HDC-TM700's 1080p60p compatible yet?

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HDC-TM700's 1080p60p compatible yet?

Hey everyone,

I am about 2 days away from making my camcorder purchase(for my honeymoon) and have been researching both the Canon HF S200 & Panasonic HDC-TM700k for about a week now.
When it comes to camcorders, I prefer to stick with Canon. BUT from what I've seen, I think the Panasonic is an overall better camera. That being said...

I have read that Panasonic uses their own proprietary format when using it on the highest quality setting( 1080p at 60p )and that it is not recognized by virtually any editing software(on the mac).

I have read these forums including the AVS forum. Turns out there are several workarounds using other software for conversion(ex Toast), but I'm looking for the simplest of methods as I will be importing a tremendous amount of footage to be put onto Blu-ray(hopefully in the near future). I really don't want a "speed bump" in the way and would prefer to have a more "integrated" experience.

I've check Apple's support page for camcorders and it does list it as compatible other than an OIS issue having to do with their 3mos sensor when combining it with iMovie's Stabilization feature.
I've called them about this and they mentioned that they don't know how "thorough" they were when testing the camera. It was most likely tested using a lower setting(which utilize AVCHD) and not the 1080p60p.

My question are:

- Have there been any recent iMovie or Final Cut updates that have added compatibility for this format?(.mts I believe from what I have read)

- Has there been any word or does anyone think there will be any support for this in the near future?

- Should I just go with the Canon and save some money on Advil?

- Do you, like me, think that Apple is spending WAY too much time flooding the market with new products instead of updating and supporting those they already have(hehe, sorry...had to put that one out there)? It seems like you see more & more prolonged reaccuring issues being mentioned here time after time with no solutions.

Any recommendations?

Thanks! 😉

27" I7 Quad-core iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Jun 9, 2010 10:08 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 9, 2010 2:27 PM in response to AndreNeves

First, two points: Apple does not make that camera, so I'm not sure what you mean by supporting the products that they already put out. Second, about 90% of the "recurring issues" on these forums are user misunderstandings. I like to address the "Isn't 1920x1080 1080p?" and "why do my DVD photos look worse than my HD camera" questions. Sure there are unaddressed issues, but the great majority of them are the same user errors over and over.

About the camera, it is unlikely that you will see support for 1080p60 any time soon. There is a very good reason for that: what would you do with it? You can't put it on Blu-ray, and 1080i60 is just as good in most circumstances if handled properly. You won't find it on broadcasts until we have another major revision of the broadcast industry. So there are certainly reasons to use it, but it is not going to be mainstream any time soon.

You can use conventional mpeg transport streams (both mpeg and H.264 in a mts container) if converted with something like ClipWrap.

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Answer 2

Jun 9, 2010 3:01 PM in response to AndreNeves

I have the SD700 (PAL version) and iMovie works fine with it, if you convert the clips first. If you want to retain the high framerate (50fps in my case) you have to edit the iMovie PLIST (an easy, and easily reversible hack.)

iMovie does not perform as smoothly with the high framerate clips but provided you've got a reasonably recent Mac, it's not terrible.

As Jeremy says, it's pretty doubtful that the 60fps/50fps framerate will be officially supported in iMovie or Final Cut Express any time soon, as he explained.

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Answer 3

lhowd

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Jun 21, 2010 11:03 AM in response to Jeremy Hansen

I have purchased the Panasonic HDC-TM700 and have final cut express 4. I am having a horrible time trying to log and transfer my video. An error message keeps appearing on my clips and the program locks up and shuts down. I do not know what to do! I am very new to the camera and this program. How do I upload my clips into FCE?

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Answer 4

Jun 23, 2010 10:49 AM in response to Jeremy Hansen

Hi,
I think - Jeremy's wrong!

ad 1) Apple? Apple can create ixMovie 3000 which would be 1000times faster than iMovie09, but until it won't be compatible with others, i doubt that anyone will use it. - hope this example is clear(if not - BOTH have to cooperate!!! HW & SW vendors).

ad2) I really doubt, that after 2 or 5 years will our kids still small like now, or that you wanna spend same vacation somewhere again. So, will you re-sample all of yours videos? Look at mpeg1 now, look at these great movies around 320x240. Try to play them at 40" plasma screen - aren't they nice? Now tell me, is really 50/60p nonsense?
I don't think so...

So i wannna also iM10 or update iM09 where is 50/60p properly working without any special workaorund.
Thanks.

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Answer 5

Dr. Wig

Level 1

6 points

Jul 9, 2010 9:27 PM in response to AndreNeves

Yeah Jeremy, I think it was clear in the post "updating and supporting the products they have". Are you the only one who thought that referred to a camera or were you being acidic? Could you have been missing that FCE, iMovie etc. were the targets of the comment? I too think that Apple should move to support a camera that is arguably cutting edge in the high-end consumer market. This is what Apple strives to be and they seem to be not as interested in commanding the photo/movie -media markets. I want 1080P. Like another poster commented most of the movies will be viewed years later and that format will not likely be such a stretch. I would rather shoot at the capability of the camera and I don't really care if anyone thinks interlaced programming is going to be broadcast by HBO for the next 5 years.

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Answer 6

Aug 7, 2010 7:40 PM in response to Jeremy Hansen

I've had my Panasonic HDC-TM700 for about 4 months (since early April). The camera produces fantastic video footage in 60p mode - which I can only enjoy by playing directly from the camcorder to my HDTV. I mean the video at 60p knocks your socks off! I've read many forums and have tried several options on my Macbook, and my iMac to allow playing the 60p video and nothing works. Neither computer can play the 60p video directly. My best solution has been to copy the mts files off the camcorder and then convert them in handbrake. This reduces the quality quite a bit from the original 60p footage - making it more like run of the mill HD footage. Not bad, but nothing like what can play directly off the camera.

To avoid this hassle, I've shot important footage in 60i mode. iMovie '09 can import and edit the 60i, however quality degrade at every step. I'm hopeful Apple will eventually solve this problem, but for now, PC's have my Mac beat hands down. It pains me greatly to say that, as I am a dyed-in-the-wool Mac lover.

The next issue is iMovie '09 is not yet updated to YouTube's current file acceptance of 1920 x 1080 video and 2 GB file size. Apple is stuck in last year's 720 mode. Video posted to YouTube from iMovie is degraded even more than YouTube would do on it's own. I've even tried exporting my 60i footage from iMovie to Quicktime to allow uploading via YouTube's website. However the iMovie export still degrades the video considerably.

Apple, please read these forums!

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Answer 7

kibum

Level 1

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Oct 28, 2010 6:03 PM in response to AndreNeves

The biggest good news is that the TM700 can shoot 1080/60P. But the bad news is that it is nearly impossible to currently edit this format directly.The TM700 AVCHD 1080 60P mode with the bitrate (28Mbps) is higher than the AVCHD spec allows (17 Mbps for main profile, 24Mbps for high profile). All Apple's software is strictly holding to the spec. So it is normal that you can not open, play even edit your TM700 1080/60p Files on Mac except Apple adds the support for it in their apps.I have the same problem with you.I found this article through Google search engine.Hope can help you.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%61%75%6E%73%6F%66%74-convertpanasonic_hdc-tm700_1080_60p_28mbps_hd_videos_onmac/&btnI

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Answer 8

J Ryan

Level 1

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Nov 9, 2010 5:57 PM in response to kibum

Has anyone out there tried this converter? Does it degrade quality?

If one were to take the TM700 1080/60p footage and convert to something Apple can support (say 1080/24p or 60i) would the footage be just as good as what you see when playing the footage in 60p from the camera on your TV?

Seems odd that Pany would make a groundbreaking consumer-camera, but with only one way to play the best quality video unedited, and only from the camera.

If BRD can only take 1080/24p, sounds like you have to convert anyway, and I am wondering how much that will change the quality bringing into question the practicality of making this purchase in the first place.

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Answer 9

J Ryan

Level 1

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Nov 29, 2010 6:55 PM in response to J Ryan

Bump...anyone discovered anything lately? It seems Aunsoft is all over the net as the only alternative, but I have heard it degrades the quality of 60p shot with the TM700.

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