Electronics Discussions

The three popular formats for video from digital cameras is MOV (QuickTime), MPG and AVI. MPG and AVI are universal and Windows Movie Maker will show them with no problem. On the other hand, QuickTime was created by Apple, so Microsoft's Movie Maker won't show it. Similarly, if you create something in Movie Maker and save it as a Windows Media Video (WMV) file, people with Apple computers can't show it.

I have editing software on my computer that will take any of these formats and convert them to any other. For example, you can take an MPG or MOV file and convert it to WMV, which will play on your Windows-based computer.

New HD camcorders use either HDV or AVCHD, both of which are forms of MPEG. HDV uses MPEG2 technology similar to what broadcast HDTV uses. AVCHD uses what used to be called MPEG4 and it is somewhat more efficient. However, I think you're discussing video from a digital still image camera, not a camcorder.

As you can see, it gets pretty complicated. Good luck!

--Bob

Yes I am talking about digital camera videos.  So it's even more confusing to me that cameras would use MOV considering that it's so NOT universal.  They must have a deal with Apple!  But when I looked at the "compare cameras", every one I liked said MOV as the movie type.  I think I've used free programs to convert but it's been awhile.  Any suggestions?

I lost track of this when I was on vacation last week... sorry.

You can download a QuickTime player from Apple. It's small, free and works perfectly on PCs (if you get the PC version).  However, I doubt all the cameras you looked at actually use MOV (QuickTime) files. I have two Canon digital cameras, a PowerShot A700 and a PowerShot G7, and both make AVI files. AVI is a universal format that will work on just about anyone's computer, although it takes up more space than QuickTime or Windows Media files.

I can't help you with a free conversion program, but there probably is something out there. I have Corel VideoStudio X2, which is a decent video editing package for around $90. It has the ability to read in just about any type of file and output any other. It has some annoying glitches that causes me to not recommend it, but it is powerful... I used it for a couple hours last night, in fact.

If you're really interested in a particular camera, ask a sales rep from the company to confirm what the file type is. Most companies have a Web location where you can ask questions before buying a product. However, if it's a recent Canon camera, it probably makes AVI files. Mine do.

--Bob

How dare you not answer me while on vaca ;)  Just kidding! Thanks for responding at all, it's been helpful. 

I can't download Quicktime b/c everytime I do, a week later the helpdesk calls me to uninstall it.  I guess it's been known to have viruses so they don't allow it.  I could do it at home but never remember to!

Anyway, I did have doubts that all the cameras ONLY had MOV files, but when I did the "compare" on Bestbuy.com, all the ones I wanted showed "video type - MOV".  Maybe the cameras default type is MOV but then they could have options to change the video type and these options just weren't listed. 

I just selected 3 of the canons I was looking at from BB.com and did the compare and got this:

File Formats  1. JPEG, MOV   2. JPEG, MOV, DPOF   3. JPEG (Exif 2.2), DPOF, MOV 

I don't even know what DPOF is, but the all showed MOV.  When I'm serious about buying a camera again, I will definitely look at this closer and see if MOV is truly the only option for each camera.

Thanks for info!
Suz

Funny... Canon's cameras used to save video as AVI files but they are all now MOV. As I mentioned, my Canon G7 uses AVI. Its replacement, the G9, used AVI. However, the latest model in that line (the G10) uses MOV files. I went to Canon's Web site and checked one of the cameras you were interested in, the SD-960is. As you learned, it saves video as MOV. The previous generation of Canon's cameras were all AVI.

Canon could have some sort of deal with Apple, but a better explanation is that QuickTime is more efficient than AVI. Therefore, where you could record 15 minutes of AVI video, you can record 30 minutes of MOV-format video.

I feel your pain about PC compatability, though. And I completely understand about your work not allowing you to install it on that computer.

If you really want a Canon camera, see if you can find a year-old model being blown out. You might get both a great price and the format you want.

--Bob

I have had 2 Fuji FinePix's and both have used MPEG4 movie formats. I haven't had problems with those in Windows Movie Maker or uploading on YouTube. I feel lucky... I didn't even consider the movie format when I bought the cameras. I could have easily backed into MOV files. QuickTime causes problems on my PC, too.

My current camera makes Mpegs also.  It's perfect, works everywhere I need it :)  Too bad these newer cameras I've been looking at don't use that!  Quicktime causes problems on our PCs and we aren't even allowed to install it here at work.  That, to me, really makes me wonder what these camera manufacturers were thinking when they went with MOV.

Like Bob kind of pointed out, if I look hard enough I can probably find one that has all the features I want and DOESN'T use MOV.  I'm waiting on this one for now though.  Gave up for awhile!