Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

How Can I Get Footage Shot On A Panasonic SD800 To A Mac?

Apr 6, 2011 6:08AM PDT

Hello all,
I recently bought a Panasonic SD800 (It arrived yesterday) and I done some test footage with it.
However, when I plugged it in I could find no way of getting the footage off?
I also took the SD card out and plugged it right into my Mac and still could not find the footage on there.

I want to get the footage into Final Cut Pro eventually. Any help would be appreciated.

Specs:

Mac OS X Version 10.6.7
Final Cut Pro Version: 5.1.4
Panasonic SD800 Full HD Camcorder
Transcend, 16GB, Class 10, SD Card

Thanks, Tropiics.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
I wonder.
Apr 6, 2011 6:12AM PDT

Final Cut looks to be up to Version 7. Try this. Head to the Apple Store and arrange to try the new version.

It's possible that some video conversion software may be needed but I find most folk want to stay inside FCP.
Bob

- Collapse -
SD Card
Apr 6, 2011 6:21AM PDT

I've managed to find the still images I just took on the SD Card, but no motion images. I presumed I would have been able to drag video clips from the SD card to my desktop as I did with the stills :/

- Collapse -
I would not count on it.
Apr 6, 2011 6:27AM PDT

The video would be in a newer video encoding than FCP 5 would understand. This is why you read so much about transcoding, translators and more.

It's possible the video is in some file on the card but until your Apple software is updated to understand the new encoding it won't look like a video file.
Bob

- Collapse -
Thanks
Apr 6, 2011 6:39AM PDT

Thanks for your help, I'll see if I can update to FCP 7. Im just curious as how someone would get the footage if they bought the camera just to film holidays etc, and not for any projects.

- Collapse -
Sorry if this doesn't sound right.
Apr 6, 2011 6:50AM PDT

But almost all the new camcorders have newer video encoding so to "get the footage" we need to "get the tools" to work with the new encoding.

I want to suggest you not rush out to get that upgrade. Get someone at the Apple store to show you the new FCP handling this. If it does, that's a solution.

If it doesn't we look at discovering what encoding this camera used and how to transcode it to your FCP capabilities.
Bob

- Collapse -
Ok
Apr 6, 2011 8:14AM PDT

Alright, Thanks.