FZ 21S and AVCHD to Blue Ray Compatibility

Hello is AVCHD -compatible with the Blu-ray drive on the FZ 21S. i.e can i record AVCHD images from my HD Sony Camcorder (HDR-SR7E) onto the FZ 21s laptop, edit the footage then burn the edited footage to blue ray disc on the lap top. would i get the HD image that the AVCHD is recorded in? I understand it will only play from the lap top but will it also play from any Blue -Ray dvd player?

Also, does any one know of a great way of connecting the FZ 21S to a sony surround sound amplifier thru optical, or coaxial etc.... I am assuming that i will still have to purchase a BR DVD player or an amp with HDMI for me to enjoy the surround sound also. thanks

 

I have the very same laptop and camcorder! You must be stalking me

I've filmed the kids nativity and transfered the files to the laptop using the Sony utility. Then, with the Picture Browser, I created a HD video by burning the files to a normal DVD (a bit like we used to create VCD when DVD was new technology). This works great when played back in the blu-ray drive. In fact, the best bit about it is that there's no rendering so the whole DVD creation process takes 10 minutes instead of hours. The trouble with this method is that the Picture Borwser provides only limited editing opportunities (choose the clips you want, shorten/edit the clips and add one of about 5 standard menus). If you want anything fancier then take a look at Sony Vegas (trial version available) or Pinnacle. I have both and prefer Vegas to be honest.

I haven't tried the disk in any other blu-ray player so could not comment on this. However, if it is blu-ray then surely it should work? Best take a disk into a shop and ask them to play it?

I have connected the output up to a 1080p TV (sony again!) using a HDMI cable and using the "Fn" keys to select the output. All works well although the aspect ratio isn't quite right (think it's to do with a widescreen marker and DVD +r disks as opposed to using DVD -r). There is no toslink or coax out on the laptop so your only option would be a blu-ray (ps3?) player or a new amp such as the Onkyo 605.

 

HI Thanks for this. I want aware that you could record HD onto a normal DVD. Will the DVD play in a standard DVD player i wonder? Do you get the HD image when you recorded the play onto standard DVD and played back through the lap top? Adobe elements should be able to support the AVCHD fiormat though I havent researched this so far yet. Cheers

 

I am looking to buy an FZ series laptop, it seems clear that you can burn AVCHD to normal DVD but can you burn AVCHD to a blue ray disk and will the laptop play the disk. The reason I ask is this th efollowing note on the sony web site 12.

" As with other optical media devices, circumstances may limit compatibility or prevent Blu-ray Disc™ media playback. VAIO computers may not support movie playback on packaged media recorded in AVC or VC1 formats at high bit rates.
13. Video recording to Blu-ray Disc® media is done in MP2 format only."