Editing AVCHD / H.264 High Definition Files with a Sony FZ

I have purchased a FZ190 that is supposed to come with a core 2 duo 2.4 GHZ, the NVIDIA Geforce 8400M GT, 4 GB RAM, and the Blu Ray burner / player.

Extreme gamers or video pros might consider this a "lite," but my main goal is to edit high definition video in native AVCHD h.264 format shot with a Panasonic AVC SD1 videocam. Has anyone done this with a similar FZ device and using the latest AVC compliant Nero, Pinnacle, Roxio, or Ulead software packages? Which package gives you the greatest facility without having to convert all the files to some other format first?

My guess is that it would take a mighty "warp speed" quad core processor to play back a HDTV video project in review mode at full screen and high definition. But can a core 2 duo 24 GHZ muster enough to preview a project at least in a 320x240 review box? This is essential if one wants to trim, splice, or organize video clips properly.

Has the relatively slow 4,400 rpm hard drive that comes with the FZ1800 been a problem for anyone? I ordered an upgrade to a 250 GB hard drive for my FZ1900, but the spec sheet does not say the speed. I pray the extra money also means I get me one with more rpm. Is there a reason Sony would put a 4,400 rpm drive in a "media notebook" when most competing models use a 5,500 or faster drive?

I suppose the "standard" video card for a professional videographer would be an NVIDIA 8600 or 8800 card. But is the 8400M GT robust enough for editing and playing 1400x720p or 1900x1080p work at quality or standard bitrates?

If someone burns AVCHD files to a standard DVD disk, any PS3 or Blu Ray player is supposed to be able to play them back on an HDTV. But can an HD-DVD player play that same DVD disk as well?

Final question: how well do the FZ models work using a big HDTV screen, via an HDMI connection, as a monitor or for playback? Anyone encounter any compatibility problems? So long as a HDTV set has an HDMI input, is it irrelevant whether the HDTV model is "PC ready" or not? Most have HDMI inputs, but many lack a PC RBG interface.

Many thanks for any comments or advice.

 

if its editing high def. h.264 you should get a macbook pro, great softwares to do so and easy and very very fast. Apple owns h.264 =/

 

Sorry, Apple does not "own" h.264, except perhaps for the low definition 320 x 240 segment for iPod, geared essentially to unethical "rips" from copyrighted broadcast material. Indeed MAC compatible software, USB, and expresscard devices are way ahead of Windows devices in that sector.

Apple does not manufacture devices or support any media in the 60 fps 720p or higher resolutions. Quick Time does not even play generic AVCHD files, only those wrapped in its own formats. Let me know if anything exported from Quick Time Pro will play on a BD or HD-DVD player at 1080p.

Steve Jobs recently took a fee from Panasonic to promote its AVC SD-1 camera, claiming it displays marvelously on a Mac. Unfortunately, it is not clear whether Mr. Jobs ever had to struggle with editing AVCHD files. Is there any reobust review of the Apple "Life" software which attests to the experience of a Sony or Panasonic AVCHD owner and their actual experience converting the files into an edited work which can play back on big screen using any device other than a high GHZ core 2 duo device?

Regards.

 

JKoch, I am in the process of looking at laptops & your question sounds very similar to mine, I would be interested to know how you got on with your system. Does it run OK, is the grphics card OK with high def.
Thanks.

 

I use Sony Vegas and Windows Movie Maker to edit AVCHD files from my Sony camcorder. I'd say Sony Vegas is probably the best one - I've tried better programs such as Adobe Premiere Pro but they don't seem to be compatible with the video files, and Windows Movie Maker is very basic.