neophyte seeks advice from experts « Videomaker Community Forums

nobody
Member

We are a small ATV accessory dealer located in Libby Montana. Our goal is to produce product demonstration videos that are of high enough quality for TV broadcast and later streaming over the net. We understand most aspects of streaming (I'm the webmaster) but we need advice as to the best, most cost-effective video camera to buy. Analog or digital? We have an All-in-wonder card to convert to digital. Please help us!

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Well, unless you are on an extremely tight budget, go digital. All you need to edit is a ohci compliant firewire card. Then just hook up your camcorder to the computer via a firewire cable and the footage will be copied from the camera to the computer where you can then edit. I'd reccomend a 3ccd camera like the sony vx2000 or a canon gl2. These are over $1,000. You can spend about half as much and get a consumer level minidv camera, but they will only have 1 ccd, and the quality will suffer.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Digital all the way. Better no loss of quality, and it will last longer before it gets obsolete.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

You MUST go with digital. There are so many reasons that have already been written so many times that it would be pure nonsense to not go digital. Best comparison I can think of is stereo versus mono.

Posted 8 years ago #
mrvideo
Member

I'm the last person to discourage anyone from entering the DV arena but given your needs have you considered contracting your video production? It isn't inexpensive but neither is doing it yourself by the time you've geared up - and the learning curve to making a good product is steep. If it isn't a passion you'll find it hard, frustrating going. Actually, even if it is a passion it will drive you mad, but you'll accept the pain more readily:)

David Hurdon
http://www.contentshop.tv

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Whenever anyone asks me this, I always drag out my trusty "piano" analogy.

Say you have a party or a family wedding coming up and you want some entertainment for your guests.

Would you even consider buying yourself a piano and starting to take piano lessons? Of course not. You'd hire a pianist because the piano doesn't make the music - the piano PLAYER does.

Similarly, all the cool technology in the world won't make you a good video. For that, you need someone who's got both the talent and experience to insure quality results.

Particularly when business results are on the line!

If you want to take the "do it yourself" approach to videomaking, cool!
That's what this magazine is all about. But as with piano playing, you really can't expect to just sit down and instantly "wow" your audience.

Some talented individuals will learn quickly. Others will NEVER get past "chopsticks." That's just basic common sense.

My advice is for you to go ahead and dive in and start "learning" video production ASAP. Because if you spend every day learning about video, sooner or later, you will BE a pro. Simple as that.

Until then, hire someone who's already put in the time learning the hundreds of large and small lessons that need to be mastered in order to produce a really good video product.

Good Luck!

Posted 8 years ago #