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Panasonic HDC-SD9 and iMovie 08 - summary of current issues

There are a few posts here, but I thought I'd summarise my experiences so far (I have a PAL model):

The camera is detected fine by iMovie 08 and everything was recorded at HA1920 (the highest quality).

1. 1080/25p with 5.1 sound - imports to iMovie but video plays back at the wrong speed
2. 1080i with 5.1 sound - import attempts crash iMovie
3. 1080/25p with 2.0 sound - imports to iMovie but video plays back at the wrong speed
4. 1080i with 2.0 sound - import attempts crash iMovie

I would have thought scenario 4 would be effectively the same as a HDC-SD5 (supported by iMovie 08) but clearly there are some issues here to iron out.

For now, I'm using Voltaic to convert to MOV files but lose the 5.1 sound (although I can workflow it back in again).

I'm still extremely pleased with the camera!

CD MacBook, 24" C2D iMac, CD Mac Mini, DP G4 Powermac, AppleTV, iPhone, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Feb 25, 2008 2:42 AM

112 replies

Mar 22, 2008 12:40 PM in response to Robin Staffin

Did they say why it doesn't work?

It's doubly bad news as I got a note back from Panasonic today saying it's up to Apple to fix the problem....

Mar 22, 2008 4:24 PM in response to Michael Butler2

Just that it was incompatible. They would say nothing about future upgrade plans. It's ironic that when the iLife '08 video came out, Apple chose a previous version of the Panasonic as their poster child for AVCHD.

jchuston

Level 1

4 points

Mar 22, 2008 6:10 PM in response to Robin Staffin

Well, this is definitely bad news. I am new to the whole Apple/Mac side of things, and so far, we (my wife and I) love our new Mac. I love iMovie, and this kinda stinks. I guess my options are to buy Voltaic or something, but part of my justification in buying this iMac was the inclusion of all of this great software. Hopefully Apple will be on this soon...that would make me very happy.

Does anyone have any other options? Is that any stand-alone software that would work, or is the voltaic conversion to .mov files the best bet? Does voltaic preserve the HD and the 5.1 surround?

Thanks in advance...

Message was edited by: jchuston

Message was edited by: jchuston

lmm0411

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2008 8:36 PM in response to Robin Staffin

Apple:

Please review your support for this impressive Panasonic camera. I have used final Cut Pro for my Panasonic DVX100A/B for years. I am breaking into HD and need to have Apple support the AVCHD @1080p for the HDC-SD9 in either iMovie 08 or Final Cut Pro/Express.

Mar 23, 2008 12:14 AM in response to lmm0411

Make sure you post that comment here as well:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/imovie.html

geoban

Level 1

0 points

Mar 23, 2008 3:45 PM in response to Robin Staffin

This is ridiculous - the only reason I was turned onto this series of cameras is because Steve Jobs demoed the iMac using the first version of the camera. When I went to go purchase a new one, of course I am buying the latest model.

I'm a huge Apple supporter - but this is unacceptable, what happened to, "it just works."

Mar 24, 2008 5:13 AM in response to Michael Butler2

Cheers,

Similar problems with three different Panasonics (two different MiniDV models (including NV-GS320) and a SD-card mode (HDC-SD5).

iMovie '08 crashes when importing video content from each camera after a few minutes, previous iMovie version does not and imports without any problems.

This may sound stupid but one possible reason could be the" way of importing and automatic processing" the video content of iMovie '08 itself:

When iMovie '08 imports the material from the camera it directly starts simultaneously building/processing the previews in the viewer which is a big calculating process for the computer. So while importing iMovie '08 is "falling over its own feet" by using too many resources for processing/ building previews. The result is a ripping of the data stream (sorry for that expression, but I hope you do understand what I mean). Over all it causes a crash of iMovie '08 when the data stream is ripping of.
In the previous iMove version there where no extra preview-videos available. It just used the original raw videomaterial as previews.
I found a similar problem in the new Aperture2 too:
Aperture2 imports fotos and simultaneously creates the preview pics. But that causes a very slow import speed. The preveous Aperture 1.5 was much faster in importing. It started builduing previews only when the import process was finished or if there was enough power left to build previews at the same time. Nonetheless Aperture2 is faster than 1.5 if you do not look at the import precess.

In my opinion Apple needs to think about a better import strategy:
1. import
2. build previews when import process is finished
3. start creating a fantastic video

Hope that is helpfull. try to import videos with the previous iMovie and import the content on your harddrive into iMovie '08. It is an extra step but it worked on my mac.

By the way: My system is always up to date, I of course use firewire 400 with digital cameras.

klikhere

Level 1

1 points

Mar 24, 2008 5:54 AM in response to Michael Butler2

SD9 problem solved - I returned it!

Anyone know anything about the new Canon Vixia HF100, its getting better reviews but what about compatibility? Canon's normally work well with Apple, right?

Any other alternatives? I need a small camera and soon!

Thanks
G

Mar 24, 2008 6:08 AM in response to klikhere

I would suggest you pick a camera off the iMovie supported list.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014

Mar 25, 2008 7:33 AM in response to Michael Butler2

Returned mine yesterday and took the 15% restocking hit. Thanks apple.

Mar 25, 2008 12:02 PM in response to Michael Butler2

Love the camera. I'm new to Apple so I was shocked to find my first foray into using a peripheral with my computer littered with problems. Isn't this why I moved to Apple? OK I know to be fair the HDC-SD9 is a new piece of technology so alas I'm going to stick it out and wait for the fix.

My question is on the SD cards. I've recorded video onto a couple 4GB SDHC cards. I can read them fine in my USB reader. Do I just copy the root directories over to my hard drive, making a subfolder for each SD card? If not how should I move them? I'd like to free up my SD cards in case I'm waiting a while for the fix.

Thanks!

Thanks

Mar 25, 2008 12:47 PM in response to Walman339

I suspect the most effective way (but possibly the one that takes up the most space) is to create a DMG disk image of each card. You can use Disk Utility (under Applications/Utilities) for this. Open Disk Utility, select the SD card volume (in may case simply called SD Card) and slick on the New Image button. Just type and filename and click Save.

When you double-click on the DMG image, it will mount like the SD Card and iMovie will detect this as a 'camera'. You can also use this image to re-create the original SD card.

Mar 25, 2008 8:18 PM in response to jchuston

Hi Jchuston,
I found the video messed up and jerky after burning the MTS files and playing back on my PS3. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Kevin

justflie

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2008 11:59 PM in response to Michael Butler2

Does anyone have any updates from Apple or Panasonic about this mess? I would really like to use my freakin $700 camera any time this month...

Mar 26, 2008 12:16 AM in response to Jammer005

Copy it to the internal HD or use a USB memory stick. I found reading from my DVD-Rs to be jerky. Once you copy to the internal HD you also get video thumbnails which is handy to sort through videos quickly.

Panasonic HDC-SD9 and iMovie 08 - summary of current issues