MPEG-2 import from flash

[pdell]

I am new to flash camcorder storage.  I have used my Sony DCR-SX63 on a recent vacation.  I used the highest quality setting for recording [HQ] and I thought that I would be able to transfer/copy the files, to my PC, as AVI files.  The only files that I can copy to my computer, from the camera's flash drive are MPEG-2.  Is there a way that I can export AVI files from this camera's flash drive into Sony Vegas?  Or do I have to edit MPEG-2 and burn to a DVD?

Is there an HD flash camcorder that can export SD files as AVI into Vegas?  Or are the files always MPEG-2 [SD] or MPEG-4 [HD]?

I was unprepared for this surprise/inconvenience.

Thanks in advance,

Paul

[HankCastello]

If I recall correctly, "AVI" is not a file type per-se, but a container type.   Thus, AVI is not necessarily uncompressed, as most people think.

That is why renaming an mpeg2 extension to "avi" often results in an editing program being able to handle the file whereas it was not able to before renaming the extension.

The issue though, is that lossy file compression cannot be eliminated by a simple change of an extension name.

You can edit mpeg files without great loss of detail though if you refrain from overlays and dissolves and merely butt-join the files.

Perhaps others can shed more light or better still, offer a solution other than ebay.