I have the camera connection kit and when I hook up my Sony video camera through the usb cable, the videos show up but the thumbnails are all gray. When I try to import them to the iPad, they will import but cannot be opened and the thumbnails stay gray.
iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi + Cellular (VZ)
What's the exact model? (Newer Sony cameras almost exclusively create MTS files, which shouldn't even show up when using the CCK, this is why I'm asking.)
Alternatively, what's the file extension of these videos? MOV / MP4 / M4V, AVI or MTS?
The model is a Sony handy cam DCR-SX85. I am not sure the file extension. I took some still pics with the camera and immediately plugged the camera to the iPad and the still came across. The videos are all gray and cant be opened.
It's an SD camera with MPEG-2 output video (specs: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/sony-handycam-dcr-sx85/4507-6500_7-34 486277.html?tag=subnav ). As the iPad can't decode the latter, there is no way you'll be able to import these files directly, via CCK. You will need to convert (reencode) it to H.264 MOV files on a desktop computer.
Sorry.
A google search found your Video Camera records in .MPG-2, which is not a supported video format on iPad. From the iPad Specifications:
AirPlay Mirroring to Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) at 720p
AirPlay video streaming to Apple TV (3rd generation) at up to 1080p and Apple TV (2nd generation) at up to 720p
Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p with Apple Digital AV Adapter or Apple VGA Adapter (adapters sold separately)
Video out support at 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable (cable sold separately)
Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
So, you would need to use a video converter, like Handbrake on your computer, to convert them to a supported format, then sync them to your iPad via iTunes.
Yup, but I did provide additional info (e.g., links to roundups of reviews why HandBrake is the best so that the OP doesn't end up purchasing some commercial but still inferior converter) and also clarified some of the other questions that weren't answered. (For example, I've emphsized it's indeed H.264 the format that must be used, inside the default mp4 container Handbrake uses by default; that the iOS version of iMovie doesn't at all read MPEG-2 etc.)
What's the best format to convert the videos to?
h.264 would be my choice......
Is there an app that would convert them. On the box for the camera it says it works with iMovie
I don't believe iMovie converts videos. I suggested earlier you use Handbrake, which I know will convert to H.264
Here's a link: http://handbrake.fr/downloads.php
HandBrake is by far the best - MUCH better than most commercial reencoders (see http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/87/benchmark-excellent-multimedia-converter-handb rake-vs-commercial-apps ).
Probably on the desktop (OS X), but definitely not on iOS. On the latter, it can't read non-H.264 content. (And you can't in any way synchronize MPEG-2 content to your iPad without converting it.)
Maclaine wrote:
What's the best format to convert the videos to?
MP4 (with H.264 inside) - the default output format of HandBrake. It can be directly synchronized to the iPad.
Are you just not noticing that I've already provided the same answers above yours?
No need to be rude. Everyone is being helpful and I appreciate it, thanks
Connecting video camera to iPad
