Summary: So you just have a Pentax K-3 camera on hand? This topic covers Pentax K-3 H.264 MOV video and iMovie ingest workflow on Mac, and demonstrates how to convert Pentax K-3 H.264 MOV to AIC(Apple InterMediateCodec) for editing use in iMovie’8/9/11.
“I received my Pentax K-3 about 15 days ago. Great camera! It is my final choice after comparing it to DSLRs like Nikon D7100, Canon 70D, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 and Nikon D5300. I’ve also read the vote result in DPreview’s website for The Best DSLR of 2013. The Pentax K-3 is the clear winner among 11 camera models, having nearly twice the votes as the second place camera, the Canon 70D. All of these cameras are pretty good for various reasons but for overall ‘DSLR camera’ the Pentax K-3 is the best. Besides taking great pictures in almost any situation, the Pentax K-3 is able to record 1920 x 1080 video in the high-quality H.264 QuickTime MOV format in multiple frame rates, including 60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, and 24p. However, there is an issue when ingesting Pentax K-3 H.264 MOV video to iMovie for basic editing. iMovie on my MacBook Pro seems not to recognize these footage at all. I researched this issue on the Internet and have discovered that many other people having the same problem. Does anyone have a permanent solution to resolve this problem? Please help! Many thanks.”
To be able to import Pentax K-3 H.264 MOV video to iMovie, you may convert your DSLR files to Apple InterMediateCodec (AIC) using 3rd party software like Video Converter for Mac, which works well as a Pentax K-3 video converter, Canon AVCHD Converter, Panasonic AVCHD Converter, Sony XDCAM Converter, Canon MXF Converter, etc.
Download a free trial of Pentax K-3 MOV Converter for Mac
How can I edit Pentax K-3 H.264 MOV video in iMovie’8/9/11?
For the purpose of editing Pentax K-3 H.264 MOV footage in iMovie, you will need to process format conversion. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Start up Video Converter for Mac as a Mac Pentax K-3 video Converter. Once the main interface pops up, click ‘Add File’ button to import MOV shootings captured by a Pentax K-3 DSLR camera. You can load directly from Pentax K-3 camera or from a card reader, or from a folder on your HDD that contains your media data.
Step 2: Select output format for iMovie
In order to edit Pentax K-3 H.264 MOV files in iMovie, from the Format bar, choose ‘Apple InterMediateCodec (AIC) (*.mov) as output format from ‘iMovie and Final Cut Express’ catalogue.
Important: If you’ve loaded a number of video clips to do batch conversion, please do remember ticking off ‘Apply to All’ option before you start.
Step 3: Custom video and audio settings (for advanced user)
If you are an advanced user and want to adjust video and audio settings like bit rate, frame rate, etc. in your own way, you can click ‘Setting’ button and go to ‘Profile Settings’ panel to do so, if not, simply skip this step.
Step 4: When ready, click the ‘Convert’ button to start converting MOV footage to AIC for using within iMovie 8’/9/11.
Tips: You can tick off ‘Showdown computer when conversion completed’ checkbox, and go away to do other things instead of waiting around in front of the computer for the entire conversion process.
Step 5: When the conversion finished, click ‘Open Folder’ button to find the generated AIC .MOV QuickTime files for using in iMovie version 8, 9 or 11.
Also read
How to edit and import Olympus E-PL3 AVCHD video to iMovie?
How to transcode Canon EOS C500 MXF footage to AIC for iMovie?
How to edit Blackmagic 4K footage in iMovie, FCP, Avid, and Premiere?