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.mov movie files of CANON SX10 not compatible with Windows movie Maker

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johnparas11zenfoliodotcom

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Since I just got my new Canon SX10 this afternoon, I have been playing with it a lot and was taking videos --..

when I tried to import the video files to my windows movie maker--they are non existent!

So I thought they are not compatible-- did a google..and WMM doesn't do .mov files! :-(

So I googled again and download a free .mov to .avi converter and I saw this free pazera software-- I converted the .mov to .avi- but I see some loss in quality of the video files--more pixelated! :-(

Please excuse me but I am not really technically knowledgeable with compatibilities of different files and formats and what not...but this is frustrating.. :-(

I figured since My Canon G9's and my A650's (sold) video files..I can edit them in my PC's windows movie maker -i just figured that the Canon SX10 would have the same video files-- something that I overlooked before buying the camera I guess...

I installed the Cd that came with teh camera, thinkingthat they might be something there I can use, but I can't seem to find something to make the video files compatible with Windows Movie Maker. :-(

Converting the .mov files is already a hassle that I contemplated on living with it..but with degradation of the video file after the conversion, now that just broke the camel's back.....

I like the idea of the Canon SX10--wide angle- 20x zoom..even thought my initial impression on the skin tone/IQ of the camera I was not impressed--I was learning to like them anyway...but then this "discovery"....I think I will return the Canon SX10...

DO you know of any free converting software that will not degrade the video files?
or anything better than what i found on the internet?

any help from you guys and gals?

I am sad.. I thought I already had my all in one camera...

does the G10 use the .mov files too? if so I think I will stick with my G9 :-(

--
http://www.johnparas11.zenfolio.com
 
John, I've edited and re-published MOV files with my Windows Movie Maker 11 with Vista. When I call up the MOV clips, a selection list of file types pops up and I use my scroll arrow to bring up the bottom line, which is otherwise hidden. This bottom line says, "All Files" and if I click that, WMM recognizes MOV and a few other formats that are ignored without taking that step.
--
Steve McDonald
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/
http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos



http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627
 
The .mov is a real step backwards for canon. My guess is the popularity of the IPod. Sad to see the quality tradeoff for a trend. If their is a bright spot, it would be smaller files.

This freeware app, didn't seem to loose any qualty for me. It is tricky to figure out but keep trying logical button clicking, and you will get it to work. I think it help the quality that the compression had lost. It is a strange app at first but it works realy well.
--
Try this link.
http://www.radgametools.com/bnkdown.htm
 
Stephen McDonald said:
John, I've edited and re-published MOV files with my Windows Movie
Maker 11 with Vista. When I call up the MOV clips, a selection list
of file types pops up and I use my scroll arrow to bring up the
bottom line, which is otherwise hidden. This bottom line says, "All
Files" and if I click that, WMM recognizes MOV and a few other
formats that are ignored without taking that step.
--
Click to expand...
My laptop has vista premium... i am not sure if the version of the windows movie maker that came with it is version 11... I clicked on the properties of my WMM but I couldn't find any info.

I went to microsoft.com

this one says it doesn't apply to my computer

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=0c507f53-78d8-4ca7-b0a1-4a3da5401256&displayLang=en

and this nothing says that makes sense to my specific issue..

http://search.microsoft.com/Results.aspx?qsc0=0&q=windows+movie+maker+11+vista&PageType=99&SearchBtn0.x=0&SearchBtn0.y=0&mkt=en-US&FORM=QBME1&l=1

I opened my WMM-- and did what you did... when I imported the file...and went to "all files" and the .mov files will appear and I would import them... but the window that shows the files are being imported.. it seems to just be there and not downloading anything even if i have been waiting for something to happen for several minutes...

I will still figure this out-- if Stephen says his WMM version 11 can do mov files... mine should too right? -although I am not sure what version is mine...

if mine is not version 11 can I update mine? id it free? that is what I was trying to do with all the links above...

BUT... is there susch a thing as WMM 11?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Movie_Maker

in there it says .mov really can't be imported or are not supported... plus ther eis a windows movie PLAYER 11 (not maker)...

--
http://www.johnparas11.zenfolio.com
 
I mistakenly referred to my Windows Movie Maker program by the version number of 11.0, that is instead the number of the Windows Media Player I have. The exact WMM version is: 6.06000.16386 .

I use my Sony Picture Motion Browser program to upload MOV. videos into the same folder as the photos on a memory card. The Sony program recognizes and plays MOV. files, as that's what it uses for its own camera videos. Once they're loaded, WMM will work with them, on my computer at least. I didn't even have to select the "All Files" designation to pull them onto the editing page. I just clicked on "Video" as the source and went to the folder for the MOV. file. There may be other programs you can use to upload from your SX10 memory card, that may give the same results. I've never liked my Canon Zoom Browser EX program very much. I don't know if using the Canon uploading and editing program that came with the SX10, has anything to do with their incompatibility for you, when using WMM.

Here's a link to a test edit video I just put together from an MOV. file on WMM. The source was a Sony H9 camera. I assembled two clips and re-published them as a WMV. video file. It played back smoothly with WMP and RealPlayer, although when on the WMM editing page, the source files stalled and jerked in some places. I have a Vista SP1, quad-core computer, that may be an advantage in using the MOV. files on WMM. It could be that WMM does work with MOV. files, but just not very well and having a fast computer makes it functional. On the Flickr website, their heavily-compressed FLV. video playback causes some jerkiness in this video, that wasn't there when I played the WMV. video on my computer.

http://flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/2937706216/

It's hard to say how WMM would handle MOV. files from the SX1, that are HD video. Maybe, Canon supplies an editing program with that model, that can handle the large files, on a fast-enough computer.
--
Steve McDonald
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/
http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos



http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627
 
I use a program for the conversion that does not change the video at all, the video stays exactly the same. The program just changes the "container" for the video. So there is absolutely no loss of quality.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/mp4cam2avi/

The conversion is very fast, because only the audio is processed.

Even if after the conversion you cannot process the files with Windows Movie Maker, there should be a solution. You might be missing a codec or something is not installed correctly on your computer.

Report back here with the results.
 
Steve... thanks for all the effort...

My laptop has Vista Premium, I think I was able to update it withe SP1... 2GB memory..

WMM no dice...won't work... with Mov files... I tried and tried.. :-(

I googled for a "video editor that supports mov files"...and ...

I found this "Video Edit magic 4.4" as a trial version-supposedly works with mov files....BUT UNFORTUNATELY it is BUGGY-- it stops working ..I have to restart every time... it freezes my computer.. and besides when I import the mov files-- it will ask me to convert the files to avi--it will convert it for me... but that's my issue there--- converting takes time... I just want something that can handle mov or avi files simultaneously and instantly on the same project..no converting.

Of course buying an editing program is an option... but I really do not want to do that ...don't those things cost about $50 to $100? and besides I already am starting to master WMM ...I guess if push comes to shove--I can learn another video editing program---sigh...

And for those who gave me links and ideas for programs that can convert... thanks for the help... but I guess for me converting takes time and it is a hassle...

On the other hand--I contacted Canon and they said there is no foreseeable firmware update that will make the camera use the .avi files for video...

The SX10 is now back in the box--- I think I will be returning it to bestbuy tomorrow-- I still have about 11 or 12 days before I can return it--although with me being a premier rewards card member I can return it after 45 days...and no 15% restocking fee... yay!...

I am on the fence should I return it or not?

Meanwhile-- I was able to find an S5 on clearance for a great price! as in 50% off the original MSRP... I called all over town and different counties if their branch store had them in stock-- only one store had it-- I had to drive 40 miles to get it...but I think it was worth it...

I like the SX10 specs in paper-- 28-560 zoom, better and cleaner buttons and controls than the S5... higher res LCD (but in reality--dimmer than S5s and contrasty)

but the S5 is close to the default A650 look of the photos that I like..and the videos are in avi format!--- though not wide angle 36mm only with 18x zoom..

...if ever I decide NOT to return the SX10--my wife wants the S5...she actually told me to get a second one if I find one...but too bad no more within a 50 mile radius from our house :-(

what do you guys think? canon says no firmware for SX10 to spit out avi files on videos... that is the killer for me... unless I buy an editing program..

If I return the SX10, wife says no problem she can always wait or use whatever my cameras are anyway...

P.S. On the other thread..NERO was mentioned...

but again I am not sure if I want to buy an editing program :-) -- extra expense, need to learn it.. sigh... :-)

--
http://www.johnparas11.zenfolio.com
 
I suggest you keep the camera and work out a solution on your computer. It's not the first time someone has problems with codecs and different video formats.

On my Vista/SP1 computer I can edit mpeg4 files (.mov contains mpeg4). That is, after I convert them with the free program in the link I posted earlier.

I suggest you try it, I will say again it is really fast because it does not re-encode the video. I think I get 10x normal speed on my Core2Duo 1.86 cpu (so a 10 minute video takes 1 minute to convert). It does batch conversion so it is very easy to convert many files at once. The only things you have to change the first time you use it, is input folder, output folder, and audio conversion (select best quality). So after the first use, you just open it, press "select all", and press "start".

The DivX logo you see on the converted files from the program you used, is probably because that program used the divx codec to do the conversion, and you have divx format in the avi file.

I will try to use my mpeg4 files without conversion on Movie Maker, and report to you later.
 
The files I tried are from a Sanyo Xacti C6, which as far as I know are mpeg4 files, should be the same as yours, only the file extension is different.

Have you installed quicktime on your computer?
 
I found that VLC Media Player (it's free) will play the SX10 .mov files fine (although I have also installed the KLite codec pack). WMP wouldn't play them for me and Media Player Classic played without sound.

I like to edit my video files so I searched for a way to convert them into .avi. The free program WinFF did a great job of converting and VirtualDub (also free) takes care of the editing.

The video files from the SX10 are excellent quality and much more convenient than using my MiniDV camcorder.
 
dear solid tripod and raddad:

I have a quicktime and I can play the mov files from the SX10..

what I want is to be able to edit them and not convert them (that is time consuming) and put them on a DVD--

although today I was able to get the Xtreme photostory On CD and DVD 6 by http://www.magix.com ---

at first i bought one from Frys electronics for $30-- then I went to Bestbuy across the street to check out if there will be a Canon S5 on clearance for my wife (I was thinking of returning the SX10 eventually even if I bought the new software which is supposedly can edit mov files)...But at bestbuy I found the same EXtreme photostory CD and DVD 6 on sale for $10!! so I returned the one I got from Frys...

I tried this software--and yes it supports mov files but the interface is not as easy as The Windows Movie Player-- Maybe I need to get used to it...and learn from it..

Anyway-- I am still deciding if I keep the SX10 or not... aside from the mov file 'fiasco/issue"... I am still trying to tweak the settings for a better photo that is to my liking just like the photos that comes form my A650 (sold) and G9...

--
http://www.johnparas11.zenfolio.com
 
If you would like to try them here are the links to WinFF and VirtualDub. They both are free.

http://code.google.com/p/winff/ in the featured downloads menu.
http://www.virtualdub.org/download.html

I haven't tried Windows movie maker with the .mov files converted to .avi yet. I will when I want to get fancy with fades and titles. I have used Nero to burn DVDs.

I bought the SX10 for the still photos. The fact that it takes good video is a bonus.

I know that dealing with video formats and editing can be time consuming and confusing. I didn't install the software that came with the SC10. Maybe it can edit the video files. Good luck.
 
raddad said:
I found that VLC Media Player (it's free) will play the SX10 .mov
files fine (although I have also installed the KLite codec pack).
WMP wouldn't play them for me and Media Player Classic played without
sound.

I like to edit my video files so I searched for a way to convert them
into .avi. The free program WinFF did a great job of converting and
VirtualDub (also free) takes care of the editing.

The video files from the SX10 are excellent quality and much more
convenient than using my MiniDV camcorder.
--
Click to expand...
Turn up the sound quite a ways when playing some of these formats on Media Player Classic and see if the audio has been hiding. RealPlayer or iTunes may do a better job. We're still waiting for someone to post some SX10 video online.
--
Steve McDonald
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/
http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos



http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627
 
Actually Media Player Classic throws an error at the beginning of play and no amount of adjustment gives any sound. Maybe I'm missing a codec. Not a big issue with me since I expect to keep the .mov files only as archival originals and work with the .avi files generated from WinFF. Media Player Classic plays the converted .avi files without a problem.
 
I downloaded sx10 sample movies yesterday, and tried converting them with various software, but i noticed today the zoombrowser 6,2 (came with my s3) can read them and convert them to MJPEG movies, however size it increased to almost one and a half time.. yes it will not increase the quality or remove artefacts, but it maintain quality for later processing so u wont loose more with intermediate encoding just to be able to use in in movie maker or virtual dub or whatever u want..

i'd have prefered mp4cam to work as it produced less size with equivalant quality but i dont know why it produces a blank clip with the sx10 movies, although it worked well with the 5D-Mark2 movies
 
I actually got it to work somehow in elements. I rebooted (the first step to cure ms issues) and it works now... I have had a few cameras that use .mov files and it does not bother me. I just want them imported into the cpu>
Thanks,
Jim
 
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