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General discussion

Problem downloading with Sony HDR CX150

Feb 19, 2011 10:48AM PST

I tried downloading my videos from the camcorder to my PC. Is there a way to download directly into windows movie mkaer?

I have to first download with the Sony program, then convert into wmv. file.

With my old JVC it woudl just download directly to my PC. Does anyone know if this is a sony software thing as I did not have this problem with my other camcorder.

When I do plug it in directly it asks if I want to import images, but it does not give me an option of which files to download.

Discussion is locked

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Need more detail...
Feb 19, 2011 11:12AM PST

Which computer (hardware manufacturer and model) and which version Windows... and which version MovieMaker?

The Sony HDR CX150 records highly compressed AVCHD files into a MTS file format that most versions of MovieMaker/Windows cannot deal with. Either transcode (convert) the video to a format MovieMaker likes (WMV) or use a video editor designed to work with AVCHD files - like Sony Vegas or Adobe Premiere.

We don't know what your "old JVC" was, but if it captured standard definition video, that is a lot less computer resource intensive than AVCHD MTS file could ever hope tom be.

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More detail provided
Feb 19, 2011 1:48PM PST

Thanks! It is a Dell Latitude with windows 7 64 bit.

I'm thinking it is Sony proprietary software.

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Since the software included
Feb 19, 2011 10:41PM PST

in the box with any camcorder is useless and Movie Maker's issues with AVCHD-compressed MTS files are well known
http://search.microsoft.com/Results.aspx?q=movie+maker+compatible+cameras&x=0&y=0&mkt=en-US&FORM=QBME1&l=1&refradio=0&qsc0=0
Your choice is to transcode the files to a format MovieMaker can use (WMV is common) or get an editor that can deal with AVCHD MTS files (Sony Vegas and Adobe Premiere are the usual suspects - there are others).

Hopefully your Dell Latitude has enough RAM to deal with AVCHD MTX files and the appropriate video editors.

Good luck.

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Sony cx 160 Camcorder Uploading Issues - Hate this Camera!
May 27, 2011 3:56AM PDT

Last week I bought the Sony cx 160 and I am very disappointed with this camera. I have tried six times to upload a simple 4 minute 626 MB video to youtube and after hours of upload time I get the error message Failed (upload aborted).
I've uploading hundreds of videos to youtube with my Standard def panasonic 3CCD mega O.I.S. camera and never had a problem.
I have spent hours and hours reading the manual. Searching online for help all to no avail.
I've downloaded the CD that came in box. I've imported the video through Sony Program and through Windows movie maker.
My last option is to take this camera back.
Again, I am very disappointed with this camera and do not recommend it. I was considering getting the Panasonic TM 90 but everyone at Best Buy kept saying Sony was better. Well I disagree! I can not get back the hours that I've spent reading the manual and trying to resolve this issue.
If anyone can offer help, I would appreciate it.

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You too.
May 27, 2011 4:14AM PDT
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Sony CX 160
May 27, 2011 1:36PM PDT

Thanks Bob!

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We don't know what steps you
May 27, 2011 7:31AM PDT

are taking from the time the camcorder captures the video until you upload a video file to YouTube.

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Sony CX 160
May 27, 2011 1:35PM PDT

Thanks for reply. Windows movie maker converts the file to wmv which is acceptable to youtube. No I've never had to upload files so big before. I did not realize the HD files would be so big and take so long to upload.
Yes Panasonic is a PV-GS300.
I was thinking of getting the Cannon M30 or even a Sanyo I saw at Best Buy that had a very easy menu but probably is not great. It was like $399. I'm willing to spend up to about $700.
Would really prefer a camera with a Remote.
Thanks.

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then you must be using
May 28, 2011 1:38AM PDT

a newer version of MovieMaker on Windows 7. Once the video is in the computer, it is up to you to figure out which amount of compression to apply to make the files smaller. There is a tradeoff between video compression and video quality.
More compression = smaller file size = reduced video quality.
Less compression = larger file size = improved video quality.
This also means it is not the camcorder, but how you are using MovieMaker.