why my mp4 videos are dramatically reduced in size when transferred to my USB HD?

l am transferring from my mbpr "Photos" software to my USB HD for backup. This process reduces the size by ~7x~ eg transferred an old MPEG 4 thats 7MB, but when transferred to my USB HD it goes down to 1.1MB. l want the same size as original. surely its possible?

The files don't seem to be searchable, so l do not know where the file is in my mbpr, eg file called MOV03599.mp4, but when l try to search it in my 'Finder' its not there. only when l transfer to the USB HD l can search it, though it changes from .mp4 to .mv4?

please comment.

thanks for help

Sounds like you are transferring the reduced-rez "thumbnail" version of the file, rather than the file.

chas_m said:

Sounds like you are transferring the reduced-rez "thumbnail" version of the file, rather than the file.

Click to expand...

thanks for reply chas, how do l keep it mp4 at the original size without this compression and reduction in quality?

Maybe you could explain how you're going about copying things now?

After doing some testing with this, I confirmed your problem -- you're just dragging the movie over from Photos to your target, right? That's the wrong way to do it.

Select the video or videos you want, then go to file->export and export from there. That gives you a copy of the original movie with the same file size and format.

chas_m said:

Maybe you could explain how you're going about copying things now?

After doing some testing with this, I confirmed your problem -- you're just dragging the movie over from Photos to your target, right? That's the wrong way to do it.

Select the video or videos you want, then go to file->export and export from there. That gives you a copy of the original movie with the same file size and format.

Click to expand...

you're an ocean of knowledge, Thanks chas