Nikon Camcorder to Mac: Get/Transfer Nikon MOV files to Mac, iMovie or FCP

November 19, 2013 6:31 pm / Posted by Taylor Scorpio to Cameras/Camcorders

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Compared to Windows OS, Mac OS operating system does better job in recognizing camcorder footages or built-in drives, including Nikon camera. Thanks to iMovie'11, the Nikon COOLPIX series camcorder shootings can be automatically detected, only if the recorded files be imported via iPhoto. However, it says no to other series of Nikon camcorder. So how to transfer other Nikon series like D800E, D7000, Nikon 1 J1, V1 to Mac or make the shootings be editable in iMovie or FCP can be common issue. The article will introduce you how to transfer Nikon H.264 .mov files to Mac and further editing the Nikon MOV in FCP X or FCP 7 or iMovie.

• Part 1: Transfer or backup Nikon camcorder .mov files on Mac
• Part 2: Edit Nikon H.264 MOV footages in FCP (X) or iMovie

1. Turn off your Nikon camera. Then connect it your Mac using the provided USB cable that was bundled with the camera.

2. Turn on the Nikon. Then, double-click on the drive labeled as Removable disk of "Computer" or "My Computer".

3. Select "Open Folder" to view files. You can manually transfer the wanted videos to Mac. If you prefer to transfer all the files from the camera, use Nikon Transfer for Mac. Supposed it fails to copy all files to the Mac, you can also refer to Aperture, which will pull the images off the card and apply basic metadata and time zone corrections in one operation.

4. Drag the wanted videos onto your desktop. That's all.
After backup the recorded footages from Nikon camcorder, you may intend to further editing captured files like H.264 MOV in iMovie. For the most Nikon camcorder shot video in MOV file format with H.264 codec, it isn't friendly to iMovie, FCP or FCP X. Enables Nikon MOV to be editable in iMovie or FCP 7/FCP X. You can render to the third-party of program-Nikon Video Converter for Mac.

The Mac Nikon Video Converter is featured as easy-to-use but powerful interface, which can fast convert any source Nikon footages like MP4 or MOV to ProRes for optimally playback on iMovie or Final Cut Pro and FCP X as well. Have to mention, the software can also act as functional Nikon video editor for Mac, you can enjoy Nikon video clipping, video merging, alter video quality or effects and so forth.

The Mac Video Converter for Nikon can be applicable to almost any Nikon model as below:

Digital single lens reflex cameras: Nikon D3X, Nikon D3S, Nikon D4, Nikon D700, Nikon D300S, Nikon D800, Nikon D800E, Nikon D90, Nikon D7000, Nikon D5000, Nikon D5100, Nikon D3000, Nikon D3100, Nikon D3200, etc.

Coolpix series: Nikon Coolpix L120, Nikon Coolpix P500, Nikon Coolpix P300 Nikon Coolpix L24,Nikon Coolpix L22, Nikon Coolpix S9100, Nikon Coolpix S8100, Nikon Coolpix S6100, Nikon Coolpix S3100

Nikon 1 series: Nikon 1 J1 or Nikon 1 V1

Simple guide you how convert Nikon video to iMovie, FCP, etc:

Numbers of output file formats or application can be chosen, as shown in the following screenshot.