For those of you with the new Kodak Playsport

[Kanga1]

What in the world do you do with your videos? And HOW can I get them onto a DVD? I really like this camera, but for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get the videos from my computer to a DVD!! I am using the Arcsoft Mediaimpressions software that came loaded on the camera.

Can someone please help?

[cryssi]

sorry, not going to be much help...I just did a search for playsport since I got one for mother's day and wanted to see who else here did...

I haven't even tried to transfer to the computer yet. Let me play around and see...

[WilsonFlyer]

Nero for quick and dirty stuff.

There are any number of packages that will do it for you. Ultimate Studio, Premier Elements, Windows Movie Maker (free DL from MSN), etc..

The software included with the camera is not intended to burn final product. Some cameras include DVD burning software. Some don't. This particular one does not, unfortunately. (I have a Zi8 I bought the day they came out and am about to buy a PS. Basically, it's the same camera with weather-proofing.)

[Kanga1]

I think the first hurdle with this camera will be converting the files. It shoots in REALLY BIG .mov files that some of my DVD burning software programs don't recognize (including Moviemaker.) Also with files that large it takes FOREVER to do anything with them. For example a 15 sec. video may be 150MB. That's really large for a video that short, isn't it?

I'll take any more advice anyone has.:crazy2:

[WilsonFlyer]

QuickTime v. AVCHD. Both have their pros and cons. Pick your poison. ;)

HiDef stuff is huge by "old" standards. Just the way it is. Welcome to the HD world. ;)

[DawnM]

Doesn't this come with a video editing software that will download your video? That is what I have read, but I don't have a playsport. My son wants one and we have been considering it for him.

Dawn

[Kanga1]

Doesn't this come with a video editing software that will download your video? That is what I have read, but I don't have a playsport. My son wants one and we have been considering it for him.

Dawn


OP here. Yes, it does come with editing software, and since my original posting I have figured it out. The camera is great and does what I purchased it to do. I do think, however, that I will look into an additional editing software program. Sony Vegas looks interesting.

[DawnM]

Is Sony Vegas a software program?

I have a Mac and would like to see if it is compatible with imovie.

What memory card did you get and do you feel it is enough? I am considering getting a 16gb and I think this gets around 4 hours of recording time?

Thanks for any help as I research.

Dawn

OP here. Yes, it does come with editing software, and since my original posting I have figured it out. The camera is great and does what I purchased it to do. I do think, however, that I will look into an additional editing software program. Sony Vegas looks interesting.

[Kanga1]

Is Sony Vegas a software program?

I have a Mac and would like to see if it is compatible with imovie.

What memory card did you get and do you feel it is enough? I am considering getting a 16gb and I think this gets around 4 hours of recording time?

Thanks for any help as I research.

Dawn

Dawn - Yes, Sony Vegas is a video editing software program with lots of bells and whistles...especially depending on what version you buy. I have a PC, so I'm not sure if it's compatible with a Mac. I have heard wonderful things about iMovie, and if I had a Mac, I would probably be buying that one.

In my Playsport right now I have an 8GB 6 Class SD card. It is giving me a little over an hour of record time using the 720/60 setting on the camera. I also went all out and bought a 32GB card for my trip. I think maybe that's a little much. You will probably be just fine with your 16GB card.

[DawnM]

I have read on reviews not to buy anything above a 4 class for this camera as it can have glitches (stop recording mid-stream, etc...) with anything higher.

This is all in today's research (on Amazon.com) as I don't even know what a "class" stands for, I just remember reading that particular comment.

Have you not had this issue?

Dawn

Dawn - Yes, Sony Vegas is a video editing software program with lots of bells and whistles...especially depending on what version you buy. I have a PC, so I'm not sure if it's compatible with a Mac. I have heard wonderful things about iMovie, and if I had a Mac, I would probably be buying that one.

In my Playsport right now I have an 8GB 6 Class SD card. It is giving me a little over an hour of record time using the 720/60 setting on the camera. I also went all out and bought a 32GB card for my trip. I think maybe that's a little much. You will probably be just fine with your 16GB card.

[Kanga1]

I have read on reviews not to buy anything above a 4 class for this camera as it can have glitches (stop recording mid-stream, etc...) with anything higher.

This is all in today's research (on Amazon.com) as I don't even know what a "class" stands for, I just remember reading that particular comment.

Have you not had this issue?

Dawn

Now that you mention it, I think I do remember reading that same thing about a 6 class. (And I don't really know what the class is either, except I think it has something to do with the speed of transfer?) Anyway, I've been using the 6 class and have no problems whatsoever with freezing, or stopping, etc. Having said that, I haven't recorded any LONG clips either (longer than say, 3-5 minutes at a time) so maybe that has something to do with it. I'm pretty sure my 32GB is a 4 class card.

I've also read that you need to make sure the camera has the latest version of firmware that can be downloaded at the Kodak site. I purchased my camera in May and it came with the latest version already installed on it. Maybe that was part of the problem with freezing, etc.?:confused3

[DawnM]

Ok, thanks. Did you order online? I am looking at ordering from Amazon.

Dawn

[DawnM]

Actually imovie came with my computer so it is already installed. I don't fully know how to use it yet but have uploaded some video taken with a still camera we have that also shoots video. It plays well.

The next step up is something called Final Cut Pro. I doubt I will need that for my needs. Plus it is VERY expensive!

Dawn

Dawn - Yes, Sony Vegas is a video editing software program with lots of bells and whistles...especially depending on what version you buy. I have a PC, so I'm not sure if it's compatible with a Mac. I have heard wonderful things about iMovie, and if I had a Mac, I would probably be buying that one.

In my Playsport right now I have an 8GB 6 Class SD card. It is giving me a little over an hour of record time using the 720/60 setting on the camera. I also went all out and bought a 32GB card for my trip. I think maybe that's a little much. You will probably be just fine with your 16GB card.

[WilsonFlyer]

I have read on reviews not to buy anything above a 4 class for this camera as it can have glitches (stop recording mid-stream, etc...) with anything higher.

This is all in today's research (on Amazon.com) as I don't even know what a "class" stands for, I just remember reading that particular comment.

Have you not had this issue?

Dawn

FWIW, I've been running Sans Disc Extreme III's+, Class 6+, on my Zi8 and my Playsport since I bought them and I've had both since the day they were released. Never had so much as a hiccup.

There's a sign behind the cash register at a local seafood resturant here and it about sums it up. Cheap seafood ain't good. Good seafood ain't cheap. Applies to most things in life I have found in my 48-odd years. It applies to SDHC cards for sure. I suspect further digging would find that these cards being evaluated weren't major brand names but rather hong-kong-charlie Chinese knock-offs off flea-Bay.

Just my $0.02. You get what you pay for. :)

[DawnM]

Ah, well, very well could be. What brand did you get?


Dawn

FWIW, I've been running Sans Disc Extreme III's+, Class 6+, on my Zi8 and my Playsport since I bought them and I've had both since the day they were released. Never had so much as a hiccup.

there's a sign behind the ash register at a local seafood resturant here and it about sums it up. Cheap seafood ain't good. Good seafood ain't cheap. Applies to most things in life I have found in my 48-odd years. It applies to SDHC cards for sure. I suspect further digging would find that these cards being evaluated weren't major brand names but rather hong-kong-chalie Chinese knock-offs off flea-Bay.

Just my $0.02. You get what you pay for. :)

[WilsonFlyer]

Ah, well, very well could be. What brand did you get?


Dawn

I run Sans Disc in everything I own. Everything from 2G and 8G in my PnS's, to 16's in my Kodaks, to 32G in my T2i.

[DawnM]

That is what I have in most of my cameras as well. That, or the camera brand memory card.

Dawn

I run Sans Disc in everything I own. Everything from 2G and 8G in my PnS's, to 16's in my Kodaks, to 32G in my T2i.

[Kanga1]

San Disks for me too. They're really good. And I have a Kingston disk that I've used for years with no problems.

I bought my Playsport from Amazon too. The blue one.:goodvibes

[DawnM]

Ok, just ordered the purple one! It was the least expensive ($129). My son actually likes that dark purple color too.

Dawn

San Disks for me too. They're really good. And I have a Kingston disk that I've used for years with no problems.

I bought my Playsport from Amazon too. The blue one.:goodvibes

[Shutterbug]

Is Sony Vegas a software program?

I have a Mac and would like to see if it is compatible with imovie.

Dawn

Dawn,

I have an Imac and I also have the Kodak Zi8(which is same thing as playsport but with a couple more features but is not waterproof)

Here is something to note as far as compatibility...

As far as the EDITING software that came with the Zi8 it is NOT compatible with the Imac from what I found. The files on the camera itself ARE compatible and can be edited in Imove or viewed in VLC Player. Its just the kodak editing software that doesnt work on the Imac.

To get my files from the camera to the computer I simply take the the SD card out of camera and put it into a card reader. I then just drag the files over into what ever folder I created for them. I then can view them with VLC player. I use VLC player over quicktime because it seems to handle the 60ps files better.

If I want do to any editing, I just create a new "Event" in Imovie and import the files from the original folder.

[DawnM]

You can't just download with the USB cable? Darn....I didn't want to buy another gadget to make this work.

I just discovered I need another card reader for my cell camera as my computer doesn't read that with USB either.

UGH!

Dawn

Dawn,

I have an Imac and I also have the Kodak Zi8(which is same thing as playsport but with a couple more features but is not waterproof)

Here is something to note as far as compatibility...

As far as the EDITING software that came with the Zi8 it is NOT compatible with the Imac from what I found. The files on the camera itself ARE compatible and can be edited in Imove or viewed in VLC Player. Its just the kodak editing software that doesnt work on the Imac.

To get my files from the camera to the computer I simply take the the SD card out of camera and put it into a card reader. I then just drag the files over into what ever folder I created for them. I then can view them with VLC player. I use VLC player over quicktime because it seems to handle the 60ps files better.

If I want do to any editing, I just create a new "Event" in Imovie and import the files from the original folder.

[WilsonFlyer]

I can DL just fine from my Zi8 and my Playsport just fine via the USB. :confused:

[Shutterbug]

I can DL just fine from my Zi8 and my Playsport just fine via the USB. :confused:

yes you can use the usb port thats attached to the camera too. I am just used to using my card reader for all my cards as it easier then fumbling with attaching the camera on the back of the computer and it seems to pulls the info from the card faster.

What I was trying to get at was you do not need the Kodak software to get the files off of the camera :)

[DawnM]

Oh, thank you for that clarification. Whew! :goodvibes

I do actually need a card reader for my cell phone camera it turns out.....but trying to find something really cheap as I don't use my cell camera for anything really important, but do want to download them.

Dawn

yes you can use the usb port thats attached to the camera too. I am just used to using my card reader for all my cards as it easier then fumbling with attaching the camera on the back of the computer and it seems to pulls the info from the card faster.

What I was trying to get at was you do not need the Kodak software to get the files off of the camera :)

[loveysbydesign]

bumping this thread for more info. from those of you who use the Playsport. I got one for our upcmoing trip to replace my 6y.o. JVC mini-dv camcorder. I am unsure what setting I should use to get the best video quality so in the futuire once I figure out how to convert ot we can watch it on tv.

Alos are there any tips you can offer a newbie about usage?

[Shutterbug]

bumping this thread for more info. from those of you who use the Playsport. I got one for our upcmoing trip to replace my 6y.o. JVC mini-dv camcorder. I am unsure what setting I should use to get the best video quality so in the futuire once I figure out how to convert ot we can watch it on tv.

Alos are there any tips you can offer a newbie about usage?

I always shoot my Zi8 in 720/60 mode. The 60 frame per second helps to capture the fast motion. Also I always use two hands when recording. It helps to keep the image from being too jumpy. Using the electronic stabilization will eat your battery. So maybe you want to pick up an extra battery to have.

Also for best quality do NOT use the zoom. When you zoom in, its digital its not like your camcorder which would have the lens zoom in. With the Playsport zooming is done by basically cropping down the image then taking the cropped image and stretching it back up to fit the screen. The zoomed image will lack the sharpness of a non-zoomed image.

Even with the limitations the Playsport is a fun lil camera to use and takes up less space in my camera bag than a traditional camera would.

[loveysbydesign]

Thanks. I did get an extra battery to keep on hand!

[ThurlFan]

Hey, just wanted to chime in and say that I've been using Sony Vegas for over a year and it is a great editing tool...and also if you buy the Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11 you will also get an integrated DVD studio so that when you are done creating your video you can just send it straight to the DVD creator and start working on it there. You can either make a DVD without a menu that starts the movie right when you put it in your player, or you can create a DVD with multiple titles and a full-featured menu that lets you select which video or chapter you want to watch. All for $99 MSRP

I give it a :thumbsup2

[Shutterbug]

Thanks. I did get an extra battery to keep on hand!

One more thing, make sure you get at least a Class 4 SD card.