[ken 2311]

Please can anyone rescue me from my state of confusion. I want to upgrade to HD via SD media and had settled on either the Panasonic SD5 [or SD1]or the Sony CX6. At first both appeared perfect for me. The Sony appealed because it gave the choice of recording in HD or SD with HD being AVCHD and SD being in mpeg2 format. Then I read the reviews on the CX6 and critics paint a totally different picture re image quality to that promised on Sony web site. Can anyone advise from actual experience how good or bad it is? The Panasonics are both fine but although offering variable recording qualities they are all in AVCHD. So I can view footage on my HD TV but how about editing? I downloaded ULEAD V11 Plus because it is supposed to handle AVCHD footage. But does it? I took a 1Gb card into Currys and they allowed me to film a few shots. I saw the thumbnails and played them back on the SD5. Took the card home and it failed to work in ULEAD V11 Plus. The footage was there on the card but would not open in the programme. I am prepared to wait for AVCHD to sort itself out in terms of editing if in the meantime I could work in SD. To come to the point at last!
1. Can anyone vouch for the quality of the HD footage on the Sony CX6? I am not a professional but want quality for the price to be paid.
2. Is there any way of exporting HD footage from either camera to the computer to allow its editing and burning in lower level SD quality. Can it be done through the SVideo outputs? Somebody stop me ageing fast please?
Ken

[redsox_mark]

For 1, sorry but I haven’t used it first hand. I know someone who has one and says it’s great, but that’s as much as I can say. I’m surprised if it is getting such bad reviews.

For 2…. well yes you could have the camcorder output in SD format via one of the analogue outputs, then capture this into your PC with a capture card, but not a nice method for retaining the quality. Ulead V11 should edit it; Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum certainly will (but does not edit the Panasonic version of AVCHD!). Vegas also does a good job of converting (in my view).

[glesgaguyav]

It seems that not all AVCHD is not the same on all Cams, you may find that Panasonic have software included that makes their Raw AVCHD into a Standard AVCHD that Video Editors can recognize (I am only guessing here)

I have downloaded MTS cilps, 2 HDV and 2 AVCHD, tried them both with Pinnacle 11 and Ulead Video Studio 11, Pinnacle recognized the AVCHD but not the HDV and Ulead reconized the HDV but not the AVCHD, both programs claim recognition of the formats, stange

[redsox_mark]

No, there isn't any software to convert to "standard AVCHD"... it seems the standard has some vague areas in it. The most recent version of Vegas Pro (8) edits the Canon HV10, but not Panasonic.

[ken 2311]

Originally Posted by glesgaguyav

It seems that not all AVCHD is not the same on all Cams, you may find that Panasonic have software included that makes their Raw AVCHD into a Standard AVCHD that Video Editors can recognize (I am only guessing here)

I have downloaded MTS cilps, 2 HDV and 2 AVCHD, tried them both with Pinnacle 11 and Ulead Video Studio 11, Pinnacle recognized the AVCHD but not the HDV and Ulead reconized the HDV but not the AVCHD, both programs claim recognition of the formats, stange

Thanks for your comments - I feel the manufacturers should sort things out before marketing their products. RETAILERS ARE JUST AS BAD AND SEEM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE AT ALL.
Ken

[ken 2311]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

For 1, sorry but I haven’t used it first hand. I know someone who has one and says it’s great, but that’s as much as I can say. I’m surprised if it is getting such bad reviews.

For 2…. well yes you could have the camcorder output in SD format via one of the analogue outputs, then capture this into your PC with a capture card, but not a nice method for retaining the quality. Ulead V11 should edit it; Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum certainly will (but does not edit the Panasonic version of AVCHD!). Vegas also does a good job of converting (in my view).

Thank you Mark - I obviuosly need to do a lot more homework before I buy
Ken