iPhoto does not import HD video/MTS files for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5.

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iPhoto does not import HD video/MTS files for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5.

Hello, everyone. I'm using iPhoto '11 on an iMac i7. I recently bought the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, which records HD video (AVCHD Lite). When I insert the memory card into my iMac, it recognizes and imports all photos. However, the videos are left on the memory card, and I cannot even view them in iPhoto. When looking directly in the memory card, I can see the videos (they are MTS files), but nothing will play them. Is there other software I must install to be able to view/edit these video files. I'd like to see them in iPhoto, and then edit them in iMovie like I was able to with my standard definition camera. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

iMac 27" i7, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Dec 28, 2010 10:45 AM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,840 points

Dec 28, 2010 11:37 AM in response to devzin98

You need to use iMovie for this material.

Regards

TD

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Answer 2

devzin98 Author

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Dec 28, 2010 12:12 PM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks for your response. So in short, there is absolutely no way to include videos in iPhotos anymore, and have iMovie auto-detect new videos from iPhoto like before? That's terrible. It was so convenient to be able to organize the vids with the photos under events. Ugh.

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

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165,840 points

Dec 29, 2010 2:12 AM in response to devzin98

So in short, there is absolutely no way to include videos in iPhotos anymore

No, iPhoto does support some video formats, just not AVCHD Lite.

Regards

TD

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Answer 4

devzin98 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 1, 2011 7:58 AM in response to Yer_Man

That's just surprising, considering how common and popular that format has become. I'm sure Apple will add it sometime in the future. I just wonder what's taking them so long.

Anyway, thanks a lot for the reply.

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Answer 5

Jan 5, 2011 11:21 AM in response to devzin98

I dont understand why this has been missed, but even more frustrating I cant import to Imovie
Can someone please help me ?!?!?!??!?!

Another importing question, how do i get the photo import to automatically delete after import ??

Many thanks for any help

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Answer 6

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,840 points

Jan 5, 2011 12:33 PM in response to Rockhopper 75

For questions about iMovie check the iMovie forum.

iPhoto will never automatically delete from a card - nor would you want it to. It isn't wise to delete from the card until you have verified that the transfer has worked correctly.

Reformatting with your camera is a whole lot faster too.

Regards

TD

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Answer 7

Feb 1, 2011 1:44 PM in response to Yer_Man

Sorry, iMovie doen't work for MTS. you need to convert it to MOV files. I bought Toast Titanium for this.

Or, get Adobe Premiere CS5 for a small fortune.

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Answer 8

Feb 2, 2011 8:42 AM in response to devzin98

You probably figured out by now that MTS doesn't work with iPhoto, iMovie 11, or Quicktime for that matter. You can convert to MOV using, e.g.,Toast Titnium.

But The Lumix LX5 also shoots in MJPEG. Set the dial on top to the Movie setting -- picture of a movie camera -- and then find MJPEG on the LED screen and set it there. It will then film in MJPEG.
I don't have an LX5 so I don't know if it stays MJPEG as the default after that.

P.S. MTS uses only 1/8th of the memory that MOV uses. 1MB MTS=8MB MOV. So I'm guessing that If Apple ever gets around to coming out with Final Cut 8, and its iMovie equivalent, it probably will recognize AVCHD / MTS. I got tired of waiting and got Adobe Premiere CS% but it is very expensive.

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Answer 9

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,840 points

Feb 2, 2011 9:15 AM in response to diehard amateur

iMovie will work with AVCHD, you need to ingest it from the Camera.

Regards

TD

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Answer 10

pman3003

Level 1

0 points

Feb 5, 2011 11:59 AM in response to devzin98

I have the same camera as you. You can import the files, but you have to convert them manually first, witch takes a couple of secounds.

1. Download and install the automator script from this blog and put it in your dock http://blog.sharkus.com/2010/04/avchd-lite-iphoto-importing.html
2. locate the folder /Private/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM on your memory card
3. Drag your desired videofile (e.g. 000001.mts) on the automator script you put in your dock in step 1.
4. whait (a couple of secounds, depending file size)
5. Drag your new videofile (e.g. 000001.mts.m4v) to iphoto
6. Finished

Do not try to convert more than two files a once, then the script doesn't work properly.

I hope apple will include support for mts-files very very soon!!

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Answer 11

coxorange

Level 2

151 points

Feb 16, 2011 7:09 AM in response to diehard amateur

Would I need Toast plus Blu Ray Add-on? Thanks!

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Answer 12

coxorange

Level 2

151 points

Feb 16, 2011 7:13 AM in response to coxorange

Forgot...
Can Toast convert MTS directly to MOV?
(Or only via File structure rebuild?)
Is it lossless conversion? (like ClipWrap does)

Thanks!

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Answer 13

Mar 29, 2011 9:23 AM in response to diehard amateur

Thanks Diehard.
Simple and effective solution.
Toast titanium worked in a flash
You rock

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Answer 14

Jun 3, 2011 6:36 PM in response to pman3003

I had the same issue but iphoto 2011 seems to be able to import the MTS files and convert them. However, as mentioned by Diehard, the files become much larger so it takes a ridiculous amount of memory! Is there any other way to transfer the files without having to convert them? I guess the solution would be to download an AVCHD reader for Mac? Anyone could recommend one? I have used VLC until now, but the interface is not great so if there was something better, it would really be good!

Thanks for any help you guys can provide.

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Answer 15

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,840 points

Jun 3, 2011 11:07 PM in response to nadimfromlondon

AVCHD is different from MOV and MPEG formats.

In video, it's common to think of "Production" and "Delivery" formats. These are broadly analogous to shooting Raw and shooting jpeg with stills. If you shoot in a production format - like AVCHD - you're shooting to edit. The format is designed to hold on to lots of data so that you have lots of material to work and edit with.

When you edit, you save to a Delivery format. These formats are very compressed, very lossy and use much smaller file sizes. They are perfectly good for viewing, but less useful for editing.

the files become much larger so it takes a ridiculous amount of memory!

That's Disk Space, of course, and not memory.

So, if you want to edit your AVCHD then you will welcome the fact that the files decompress to something with lots of data and very suitable for editing.

If you don't want that, then don't shoot in a Production format, use the other, delivery format, instead. Much smaller file sizes, fine if you're only doing light editing.

And if you're just viewing with no intention of editing, then don't shoot AVCHD at all.

Regards

TD

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