New to video -7D -encoding

I have never really tried my hand at video before, only the still images of the DSLR. So I have been reading different threads in here and trying to gain some information on the topic but cannot seem to find the answer to this question.
When you have the raw video files from the 7D what can be done to reduce the size of the file while maintaining the same quality? A 1 minute video is coming in around 1/2 GB. That seems a little large or am I just wishing for something that cannot be done while maintaining the same quality? I know I can reduce the video capture from 1920x1080 to 1280x720 to 640x480 and changing the frame rate but I am hoping to keep the highest resolution here.
What programs do you guys use to edit the videos to decrease file size?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice / tips on video editing.

If you don't care about editing and only want to shrink the size, use MeGUI with h.264. Use their high quality preset with 10mbps as the rate. Also use AAC audio at the max it'll let you. That'll shrink it from 45mbps to about 11mbps. So instead of a 512mb file for a minute, you're looking at 128mb.

Best one I have found so far for me is any video converter. I am using the free version while I try to work out a good workflow for my 7D video.

basroil wrote in post #9256460
If you don't care about editing and only want to shrink the size, use MeGUI with h.264. Use their high quality preset with 10mbps as the rate. Also use AAC audio at the max it'll let you. That'll shrink it from 45mbps to about 11mbps. So instead of a 512mb file for a minute, you're looking at 128mb.

Thanks for the information! I will give that a try.
And what would you suggest for editing? If I wanted to try that in the future when I actually have time for it-

wizard13 wrote in post #9256655
Thanks for the information! I will give that a try.
And what would you suggest for editing? If I wanted to try that in the future when I actually have time for it-

+1 thats was going to be my questions because im intrested in editing and have both adobe premier and sony vegas

wizard13 wrote in post #9256655
Thanks for the information! I will give that a try.
And what would you suggest for editing? If I wanted to try that in the future when I actually have time for it-

I personally use Premier Pro due to the high quality encoder they use (not quite as good as megui+x264, but very good for something with three settings to change). My folks have premiere elements on their computer, and unless you are looking for heavy editing or special effects, it's actually quite good. Vegas is also highly recommended by many.

If you just want to make clips or videos you make smaller, get Handbrake. It's 3F - free, fast and flexible.

Thanks. Ive heard though that you need to uncompress the file format in which the 7D records in. If you try to edit the native file it will be a pain. Which software do you use to uncompress the 7D movie files and into what format do you uncompress to make it easier to edit?

I just simply open my 5Dii video in Final Cut Express, render it, then I can edit all that I need.

Tony-S wrote in post #9257282
I just simply open my 5Dii video in Final Cut Express, render it, then I can edit all that I need.

So you prefer Final Cut Express then?
Any reason why over Premiere or any other program?
Thanks for the info!

My only video software experience is with iMovie and Final Cut Express. I've not used Premier so I can't really say if it's better or worse. I certainly prefer FCE over iMovie, though.

Tony-S wrote in post #9257305
My only video software experience is with iMovie and Final Cut Express. I've not used Premier so I can't really say if it's better or worse. I certainly prefer FCE over iMovie, though.

Thanks for the info!

What about a PC option? as im not on mac.

vipergts831 wrote in post #9257231
Thanks. Ive heard though that you need to uncompress the file format in which the 7D records in. If you try to edit the native file it will be a pain. Which software do you use to uncompress the 7D movie files and into what format do you uncompress to make it easier to edit?

Some food for thought.

http://www.cineform.co​m/neoscene/index.php

http://blog.vincentlaf​oret.com …erting-that-h264-footage/

I use Final Cut here, I encode them with mpeg streamclip (free from apple) or Compressor, to prores 422 (LT) then erase the old files. Although this method does double the file sizes you wont lose any quality and you wont have to render after each cut or when you start compositing. This seams to be the standard as I spent a few hours doing research after I got the camera.