Continue reading »]]> As a professional multinational corporation that specializes in the manufacture of imaging and optical products, Canon has been manufacturing and distributing digital cameras since 1984, starting with the RC-701. The PowerShot series (known as IXUS series in Japan) was then launched after the RC series for photographers at any level. The PowerShot camera like SX 200IS produces MVI_.files which are not recognized by some video editing and DVD building programs, e.g. ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD 2 program for authoring DVD’s/home movies. In that case, users have to convert the MVI to AVI or WMV files so that the MVI movie clips taken with a PowerShot camera can be used seamlessly in the DVD program.

Canon also developed the EOS series of DSLR cameras (digital single-lens reflex cameras) which includes high-end professional models, such as the latest Canon 5D Mark III and Canon Rebel T4i (EOS 650D). Canon claims that the Canon EOS Camera System is the most complete Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera system in the world. Whether you are a beginner or advanced professional looking for a digital camera, the EOS System takes your photography to the next level. The EOS DSLR cameras usually shoot videos in H.264 MOV format, which is not a friendly format for most video editors. In order to generate suitable files for video editing software, you are strongly recommended to use Canon camera Video Converter to convert EOS MOV to Apple ProRes for Final Cut Pro 6/7 and FCP X, transcode H.264 MOV to AIC for iMovie and Final Cut Express, render MOV clips to DNxHD for Avid Media Composer and so on.

An additional product line new to Canon is Cinema EOS camera series. The launch of the Cinema EOS System marks Canon’s full-fledged entry into the digital high-resolution production industry. The EOS C300 camera records footage in .MXF format, which is a problematic file type either for playback or edit. Here comes Canon camera video converter again to handle these MXF clips. Simply select your MXF source material, choose the output format, and click Convert. The Canon MXF Converter will take care of the rest.

More than digital cameras and Cinema EOS cameras, Canon also produces consumer digital camcorders and professional camcorders. The consumer digital camcorders deliver superior image quality and performance and include models like VIXIA HF S10, VIXIA HF S100, and VIXIA HF100. These AVCHD camcorders in VIXIA series capture videos with .MTS and .M2TS file extensions. In attempting of adding Canon MTS shootings to an Android Tablet or Apple iPad for viewing, you can use a Canon MTS Converter to encode MTS to MP4. To import loose MTS clips out of its original file structure to iMovie or FCP for editing, you need change MTS to AIC or Apple ProRes.

As for professional camcorders, Canon XF-Series Professional Camcorders XF100, XF105, XF300 and XF305 are almost perfect. “Whether used as a companion to the XF305 or XF300, or as a stand-alone camcorder, the XF105 and XF100 are geared for a wide range of applications where high image quality, extreme portability and efficient workflow are of the utmost importance. And with true stereoscopic 3-D production and infrared recording capabilities, they allow users to expand into new markets,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. The XF Series professional camcorders record footage in .MXF format, if you are new to the format, you couldn’t realize that it would be so problematic to get the MXF video into computers without using the Canon software. Yes Canon does offer XF utility to help users import MXF footage to FCP 7 and other video editing programs, but this only comes with very limited success, because that piece of XF utility software only expects to see compact flash cards (CF cards) straight from the camcorder and doesn’t seem to work very well with folders on a HDD, not to mention separate MXF clips. Fortunately, the conversion formats generated by Canon Video Camera Converter (here works as a Canon MXF Converter) would fit with the following programs:

On Mac: Final Cut Pro (FCP 6/7, FCP X), Final Cut Express, iMovie, Avid Media Composer, iDVD, QuickTime, etc.

On Windows PC: Magix Movie, Avid Studio, Windows Movie Maker, Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere Pro, Premiere Elements, and more.

Definitely, there are a great many choices currently available in video cameras/camcorders, which one to choose is totally depending on one’s needs and budget. As for Canon Camera Video Converter, it will continue to have its place for both amateur film makers and professional videographers (Read more about Canon Camera File Transcode at Pavtube Canon Column).