. it automagically read the camera and asked me to import

Hi all, over the moon that I to have found I am not alone...very disappointed in Apple as I to had used their website to confirm the capability of the HDR-SR7E with my new MacBook Pro.

My question to you all is does it take you forever to upload content?

When I preform the same process on my Vista PC it steams content at high speed vs. mac which sees 3 min of film taking approx 8mins.

I would appreciate any feedback.

Cheers

So many similar stories, and some success stories. However, I'm still struggling. I have the HDR-SR5, and it will only recognize SD quality and not the HD. I've followed several of the instructions, and it is still not recognizing the camera in imovie. My mac sees the 'no name' but has trouble seeing the avchd.

StrayDingo

When you use your Vi$ta PC, do you use the sony software supplied with the camera, if so you are merely copying the AVCHD files to your HD unlike in im08 where you are converting it AIC so that it can be edited which is something you can't do by simply copying the AVCHD files.

Austinchu

What happens if you remove the SD files from the camera, can you then see and import the AVCHD.

no, that's the thing, I removed the sd files, and it doesnt recognize the HD files....it almost wants to work, but fails to do so. thanks. any other suggestions?

I too am have the same as stated above