Downloading AVCHD Lite movies from Panasonic DMC-ZS3?

[GuyScharf]

I just got a Panasonic DMC-ZS3 compact zoom camera. Apparently DL Pro does not download .m2ts video files in AVCHD Lite format as created by this camera. It looks like still photos are downloaded fine.

I see that when Panasonic's program downloads the videos, it downloads .tmb, .cont, and .iis files as well. I don't know what's in those files.

Is there any chance that DL Pro will support for AVCHD Lite files in the future?

Thanks.

Guy

[DavidB]

Chris don't normally post over the weekend. But I'd guess that his answer would be somewhat similar to the one in this thread (http://www.breezesys.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3579) about MP4.

David

[GuyScharf]

I've been examining the SD card to see how this camera organizes video files.

The DMC-ZS3 can write video files in one of two formats: .MOV and .MTS. .MOV files are recorded in the same directory as JPGs and Downloader Pro downloads .MOV files.

.MTS files are recorded to \private\avchd\bdmv\stream and are named with the MTS extension. Reportedly .MTS files have better audio than .MOV files.

The Panasonic downloader program copies the .MTS files to the hard drive and renames then .M2TS. I'm not sure whether the .M2TS file is an exact binary copy of the .MTS file or not. As part of that copying operation, the downloader creates .iis, .cont, and .tmb files to accompany the .m2ts file. My understanding from what I have read is that these files are compatible with blu-ray format DVDs.

I have also read that there are programs that will create the .M2TS file and accompanying files from a .MTS file.

Given that, I think I would be happy if Downloader Pro simply copied the .MTS file to the hard drive without extra manipulations. I have tried that, using Windows Explorer, and can play the .MTS files apparently properly.

Hope this helps.

Guy

[Chris Breeze]

This is difficult because .MTS files don't appear to be following any standard for where the files are stored. The MOV movie files follow the DCF standard and are stored in a subfolder of \DCIM.

DLPro already supports the downloading of .MTS files but doesn't look for them in \private\avchd\bdmv\stream. What you could try is setting the option to "Scan whole disk for known image types" in DLPro's preferences.

[GuyScharf]

DLPro already supports the downloading of .MTS files but doesn't look for them in \private\avchd\bdmv\stream. What you could try is setting the option to "Scan whole disk for known image types" in DLPro's preferences.

Thank you. That did it!

As always, I very much appreciate your support.

Guy