Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: first time

Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: first time - Recent Posts http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: first time - Recent Posts en Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:27:18 +0000 meta on "Just enough to buy IMAC, FCS and Canon HF200 need advise badly!" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/just-enough-to-buy-imac-fcs-and-canon-hf200-need-advise-badly#post-54912 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:00:45 +0000 meta 54912@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hi there, I am a first time/amatuer and would like someday to go pro. My experience is only with a digital slr camera. I owned a Canon 350D DSLR and a sony Laptop running Windows Vista Business. I sometimes use Adobe Photoshop but I prefere not to "cheat/enhance" those photos. I do know that there is a huge diff between a camera and a camcorder and is willing to take up the challenge. My friends and I (all not professional climber) attempted 6,962 m (22,841 ft) Mount Aconcagua and was documented. The documentary cost was sponsored by local TV. To make the story short, the documentary was done professionally by 2 cameraman and unfortunately we failed only 300m to the summit due to bad weather. They used 2 sony pro video camera with DV tape type which I forgot which model it was. The group now is trying for another attempt in January 2011. Unable to secure a sponsor, our budget is kinda tight this time around that we cant afford to hire professionals to the the documentary again. Since I have a long interest with video making, I am now jumping into this oppurtunity to document the journey. I am thinking of submitting the end product to local tv or competition if it is good enough! It is about normal people trying to do the extra ordinary. We do have a list of mountains to conquer! My budget allows me to purchase: IMAC 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 with 8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM. ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB and 1TB Serial ATA Drive. Final Cut Studio. Canon HF200. My questions: Will this be a good computer that doent take forever to render or complete my work and software for a first time documentary? I do hope to go pro in the future but I do not wish to buy another computer in the next 3 years. Yes I cant afford the macpro just yet. Is that a good choice for a starting camera that can handle "some/little" outdoor abuse? I wish to shoot the documentary in HD and it MUST not be heavy! Will the camera take the cold weather? My research tells me that flash memory handles cold weather better than any other type... is this correct? Am I going the right path by choosing Mac over Windows? My budget is REALLY tight... please advise. Thanks in advance. apples on "What gear do I need to start making good internet videos?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/what-gear-do-i-need-to-start-making-good-internet-videos#post-50527 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:42:54 +0000 apples 50527@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Great reply Earl C, thanks very much EarlC on "What gear do I need to start making good internet videos?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/what-gear-do-i-need-to-start-making-good-internet-videos#post-50526 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:45:17 +0000 EarlC 50526@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Most any HD, HDV or ACVHD camera - from tape, to hard drive, to SDHC or other solid state card - on the market today will do the job, generally speaking. You will experience more, or less, problems depending on the camera, its capabilities and engineering and technical features and limitations. All-in-all, using appropriate lighting, audio acquisition, shooting and stabilization techniques, the new cameras on the shelf will do the job. A Rhode videocam shotgun would probably help, and is reasonably priced. Any number of mid-range, mid-priced wired or wireless lavs and systems will work. A solidly-built tripod with legs that don't sway, flex or give a lot during pans, tilts, etc. and do not tend to spread or splay when you inadvertently lean on them for a bit. I think tripods in the $500 and up range are better suited to stable solid shooting than lighter and cheaper choices. An NRG, or similar, three-light kit or something rigged from available components at Home Depot, WalMart or other stores, will serve you well. I am a Mac user with FCP and related software. I am happy and pleased with my Mac editing systems, even my old and trusty stand-alone Casablanca editor in a pinch, but I've much good regarding PC based Vegas. You can accomplish decent web and even general market video production with the items listed here. When you talk about depth of field adapters and other auxiliary items you begin to enter a whole new level of expense, needs and special editing/camera quality and abilities. I do not know what "normal" translates in PC, but I suspect that if you are on the lower end of processor power and RAM memory, and storage capabilities, you will be hitting some production walls shortly, requiring that you do some further research and upgrading. Keeping it simple, and understanding I have no solid information regarding PC/editing software capabilities, needs and pricing, the rest of your stuff should come in around $2.5K to $3.5K. There's cheaper, and there's more expensive, better and worse, but I believe these amounts would bring you to a production level you would want for these training videos. apples on "What gear do I need to start making good internet videos?" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/what-gear-do-i-need-to-start-making-good-internet-videos#post-50503 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:02:53 +0000 apples 50503@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hi everyone. I have a small website here: <a href="http://www.learn-how-to-weld.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.learn-how-to-weld.com</a> I do have a few crappy videos on youtube but would now like to step it up a notch and really start to make some reasonable quality videos on welding. So basically I'm asking for advise on what camera to buy and what else do I need to get? Tripods, mics etc. I have been eyeing off the Canon HFs 100 camera's as they look pretty damn good. So that's about my budget for the camera. But what else would I need in terms of mics, boom, lav, lights etc. Once again I don't have much cash to buy very good quality equipment. But I know that having the basic equipment will make the videos all that much better. I'm pretty sure that I'm gong to need to use a proper mic as opposed to the built in mics on the camera's. What about video editing? I have used a trial of Sony Vegas (Pro ?) before and it was pretty easy to use. I'm on a normal windows PC so is Sony Vegas okay for this or not. Once again I'm a small hobbiest looking to make instruction welding videos for online viewing. Ohh, and what a bout a DOF adapter. Are they used in instructional videos, and/or should I use one to give it more of a profession look. Are there any links to pages that list of the basic components I would need, with pricing etc? Cheers, Peter Australia JoeKerr on "Help! I'm making a documentary and need help." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/help-im-making-a-documentary-and-need-help#post-35608 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:12:47 +0000 JoeKerr 35608@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Thanks! That's half the price of the one I'm looking at. I'll have to check the specs on both to see what's lighter/better value. <a href="http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/foldable/P315watt.html">http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/foldable/P315watt.html</a> GO4IT! Will JoeKerr on "Help! I'm making a documentary and need help." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/help-im-making-a-documentary-and-need-help#post-35607 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:12:17 +0000 JoeKerr 35607@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <a href="http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/foldable/P315watt.html"></a> faqvideo on "Help! I'm making a documentary and need help." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/help-im-making-a-documentary-and-need-help#post-35603 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:26:49 +0000 faqvideo 35603@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <a href="http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396674307&bmUID=1206066011971&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443281438&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true#ProductRR">http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396674307&bmUID=1206066011971&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443281438&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true#ProductRR</a>Â - this is a portable solar panel with a standard 12V lighter outlet. May be useful if you want to carry a charger as well. I have travelled a lot as a news cameraman, but never on foot. So I never actually travelled without a charger. I would do everything to have a charger on a trip. <a href="http://www.faqvideo.com">DIY Wedding Video</a> JoeKerr on "Help! I'm making a documentary and need help." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/help-im-making-a-documentary-and-need-help#post-35597 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:00:00 +0000 JoeKerr 35597@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Â Â Â Â Thanks Thom, that's a lot of good stuff to think about. One question I have is how do the "little" batteries (compared to Anton Baeur) react to cold weather? I live in Rochester, NY and on cold days my batteries die a lot quicker. Â Â Â Â Â I am looking at the VX2100 now that you talked about it. It's getting great marks for its low light characteristics. I'm still leaning towards the Canon XH-A1. It has 24f and HD capability. Â Â Â Â Thanks also for the little ideas. I hope I would have thought of the extra ND filters and putting something on my tripod so that the legs won't sink. GO4IT! will ThomScratch on "Help! I'm making a documentary and need help." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/help-im-making-a-documentary-and-need-help#post-35579 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:39:56 +0000 ThomScratch 35579@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hi, My choice would be the Sony VX2100, over my PD170, lighter by some.Â Do not take a delicate camera.Â Whatever you get,Â give it a good workoutÂ before you head for the airport.Â Â For the VX2100, 3 batteries guarantee 20 hours; and 6 batteries for 40 hours is no big deal.Â I have done remote shooting in third world countries, relying on battery power and it's cool. One company says the average porter tip is $125; consider $200 if you give the porter an extra 20 pounds to carry.Â They are already carrying a lot of stuff dedicated to the success of your personal experience. For sound, I think I would bring a couple good lavs along, with maybe a 20 foot cable (at least 10), plus the converter cable to input to your cam (if non XLR input like the VX). Bring extra ND filters.Â You will be cleaning them off a lot.Â Better to be cleaning off your filters (and toss them when they get scratched), then to be rubbing your lens like crazy.Â BTW the extended hood on the normal lens of the VX2100 provides extra lens protection. Must admit you got me started doing research about Kili climbs.Â Am envious.Â Prices vary a lot, like by $3-4K,Â based on the company.Â (For a flight in from Arusha and the ground part.)Â The most expensive ones claim success rates ofÂ 90% plus (getting to the top).Â Cheaper ones (shorter trips with less acclimatization) can be around 50%. You will be tired as hell andÂ breathless with every stepÂ as you get close to the top.Â I'd have a strap for your cam.Â (I can't remember the last time IÂ used a strap with a cam...)Â You don't want to drop your cam as you are concentrating on taking your next exhausted step as you get closer and closer. It can rain without warning lower down;Â always have a large zip bag handyÂ to protect your cam.Â (How are HD cams in moisture ???) I haven't done Kili, butÂ I have done Kinabalu (Borneo) andÂ DenaliÂ (Alaska).Â Be aware that in snowy/glacier areas, with the sun overhead, flip out LCDsÂ on most cams are useless.Â You will be using your eyecup.Â Be prepared for that.Â Â If I ever return to the glaciers of Denali (McKinley), I will haveÂ plastic picnic plates to place under the feet of my tripod, so that one leg is not always trying to sink lower than the others. I'd bring a decent digital still camera for quick shots when something happens.Â I think a still of the toilet tent would be more tasteful than a video clip, although a succession of your climbing-mates as they stumble out of the can after dealing with the big D might be fun to watch (several years) later. During your recovery phase, back at sea level, if you have the time, I'd recommend checking out some craft shops in DarÂ where members of the Makonde tribe are applying their amazing skill in carvingÂ "family trees" and other traditional subjects out of massive tree trunks.Â Many years ago, I amassed an amazing collection of carvings in exchange for Timex watches which I had brought from the States; the watchesÂ were considered highly desirable at the time by the Makonde. Have a great trip.Â Come back healthy.Â Hope to see your work someday. REGARDS ... ThomÂ Â Â Â Â JoeKerr on "Help! I'm making a documentary and need help." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/help-im-making-a-documentary-and-need-help#post-35578 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:18:51 +0000 JoeKerr 35578@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Mark, Thanks for the ideas. I would like to use solid state media like a P2 card for my camera. However I'm terrified of having a problem with my P2 store and not knowing until I come back. The camera I've been looking at is the Panasonic AG-HVX200. If I was going with tape, I'd probably look hard at the Canon XH-A1. This is what I'm looking at right now: <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/WishList/2303CE67A5&BI=28">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/WishList/2303CE67A5&BI=28</a> <a href="http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/foldable/P315watt.html">http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/foldable/P315watt.html</a><a href="http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/foldable/P315watt.html"></a> of course I need a tripod and about 20 mini dv tapes. Thanks again. GO4IT! will  <img src="http://b-roll.net/forum/images/misc/progress.gif" /> mmontgomery on "Help! I'm making a documentary and need help." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/help-im-making-a-documentary-and-need-help#post-35569 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:49:33 +0000 mmontgomery 35569@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Hi Will, I'd consider a few key things for your camcorder selection. First topic, CMOS versus CCD technology. Most new HD camcorders available will use CMOS sensors rather than CCDs. Make sure you choose a camcorder with a CMOS sensor--they use less power. There are quite a few small HD camcorders out there that will be easy to pack and hike with. Second topic: the smallest and most energy efficient are HD camcorders that use solid state memory recording (e.g., SDHC cards). A camcorder that uses solid state memory can be smaller and therefore lighter than a camcorder that uses tape. A solid state memory camcorder also uses less mechanical moving parts, which result is less power consumption. The problem with solid state memory camcorders is that you usually have shorter record times and the resulting video might be more difficult to edit on some software applications. Generally, if you're shooting solid state video on a small HD camcorder, it's likely to be in the AVCHD video format. If you go that route make sure to check that your software and computer system can handle the extra demands of AVCHD editing. With that said, the tape-based HDV format provides stunning quality and is generally easy to edit (but always check your software and system specs). Moreover, the HDV format has many more prosumer camcorder options that might provide the best fit for your shooting needs. If that's the case, remember to get a camcorder with CMOS sensors. Here's a list of some very light weight camcorders that come to mind: Solid state memory Canon VIXIA HF10; consumer level cam, but has mic input; CMOS sensor; AVCHD format; SDHC compatible memory card; $1099 Panasonic AG-HSC1U; prosumer level cam, CCD sensor (booo!), but it weighs 1.1 lbs; AVCHD format; SDHC compatible; $2099 HDV tape-based Canon VIXIA HV30; prosumer level cam; mic input; CMOS sensor; HDV format; $999 Sony HDR-HC9; prosumer level cam; mic input; CMOS sensor; HDV format; $1099 Obviously, this is not a complete list, but it's what I've seen out there that's super small and has some pro-like features. There's also small, energy efficient hard drive disk camcorders, but I don't like that you have to carry all your eggs in one basket with these camcorders. With tape and memory cards you can store your footage on multiple media (tapes or memory cards) and not risk loosing all your footage to a stolen or damaged camcorder. I hope this helps you hunt. Also, check out the prosumer camcorder category that's a little bigger (e.g., Sony HDR-FX1, Canon XH-A1, Panasonic AG-HVX200, etc.). Those are good options too, but there much more work to lug around. Mark JoeKerr on "Help! I'm making a documentary and need help." http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/help-im-making-a-documentary-and-need-help#post-35562 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:49:36 +0000 JoeKerr 35562@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Â Â Â Â I'm in the planning stages of creating a documentary. I want to shoot it in HD. The problem is the crux of it will be shot while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. It's really cool except: I may not have electricity after we leave base camp. I need to have the lightest equipment possible while still having quality equipment, and of course how do I keep the costs low. Â Â Â Â Luckily I'm working witha a very good fundraiser and my local PBS affiliate, but I still need all the advice that I can get. Thanks in advance. Â GO4IT! will