Panasonic D-300

Question

Level 1

4 points

Panasonic D-300

Just purchased a Panasonic D-300 camcorder... surprisingly, it doesn't have a firewire connection. The USB cable used with the software that came with the camcorder only saves to mpg format. We have iMovie 4.0.1 on an eMac G4 and it doesn't recognize mpg format and won't recognize the camera.

Does anyone know if there is a special firewire cable for this camcorder? There is no connection that we can find. Alternatively, is there a way to convert mpg files to iMovie av file format or something that iMovie will recognize?

Very frustrating that one of the best rated current camcorders on the market won't work with iMovie...or so it seems. Thanks for any responses.

eMac G4, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Nov 10, 2006 10:57 AM

Reply

Answer 1

SDIllini

Level 6

16,675 points

Nov 10, 2006 11:02 AM in response to dadspad2

Hi dadspad2:

Welcome to discussions!

You are trying to import DVD format into iMovie and that can't be done unless you convert the footage to DV.

Using Mpeg (DVD) footage
http://danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml

some helpful tools:

MPEG StreamClip:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html
Apple MPEG2 PlayBack Component:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/
DVDxDV
http://www.dvdxdv.com/

Sue

Reply

Answer 2

dadspad2 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 10, 2006 6:05 PM in response to SDIllini

Thank you for the help! I thought DVD was simply the format of recording the movie or image, not the file format it was saved as... seems strange, but I guess I'm pretty naive on this stuff.

I've tried a couple of the freeware programs to convert to DV format and I can get the image stream but not the sound. I'm not thrilled about having to go through several conversions to get it to iMovie, so I think we'll return the camera and get a MiniDV something.

Back to researching!
Thanks again for the help.

Reply

Answer 3

SDIllini

Level 6

16,675 points

Nov 12, 2006 6:48 AM in response to dadspad2

I think we'll return the camera and get a MiniDV something.

You just fixed your problem! 🙂
Sue

Reply

Answer 4

Jan 3, 2007 5:30 AM in response to dadspad2

If I am not mistaken, open the camcorder's viewing screen and there should be a DV connection there on the camera's body. That then connects to your firewire and you can export directly to iMovie. If that cable didn't come with the camera, you should be able to get it at most stores like Best Buy, etc.

G-4 mirror doors Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Reply

Answer 5

SDIllini

Level 6

16,675 points

Jan 3, 2007 8:53 AM in response to Blue_eyes

Hi Blue-eyes:

Welcome to discussions! 🙂

These are the only connections that camera has, i believe and there are no Firewire ports.

You can't hook USB to a firewire port-there are no converters as they are two different technologies.

:)Sue

Reply

Answer 6

Feb 23, 2007 6:44 PM in response to dadspad2

I have the Panasonic VDR-D300 and have read at apple site for imovie, that camcorders without firewire can drag and drop the video which will be shown as a DVD disc. Video comes in, but audio does not.

I have also used the Pixe VRF Browser EX and ImageMicer VCD/DVD2 software for the Mac that comes with the camera. This also transfers the video, but not the audio.

A call to software manufacturer says that to read audio the file must be transferred as a mpeg2 file.

So.... how do we get it into an mpeg2 format??>?!!

Sorry I'm so frustrated. Another question: Is there a way to just get the video that plays audio just fine with a A/V jack burned to a standard size DVD for viewing on television screens?

Lastly, I put the cable into a PC USB port and the darn thing worked just fine!! Go figure.....just my luck!

IMAC G5 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Reply