Video newbie - camera/software opinons?

19 replies
Hi folks,

Please give me your views on best vid camera and software to buy.
I want to make vids for embedding on clients websites as well as for videoblogging.
Needs to be good quality vid and audio with simple editing.
The flip/fliphd or alternatives?
What do you recommend?

Thanks for your help,
Don
#camera or software #newbie #opinons #video
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    final cut pro, after effects, flash, photoshop
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  • Profile picture of the author enterpryzman
    This is a sample from a flipvideo ultra I made a while ago and it is on one of my sites. I use other camera's for higher quality however, this is fine for fast and decent video's.


    <embed src="http://www.talkaboutcancer.com/flvplayer.swf" quality="high" width="450" height="367" name="VideoPlayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" flashvars="file=http://www.talkaboutcancer.com/uploads/kJwmqL4OCl3MPkU1KMnT.flv&width=450&height=367&over stretch=true&logo=http://www.talkaboutcancer.com/image_s/playerlogo.png&link=http://www.talkaboutcancer.com&linktarget=_blank&showdigi ts=false&backcolor=0xFFFFFF" wmode="transparent" border="0"></embed>



    Enterpryzman

    if that does not appear....go to this link:
    First real video from me - Talk About Cancer
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    • Profile picture of the author donhutchinson
      Originally Posted by enterpryzman View Post

      This is a sample from a flipvideo ultra I made a while ago and it is on one of my sites. I use other camera's for higher quality however, this is fine for fast and decent video's.
      Thanks for sharing. How did you watermark it?
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      • Profile picture of the author donhutchinson
        Originally Posted by Frank Bruno View Post

        Sony Vegas, Pinnacle 10, Adobe products for off the shelf video editing.
        Originally Posted by Mubarak Waseem View Post

        Frank is going for the cheap but it'll do the job idea. If that is what you are looking for then go for vegas or even movie maker
        Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye View Post

        Vegas is fine for internet
        video in general. I have other things too but I use Vegas
        a lot these days. It's excellent for what I do - which is
        bang-out internet videos.
        Thanks guys, Vegas it is!
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        • Profile picture of the author donhutchinson
          Originally Posted by mscherrah View Post

          Depending on how much you are looking to spend, and how much production you are looking to do you can get some good equipment for reasonable prices.
          Looking for ease of use to create medium quality vid diaries. $200/300?

          Originally Posted by enterpryzman View Post

          Try to get one that will let you plug in a mic and has a remote.....also, when shooting from battery, some camera's are quieter. Also, the 24fr means nothing if shooting for the web, you want the fastest poss. such as 30 or 60 frames.
          Enterpryzman
          Thanks for the tips - have heard some poor audio on otherwise fine videos.

          Originally Posted by Kevin AKA Hubcap View Post

          It's best not to take the recommendations of others when you have the ability to test for yourself and find the one that most fits you and how you like to work.Kevin
          Good advice, thanks.

          Originally Posted by Spiritjoy View Post

          How much are you looking to spend? this is the only way to answer the question correctly
          $200/300

          Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye View Post

          Get a camera with a mic-jack. On-board mics suck and make you sound like an amateur, in a bad way. Having
          better quality audio can make your videos stand-out from the pack... if it's just your talking head.
          Pity the flip doesn't.

          Originally Posted by Kerry Finch View Post

          I love my Flip Ultra - fits in my handbag, and I can pull it out when I find someone interesting from whom grab a quick doorstop interview.
          Thanks Kerry.
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Bruno
    Sony Vegas, Pinnacle 10, Adobe products for off the shelf video editing. As far as camera there are thousands to choose from 3ccd cameras will give you excellent quality.

    As far as video flash players some video editing programs will let you use their flash players. Or you can buy own or find one free online.

    Frank Bruno
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  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    I agree and disagree with Frank. Frank is going for the cheap but it'll do the job idea. If that is what you arelooking for then go for vegas or even movie maker
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  • Profile picture of the author mscherrah
    Depending on how much you are looking to spend, and how much production you are looking to do you can get some good equipment for reasonable prices.

    Cameras
    The Panasonic HVX200 is my absolute favorite camera. It is available for between 3500 and 5000 US depending on where you look and if it is used or not. (This may be a little too much camera if you are not looking to go too deep into video production)

    The Canon HV30 is a great little camera, and you can get it for 600 US. From reading around this forum, it seems a lot of people here use this camera, and I would agree with them, it is a powerful piece of equipment.

    As for software, I agree with Saq3m. All of these programs are the best for professionals. Again, though, they may be a little much if you are not looking for full time video production. There are "watered down" versions of the editing softwares you can go for. Final Cut Express, iMovie, Sony Vegas, and to an extent, Windows Movie Maker.
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    • Profile picture of the author enterpryzman
      I have an HV-30 and it is great as you indicated but, it is a little harder if you do not know alot. You have to download tape in real time and have to be able to handle HD ( or it is a waste of money ) with your software. Also, the sound is ok but, I greatly suggest lav mic or a shotgun, I have them both and both work great.

      This camera is known for noise being recorded from the machine itself on your tape. The only other bad thing about this camera is the low light sucks, completely, end of story.

      If you are not going to use the HD feature when shooting, you have no need to buy this camera as any miniDV will work the same. Try to get one that will let you plug in a mic and has a remote.....also, when shooting from battery, some camera's are quieter. Also, the 24fr means nothing if shooting for the web, you want the fastest poss. such as 30 or 60 frames.

      Enterpryzman
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      • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
        There is no reason to choose one video editor over the other right off the bat. Most companies allow you to try full versions of their products for 30 days.

        Take advantage of this. Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Avid, Vegas, and other NLEs on this level have much of the same capabilities.

        It's best not to take the recommendations of others when you have the ability to test for yourself and find the one that most fits you and how you like to work.


        Kevin
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  • Profile picture of the author SirKhan
    I'm familiar with Premiere and After Effects. Always did the job I wanted but of course I'm not a professional. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    Kevin, whilst I agree, Final Cut is industry standard, BECUASE it has been trialled and tested and always comes out on top.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
      Originally Posted by saq3m View Post

      Kevin, whilst I agree, Final Cut is industry standard, BECUASE it has been trialled and tested and always comes out on top.
      Mubarak

      Final Cut is definitely carving out a piece of the pie but IMHO Avid is the industry standard.

      That being said, you can put out professional work with any of them.

      I'm sure that if you used Avid, or Adobe, or some other pro level NLE you're work would be just as good.

      If you're good it doesn't matter what brand of tool you use because it's not the program but your creativity and talent.

      Kevin
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  • Profile picture of the author Spiritjoy
    How much are you looking to spend? this is the only way to answer the question correctly
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  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    Get a camera with a mic-jack. On-board mics suck and
    make you sound like an amateur, in a bad way. Having
    better quality audio can make your videos stand-out from
    the pack... if it's just your talking head. If you want to
    get more visually savvy you'll want to look at software
    that makes cooler graphical effects easier.

    Software can be pretty minimal. Vegas is fine for internet
    video in general. I have other things too but I use Vegas
    a lot these days. It's excellent for what I do - which is
    bang-out internet videos. I think Windows movie maker
    isn't worth the hassle of working around it's weirdnesses.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kerry Finch
    I love my Flip Ultra - fits in my handbag, and I can pull it out when I find someone interesting from whom grab a quick doorstop interview. The vids are great quality and easy to edit - suits my purpose.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Rosa
    Thanks, I actually needed this info myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marty S
    Most cameras are going to do a decent job for you really. Watch for the SALES!

    One thing though, if you are planning on using Final Cut Pro/Express, be sure your video camera is NOT AVCHD format. As good as FC express or pro are, they neglected to include this format as a native import.
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    • Profile picture of the author donhutchinson
      Thanks to everyone for your input.
      I've got Vegas - now considering a camera.
      I don't have a large budget for hardware so possibly the flip ultra or HD for convenience, price and simplicity (no mike input annoys me though).

      Don
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