Importing MTS Files from Canon HF100

Have you tried plugging in your camera to USB (or just put your SD card in a card reader). Then open iMovie, and wait for the import screen to come up. You should not have to use FILE/IMPORT at all.

Also, if you have a mix of SD and HD on the same SDHC card, first import the SD and erase those clips. Then the HD clips should show up on the import screen.

I recommend you make an archival copy before erasing your card.

Could you explain that process in more detail? I am having trouble figuring out how to import video from the hf100.

Thanks!

Plug the power cable into the camera and wall.
Turn on camera.
Turn selector dial to video playback (2nd position from right).
Plug the USB cable into the camera and Mac.
Select "PC/Printer" on the camera if asked.
Open iMovie (if it doesn't automatically).
Click: "File" then "Import from camera" (if it doesn't open automatically).
Select the videos you would like to import or just click "Import All".
Edit your videos 🙂

This is assuming you've installed all the updates through Software Update.

I followed the same steps but when the I click "import from camera" and the window opens it defaults to isight and my HF100 doesn't show in the drop down (it is showing up on the desktop as "canon") .. Any thoughts?

It seems like you shouldn't have to convert the files in case there is any loss in quality or file info. If you've only saved the .mts files to your hard drive you might try re-loading them onto the camera using the software that came with the HF100 (i forget was this is called and whether it even works on a Mac - i used a PC). The file structure will be reestablished and then the mac should be able to read it, whether the camera is plugged into the computer via usb, or if you plug the SD card into the usb port.

I haven't tried the whole sequence described above but I've used a variation of it to put movies back on the camera, and also to convert the file structure back onto an SD card that was read by iMovie and a Playstation 3.

In the future remember to download the entire file structure from the SD card if you want to save to a hard drive.

I'm about to install Final Cut Express 4 and work with my HF100 videos so I guess I'll find out soon enough how easily the HF100 files are imported with that.

Is there a process to import the movies directly from the PC or does it need to come from the SD card or camera? I have copied over the MTS files to my external harddrive, but now I don't know how to get to it from iMovie.