Video clip from a Canon A70 camera

Question

Video clip from a Canon A70 camera

Where to go?

Took a video clip with a Canon A70 camera and plug it in and iphoto opens but there's no photos to download because it's a video clip and the computer doesn't recognize the alien format.

Have a couple programs that came with the camera as well as media edit pro for editing etc, but when trying to find the file it doesn't show as available anywhere when searching for the file to import from or I'm looking in the wrong place, but figure it's still connected only through iphoto and it doesn't recognize any data in the camera.

Some info available from Canon that some files can't be accessed direct from the camera with osx so I'm obviously missing something and when it's plugged in so I need something else, it mentioned a different program to get the info or accessing the info from a card reader instead of the camera which doesn't appear to have any settings to change where or how it's meant to go. (Suggested possible in Canon's info with some cameras)

Any clarification whats the simplest (cheapest) method needed to make this work? to move it to one of the programs that can edit it etc. imovie 3.0.3 in my case or whatever else I have to eventually post it on a web page etc.
(can't afford to buy an actual video camera etc.)

I'm guessing I can't use the camera a web cam either, not that I thinking about it with lots of cheap junkers out there that'll clip on, but it still might be an alternative to buying one.

I'm a bit of an illiterate computer hack so don't know what I'm doing, but usually can eventually figure some stuff out.....

PB 12 G4 1.12 GB, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Jan 1, 2007 2:14 AM

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Answer 1

SDIllini

Level 6

16,675 points

Jan 1, 2007 4:44 AM in response to Robert Van De Meeberg

hi Robert:

it isn't impossible, but yo will need some third-party software.

Look here:

How can I edit MPEG or convert DVD or MPEG to DV
http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/%7Eshmhav/SVCDon_a_Macintosh.html#edit_convertMPEG

Using MPEG or DVD footage
http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6010.shtml

MPEG Streamclip
http://www.alfanet.it/squared5/mpegstreamclip.html

MPEG-2 Playback
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/

Sue

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Answer 2

Jan 1, 2007 6:34 AM in response to SDIllini

Thanks, looks good and useful once I get the data into the computer.

As it sits now I can't find or access the video data from the camera. unless theres a way to access it using another program that can find it.

iphoto opens and recognizes the camera is hooked up via the USB, but doesn't see the video data. (no photo's)

I expect that an external data card reader should show it and then drag and drop or import, whatever to get it into one of my editing programs,
But think that the camera should be able to accessed with other than iphoto and might be accessed through another program file I have already in imovie, media edit or the Canon utility but don't know where to look for or how to use it.

When opening one of the editing programs to import the data I found few files available to be able to import from when the pop up menu to look in came up, I looked in my iphoto file but seeing it wasn't showing any available video data in it when it was open it still wouldn't have any to look for.

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Answer 3

Jan 1, 2007 6:36 AM in response to SDIllini

His camera doesn't create MPEG-2 files.
He needs to forget about using iPhoto (his version can't import clips over 30 seconds) and to use the Finder.
Plug in the camera and quit iPhoto.
Finder preferences should be set to "show" mounted removable media in the Sidebar. A click should now "open" the removable media found on the camera.
Drag the movie file from that open folder (window) to your Desktop where it will copy (mouse turns to green button with a + sign).
A double click on that file will open the movie with QuickTime. It is also ready for import into his older version of iMovie (I think).

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Answer 4

SDIllini

Level 6

16,675 points

Jan 1, 2007 6:57 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Thanks, Kirk!

Sue

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Answer 5

revoox

Level 1

0 points

Jan 1, 2007 8:14 AM in response to Robert Van De Meeberg

For some strange reason Mac OS X doesn't recognize my Canon PS A640 as removable media so I have to use "Image Capture" to download my videos and images from the camera.

MacPro 2.66 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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Answer 6

SDIllini

Level 6

16,675 points

Jan 1, 2007 8:39 AM in response to revoox

Hi revoox;

Welcome!

Image capture is a good way to import .avi files.

http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6025.shtml

Sue

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Answer 7

Jan 1, 2007 1:31 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

The finder preferences are still set to show external media, but the Camera doesn't show up on the desk top, it just keeps opening iphoto as selected in the system preference as to do when a picture CD is inserted,
Quitting iphoto doesn't make the camera appear on the the desk top and the camera doesn't work at all when iphoto is quit or connect with the usb, I trying to get the computer to recognize the video data by turning on the video, but camera won't run the video while connected and when disconnecting and reconnecting it just runs iphoto again, no matter what I do.

The camera sends a signal for the computer to recognize it as a picture CD and opens iphoto, (when you insert a picture CD - "Open iPhoto")

The question would be how to get it to recognize it as a DVD or other media as possibly possible in those preferences and what application to use. of which it appears I don't have anything available when looking at "open other application" or choosing "ignore" or "run script" which I have no idea what to do with.

Though presume that maybe I should turn off the picture CD preference off by choosing ignore to keep iPhoto from opening, but then it might possibly just ignoring the camera all together unless something else is chosen or I'm just wasting time on something that will never work......

PB 12 G4 1.12 GB Mac OS X (10.2.x)

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Answer 8

Jan 1, 2007 1:51 PM in response to Robert Van De Meeberg

You may have iPhoto preferences set to view the media when it's connected to your Mac.
Open iPhoto and change that option. Quit iPhoto and try again.
The media card should show as a "drive" on your Desktop or in the "sidebar" of a new Finder window.

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Answer 9

Brie Fly

Level 5

7,925 points

Jan 1, 2007 4:06 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

That setting is made in Image Capture >Preferences, not iPhoto.

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Answer 10

Jan 1, 2007 7:15 PM in response to Brie Fly

Thanks all for your input and happy new year.

Found it in the applications folder "Image capture" and changed the preference to "image capture" (still not working), but once coordinated with the camera (returning it on and set on view image/clip on the camera) the download option came up and my clip now saved in my movie files folder and opened the quicktime player to view it.
iPhoto also still open at the time and also opened automatically, I didn't need to quit it, I'll find out if I have to change something back if Iphoto doesn't work as it used when trying to upload photo's or something undesirable happens to the view etc when I do.

The device still not showing up on the desk top, and there an option seen somewhere to change the size of the image capture icon somewhere or it showing up only when working and was hidden under other open Aps. when I was using it.

I was expecting the camera to still work on movie clip or picture taking mode, but it comes up as no capture device connected and will deal with that after I look around a little more to see if it'll work as a web cam by changing another preference somewhere else.

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