Transfering files from HF20 without PIXELA

[bearsfoot]

Hi,

I am trying to transfer files from my HF20 HD to my pc's hard drive. (Win XP)

I don't have the PIXELA ImageMixer 3 SE software that comes bundled with the camera.

After connecting the camera to my pc via usb I get prompted to 'Select the type of device for the USB connection' and then connect the compact power adapter.

Then nothing ....

Does Win XP require a driver ? I have tried researching that without luck.

I purchased the camera online without any software. I have found copies of PIXELA, but have been unable to install those versions due to errors entering the serial number of the camera (mismatch ?)

What other options do I have ?

Thanks in advance .

Adam

[Bif]

The Pixela software is EXTREMELY AWKWARD, I tried it a few times and gave up (the only part of the package I found somewhat useable was the viewer.

If you got the manual with it find the section and instructions for copying files from the internal memory to SDHC cards, do that and put the card in the SDHC slot on your computer's media reader. If your computer doesn't have have one you can purchase an external reader that has slots for SDHC, CF, and several other formats. Very inexpensive.

The only files you really need to copy from the card to the computer are the MTS files found in the STREAM subfolder.

I use VLC (free player from Video Lan) to review the MTS files.

If you want to give the USB method another try be sure you have the external AC "brick" connected the the camera, can't use battery power as the camera just won't be seen by the computer. If this has been your problem, with the camera powered by AC one of your options should be for the camera to be seen as an external drive. This will let you totally bypass the Pixela software and you should be able to navigate down to the folder with the MTS files. Those are the only ones you need.

Then after copying the MTS files over, I would reformat the internal memory and use SDHC cards for recording from then on. The manual has instructions on how to select the memory to record on. If you don't have the manual it can be downloaded.

Computer: You may have a problem editing those files, they are AVCHD (H.264) and very highly compressed. In my case it takes a Core i7 quad core processor to be able to edit fairly easily and quickly. I don't know if a Win XP machine can handle it. One possible approach is to convert the MTS files to something your computer and software can handle. I had luck using CoyoteSoft's "Free Video Converter" until I got my current editing machine, an HP with a 2nd generation Core i7 2600 quad core processor (Kinda wish I had spent some extra and got it with the Core i7 six core processor. I hear that really "flies".

I have a pair of HF100's and Canon DSLRs that do video.

Hope this info helps.

Bruce Foreman

[bearsfoot]

The Pixela software is EXTREMELY AWKWARD, ..
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.
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Hope this info helps.

Bruce Foreman

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for the detailed reply. I will attempt to transfer the files from the device's internal memory to sdhc card. If I can do this I am confident in finding solutions for the rest.

I was using AC power, but when connecting the usb cable my camera is not be seen as an external drive. This is what I was expecting also.

Regards,
Adam

[Playing]

You need to switch the camera to playback.