How to Edit H264?

[PleaseHelpMe]

My video camera outputs H264 at 720p. My PC doesn't have the processing power to edit this.

What free program should I use to convert H264 to an easier to work with format?

I would like to retain picture quality if possible.

Thanks

[hech54]

I would like to retain picture quality if possible.

That's not gonna happen.

[rumplestiltskin]

I use MPEG Streamclip to convert to Apple Lossless Encoding (I use a Mac) but, of course, that format won't work for you. However, the app does support many other formats so, depending on the NLE software you use, you might find something in MPEG Streamclip's "Export to..." choices that will work.

Also check the choices you have in whatever NLE app you are using; it might have a "native format" it likes to work with and might do an automatic conversion to that format as it imports the footage.

[jagabo]

High bitrate MPEG 2 or h.264 with short GOPs. Depending on what your final output needs to be and what type of editing you need (ie, simple cut/paste vs. complex filtering).