.mov Files to .avi Files Help Needed!

Okay, this video issue is getting more and more frustrating. From what I have learned from Kodak is that to get the sound to work on the videos once they are burned to CD, I have to convert them from the original .mov files to .avi files. I don't know how to do that. I have been checking online about conversion program downloads (the shareware free programs) and the more I read, the more confused I get. Probably the process isn't so difficult once I have the right program. But it is trying to select the right one that is frustrating me the most. I don't understand all the techie terminology. All I know is that I want these videos to be burned to CD or DVD and for them to work as perfectly as they do on my computer! Is that such a difficult request?

Before you say that I got a bad camera, from what I am reading about this, most, if not all digital cameras that have the video option make the videos in the .mov file format. So what does that mean? Are the camera companies somehow connected with the companies that make the conversion programs? And if the camera companies know that this is going to be a problem, why do they not include the conversion programs along with the other camera software? After all, what is the point of making videos with the cameras and having the sound included in the video on the camera if that same sound is not going to be available once the video is burned to a CD or DVD? Basically, any kind of backup you make from your computer of these video files will not be complete backups unless the files are converted before the backup. AND...one place I was reading about the conversions say that the sound may not come out right after the conversion. ?????????? Another said that the conversion increased the size of the files tremendously, while yet another one said it made the file size much smaller, but the picture was not so good.

So, what is it with the camera companies? Does anyone out there know what is going on and how to fix this problem?

Frustrations Abound

For the past few weeks since I bought my Kodak EasyShare Z885 Digital Camera, I have been making lots of videos of my grandkids and transferring them to CD's. Today I was just checking them out and realized that the videos on my computer are great, complete with good lighting, color, and sound. However, the videos on the CD's are missing the sound, or only have little bits of sound here and there with total silence in between. I have no idea what is going on or why the sound portion of the videos is not transferring to the CD's. What am I doing wrong? Maybe I should be using DVD's instead of CD's? I thought about that, but CD's should hold the sound since it is CD's that are used for music. At first I thought it was the program I used because the later CD's I used the EasyShare program to burn the CD's and the earlier ones I just sent the files to the CD from the file where they were saved. But the sound was bad on all the CD's, not just the latest ones.

Well, for now I am going to go get some DVD's because I have used up the last of the CD's I had getting all the grandkid photos and videos transferred. I know the DVD's will hold a lot more than the CD's do. and maybe the videos will work on them. Either way, I want to get all the photos transferred again and keep the photo DVD's separate from the video DVD's. Then when I get them all transferred the way I want them, I will just throw away the others since they are not the kind that can be recorded over.

Is there anyone out there in cyberspace reading this blog that knows what the problem is and can tell me how to correct it?

I Love My Camera!!

I am so glad I got this camera! I never realized just how many videos I could take with a regular digital camera. I also never knew I could take long videos with a digital camera. It is so nice not to have to have a bigger video camera to take nice videos.
Today I had 5 grandkids and step grandkids at my house all day. It was definitely video time at Grandma's. The kids are little hams and enjoyed talking it up to the camera. Even the 4 month old got some chattering in. Three of the 5 belong to my son and the other 2 are his girlfriend's. Their ages ranged from just under 7 to 4 months. It was wild at my house today. No not really so bad. I am not even as tired as I expected to be. The house is a little bit more worn out with all the mess they made with toys and other stuff. But for the most part, they did a great job cleaning up before they went home.
I only got myself a 1G memory card and have yet to fill it up.
The plans I had originally for today were changed quickly when my son called to see if I could watch the kids because his girlfriend had injured her hand at work and needed to be seen at the local ER. Those pictures I want to get put on here soon will have to wait awhile.

Video Camera in The Palm of My Hand

I am so excited about my new digital camera. I have wanted a video camera ever since they first came out. That was years ago, it seems. When I got this digital camera I thought about how much easier it was going to be to take pictures of my grandkids, nature, and whatever else. What I didn't expect was the ease of taking quality videos with this little digital camera. The sound is there. The movement is there. It is great! The thing is, now I am taking more videos than I am stills. It is just so much easier and so much more fun getting those videos of the grandkids. Nothing gets missed unless I shut it off too soon. The only problem is that I haven't figured out how to share these videos via email, if that can even be done. I have tried to use the share program that comes with Kodak and it is great for sharing the stills, but if there is a way to share the videos I haven't figured that out yet. I think maybe it allows very short videos to be shared, but mine are not short.
When I got the camera I knew it had video capability, but I had no idea I could take videos that are as long as these are. Following my grandson as he crawled all around his living room floor today was great! I got the sounds he makes, the squeels, groans, laughter, and tears. That is something you just don't get with the stills. Now the question is whether I will ever take a regular photo again. I am sure I will, when I want something posed, or find something like a cool landscape or sunset or something that doesn't require video. Time will tell.

Playing With My New Camera

Today I got the chance to play around with my new Kodak Easy Share Z885 digital camera. Daughter brought Grandson over for awhile so I could play with him while she ran some errands. That gave me the chance to experiment with the camera. I made several videos along with some snapshots. Sorry, they won't be posted here. My grandkids are off limits to the internet. I am hoping to get to my photo box soon and get some of my best pictures on here.

Oooops, I Did It Again!!!

I'm back with yet another new blog. This one came about because I set up another Squidoo lens. The Squidoo lens is focused on photography and cameras, videos, and other things having to do with the subject of photography. You can check it out at this link: http://www.squidoo.com/photographyhotspot .

Having just purchased a new Kodak Easy Share Z885 digital camera, I am really itching to get out and take pictures. I also own a wonderful Canon AE1 that has the capacity for all the attachable lenses, and is programmable for all kinds of photography. I do have to admit that I have never quite figured it all out yet, but I sure have taken loads of photos over the years with it. It has remained a very reliable camera for me and my family. In the near future, I hope to get all my great big box of photos organized...or at least somewhat organized...and then start scanning some of my favorite photos so I can put them in my blogs. Now that I have this blog and the Squidoo lens on photography, I am going to have to make getting those photos a priority.

In the meantime, take a look at my other blogs--after you have visited my lens.