AVCHD Lite Support in iMovie 09 - Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

I've got the same issue. The imports seem to be "fast-forwarded". Any help would be welcome! Thx.

same here 39sec video is imported as 20sec video

Same problem here in iMovie '08. Video in clips play way too fast, although the audio is correct.

At least I found a way to play back the movie files on my Mac. The free VLC program handles AVCHD, although it does not recognize the .MTS extension: [http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090519052402AABrVSL]

+To associate the AVCHD Lite (MTS extension) in the future so that VLC will always play (...) Select the file, Get Info, choose Other to select which application to open with, choose application (navigate to where VLC located and will be unavailable - to make it available, drop-down where it reads Recommended Applications and choose All Applications). Select VLC program (with the cone icon), choose, and then make default and confirm (changing to the terminal exec icon). Double-click on the file and enjoy watching AVCHD Lite!+

I put an alias to the PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM folder in the root of my card for easier access to the MTS files ...

This may or may not help you, but I have read that the ZS3 records at 30fps but it outputs at 60fps through frame doubling. I am not sure exactly how it does this but I believe it is a flag.

I have also read that iMovie does not read the flags correctly to frame double the clip which is why your 39 second clip is outputting at double the speed and completing in 20 seconds.

I also read that it is possible to get iMovie to correct this, but I can not remember the precise steps. You may google for it. Basically it goes like this. You import the movie using iMovie and save it. Then close iMovie. Then you select the movie and (and this is the bit I do not remember) somehow modify a frame rate setting to correct it from 30fps to 60fps. Then open iMovie again and apparently it plays correctly.

Sorry I could not be more help, but god luck with google and hopefully I have given you a few pointers to follow up on.

I just googled this more. You will need to edit the plist for the movie to change the fps to 60.

Alternatively and easier for the long term is to upgrade to iMovie 09 (8.0.3 or later) which fixes this issue and imports these AVCHD Lite movies correctly.

I am using iMovie'09 and a Panasonic AG-HMC150P shooting 720P at 30fps and still have this same problem. I would shoot in 24 fps like I did in iMovie'08, but '09 does not support it.
I have not tried the plist edit workaround yet, and am looking into it further.

I upgraded to iLife 09 only to find the same issue exists as well. Is there any further word when or if this will be addressed by Apple?

Any workarounds that work would be appreciated as well.

Thanks,

Mark