Working with Canon T3i HD footage and FCP X

[Lars Martin]

Hi
Got that exact setup but haven’t done extensive editing in FCPX yet.
However I can tell you that FCPX works nicely with the h.264 files you get from the T3i so no need to convert, just import directly from your Canon to FCPX. Unless you gonna mix formats. Then prores would be best.

I love the easyness of importing as I just pop out the mem card from the canon and slide it in to my iMac and import them.

No expert but I’ve exported using the Share menu and both DVD and to Compressor. No real difference that I can tell.
Exporting to a QT movie works too.

Good luck.

[Daniel Latimer]

I’ve shot some weddings with the T3i, amongst other cameras and edited it completely in FCP X. I had no issues with just dropping the native file in. Here’s a link. The first part was with a different camera, but if you go to the 1:42 mark – most of the shots are from the T3i.

Daniel

[Pat Harris]

Haven’t used T3i footage, but I have used a lot of 60D footage, which shoots in the same codec and frame rates.

I always have optimized media when importing into FCPX, because my 2008 aluminum macbook couldn’t handle non optimized well.

With optimized footage everything went well. I ran into one problem that was an organizational thing where I moved clips around from different events that had the same name but on different reels and it really messed stuff up. I had to start over. But I think that is regardless of the camera. I can elaborate more on that if you want.

I just got a new MBP Retina, and it is WAY faster, FCPX is so smooth and seamless even editing off of a USB 3 drive. I still have been using optimized media though.

Here are some examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOWPiFzTUXU
This was shot on a 7D (still the same framerates and codecs) and 60D and used ALOT of 60fps both conformed to 24 (to slow it down) and unchanged (to make it look normal speed). All of the color correction here was done in FCPX too, including the secondary corrections (there was no blue skies in the original footage). Secondary corrections are quick and easy. The VFX were done in AE though.

All of the later stuff on this channel was cut & color corrected in FCPX:
https://www.youtube.com/thewordsmanshow

Pat Harris
http://www.CinematicDSLR.com

[Lars Martin]

Just learned some new stuff. 🙂
Apparently most consumer cameras shoot in 8-bit colorspace. Prores 422 is 10-bit. Converting into prores won’t give you greater quality but it will give more room to play with when editing.
Here’s some info on bits…
https://blogs.adobe.com/VideoRoad/2010/06/understanding_color_processing.html

[Pat Harris]

Yep, in theory it’ll make any color grading look better. I mainly convert to prores because it works faster and smoother in fcpx in my experiences.

Pat Harris
http://www.CinematicDSLR.com

[Howie Young]

Hi Lars,

Thanks for responding to my post.

Are there any problems with the iMac card reader accepting and reading the memory card?

[Howie Young]

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for your vimeo link. Nice job.

Did you use a steady cam for the opening sequence?

Which lens did you shoot the T3i footage with?

[Howie Young]

Hi Pat,

Thanks for sharing your link.

What lenses are you using with the 60D?

How do you like the new MBP Retina?

[Howie Young]

Lars,

Thanks for the blog link.

[Howie Young]

I want to thank everyone again for responding to my first post. I’ve been away from FCP and editing with Macs for some time so please bare with me as I digest the feedback you all have shared. I have yet to begin using FCP X because I’m researching new Mac editing systems.