Yay!! Apple add AVCHD support to iPhoto!! Perfect for NEX !

An update which unfortunately doesn't work for me:

Trying to import my AVCHD videos into the updated Aperture and all that happened was that a "There was an error" box popped up.

Afaik Apple updated both Aperture and iPhoto and added AVCHD support to them. As they've also introduced a new feature where a library could be shared between both programs I would guess that the support for file formats is the same in Aperture and iPhoto.

Same here

neonexxer wrote:

I use Clipwrap to "re-package" AVCHD files on my Mac. I think all it does is it messes with some file headers, because its marketed as not being a transcoder...ie, there is no format conversion happening. No re-sampling, framerate conformation or anything. Offhand, I do forget what happens to 60p though... I only shoot 30p.

This means its super, super fast (like even long clips get re-wrapped in seconds), and your quality stays as it was recorded. After Clip-wrapping, even Quicktime and iMovie can see AVCHD files. BTW, I'm running on a 2011 MBA 13". Clipwrap is nice enough to even let you download a fully functional trial version to see if it works for you. The only catch is that it only limits you to the 1st minute of your clips. If casual viewing of short clips is what you need, give it a go

(edit: oops... I mean I only shoot 25p. My 5N is a PAL version)

Yeah! I used to use clipwrap too, but it was messing up my videos, some would play a few seconds then the sound would stop on some, and now iPhoto with native support, even better, I tried it and iPhoto also re-wraps the .MTS to .MOV without messing it up like Clipwrap.

iPHOTO 9.3 DOES NOT IMPORT AVCHD PROGRESSIVE (1080p)

Anyone interested in importing AVCHD into iPhoto 9.3 needs to be aware that iPhoto 9.3 supports only AVCHD Lite (720p) and AVCHD (1080i). It does not support AVCHD Progressive (1080p); it does not even show it in the list of camera files to import from. Attempts to manually copy folders from the camera memory result in lots of messages about unsupported file formats, similar to the ones Apple say you will get if you do not exactly follow their instructions for which folder(s) to copy.

In my camera, a Panasonic FZ150, after choosing “AVCHD” for “REC MODE”, the user can choose from three setting for “REC QUALITY”, which are: “PSH" (1080p), “FSH” (1080i) and “SH” (720p), all at 60 fps. Other recent cameras supporting AVCHD should have some similar choices.

Apple was vague about this in their description at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5251 , and just said “AVCHD", which has caused a lot of people, including myself, to waste a lot of time unnecessarily.

Apple should have said: "AVCHD Lite and AVCHD only; not AVCHD Progressive." (And probably not AVCHD 3D either!)

I asked Apple today (19 June 2012) to clarify this in their website, in iPhoto, and in all documents describing iPhoto.

I want to clarify that my previous post was based on my experiences; it is just possible that they were unique to my Panasonic FZ150, my SD memory card’s formatting, or my iPhoto library…

Regardless, if you are unable to import AVCHD into iPhoto 9.3, I suggest that you check which form of AVCHD you are using.

I was using an older version of Imovie on my Imac...updated to Imovie 2011 and I can now import AVCHD movies to Imovie without having to convert them first. I also downloaded a program called "Aunsoft" which is great...you can convert movies to any format for different players (Ipad, Iphone, etc...). My problem is that while I recorded the movie from my wife's 5N in 60p, when you upload from Imovie to any format, the highest I can send it is 1080x720 which I don't think is as high as it was recorded...anyone know about this?