I just bought a Canon HF20, the book says not to transfer files directly from the computer, only use the canon Transfer Utilities software. I didn't really want to put the Canon software on my computer. I have Premiere Pro CS4 and will be using that to edit, has anyone transferred files just by copy and paste without a problem?

See this thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-vixia-hf-hg-series-avchd/441692-there-app-managing-avchd-files.html

...has anyone transferred files just by copy and paste without a problem?I don't have a HF20, but based on all the other Canons, by using their own transfer software you retain unique file names and meta data, so it's possible to better organise your clips.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with copying and pasting the files and they'll work just fine in your NLE, or when converting to an intermediary such as Cineform. Just remember to create a unique folder for each shoot or sequence and be careful not to overwrite the clips. I have never installed the Canon software (or any other) and just copy the files directly from the source.

I have Premiere Pro CS4 and will be using that to edit, has anyone transferred files just by copy and paste without a problem?

I just purchased an HF S100 and use Premiere Pro CS4. I copied the files from the camera to my laptop hard drive and imported them into Premiere. No problems encountered.

I have had my HF20 for a couple of days now, I like it but I wish it was better in low light, is the HF S10 much better in low light? I have been thinking maybe it would be worth it to return the HF20 for the HF S10.

Hi Glenn,
how did this story turn out? keep the HF20?

When you say 'better in low light' .... better than what? I've been happy with the HV20 (HDV) in low light. Any chance you can compare the two?

thanks,

Maybe Canon now has some effective software, but I think I'd avoid the software too, if I were you. I have the HG 20, which is HD based, and under Win 7 it's been a disaster. Transfer times are absurdly slow - a 2 minute clip might take literally 3 hours to transfer. So I've switched to using the SDHC card (class 6) to record data, and it works a charm - 2 minutes of video transfer in 21 seconds.

The Canon software for the HG 20, Pixela, was abandoned by Canon. Both Canon and Pixela say the only way to transfer data from the HG 20 now is to use Windows Live Movie Maker, which is a beyond terrible. It actually managed to mess up my computer so much that I had to uninstall it and do a system reset to get things back on track.

Use the SDHC cards and then make videos using Pinnacle, Vega, Power Director, or other program. That's the advice of a relatively uninformed person who is not new to video but is relatively new - so take it for what it's worth.

Biull Hansen

I know that all these Vixia devices have USB plug and when they connect to a computer, they appear exactly as an external disk. I don't have a Windows machine, but I tried once connecting a HF100 to it and it showed up as an E: drive. On a Mac, they just appear as an external volume on the desktop. Either way, you can access the entire file system there and copy files over the same way you copy files onto your USB thumbdrive.

I have never had the need to install that Pixela (disc package is still sealed), so I don't even know what it does and how it works. I do my stuff mostly in iMovie. That one time I tried it in Windows, I used Premiere CS4 (editing MTS files directly).

THe file system on these is FAT32; the USB connection makes them appear as external "mass storage". I can't think of any reason that would prevent you from manipulating the files the same way you manipulate Word, PowerPoint or JPEG MP3 files.

I have had my HF20 for a couple of days now, I like it but I wish it was better in low light, is the HF S10 much better in low light? I have been thinking maybe it would be worth it to return the HF20 for the HF S10.

I have a HF s11, quiet poor in low light to my opinion. you get quickly a lot of grain, and more in photo mode
i think it will be around the same, maybe slidely better, think about sony if lowlight is your main concern, otherwise, it is fine