MiniDV or a hard drive camera?
February 20, 2009 at 2:03 am | In Editing Video | Leave a CommentTags: miniDV
I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately from people in the market for a new video camera. (Yes, apparently there are some purchases even a recession can’t prevent).
I always stress that I’m nowhere near the status of being an expert. I don’t moonlight at National Camera or Best Buy. I just use video cameras on a daily basis at my day job and for my business. Several of them. From a two-year-old $200 Canon ZR200, to a brand new $3,400 Canon XH-A1 in all its HD glory – with a couple of Canon GL2’s and a Canon XL2 mixed in-between.
Aside from me liking Canon… my biggest recommendation concerns the question I posed in the title of this post. Call me crazy, but I still swear by miniDV.
Look. If a brand new XH-A1 is shooting HD video to tape, capturing great video, then that’s where my loyalty is gonna be. At least until they stop making miniDV tapes for the kinds of cameras I need to use, I suppose.
The truth is, I don’t know if I’ll want to be shooting on miniDV in three years, or five. Yes, I’ve had a couple tapes get jammed up inside a camera. It’s not fun. And not cheap to fix.
Will miniDV be replaced by nothing but hard drive cameras, sooner versus later?
I think you’ve also got to define your purpose for the camera. Are you a professional? Do you shoot family events, sports… or interviews? Do you need a camera with inputs for high-quality microphones and lighting. Will you edit the footage?
And, how will you be viewing your video? Do you only want to watch it on your computer? Or, do you also want to burn your footage onto DVDs – or BluRay (a topic for another post) – from time to time? And, what software will you use to import, edit and export your footage?
Someone like me has to be able to have a camera that captures video in the highest possible quality for viewing on a large screen plasma TV -and- for compression to upload a Web-friendly version to YouTube.
If you had to, you could shoot a video for a corporate Web site or YouTube on a cell phone. But your cell phone isn’t designed to capture video at DVD quality, or to capture more than a few seconds. You simply can’t use your cell phone, or one of those Flip MinoHD cameras – to shoot your daughter’s basketball game as you would with a larger handheld camera. At least, not effectively.
I’ll say this… I’ve imported video from a camera that records to a hard drive, instead of miniDV, into iMovie and I was disappointed with the time it took to process the footage and to export it out to DVD.
Those hard drive cameras are expensive. And you need to make sure your computer can handle the task of importing and storing the footage since you don’t have the tapes around as a backup.
I shoot to miniDV because it’s easy to import to iMovie and Final Cut. From there, I know that the export options, either to DVD or the Web, are equally easy.
Just my opinion. I like shooting to miniDV. It works for my workflow. It may not work for yours.
One word of caution though, stick with the same brand of miniDV tape in your camera. Don’t mix and match. That’s when problems can pop up inside. I’ve had that happen to me, and also have read about it happening to others.
Why do you shoot home video?
November 25, 2008 at 1:04 am | In Editing Video, Shooting Video | Leave a CommentTags: david pogue, why shoot home video
I know why I do.
And well-known New York Times tech writer David Pogue knows why he shoots home video too. But he recently got an avalanche of comments to his blog from people, both for and against taking the time to preserve your personal memories.
His original blog post captured his compelling reasons for capturing family moments on video.
Pogue’s folo-up post examined the public reaction he got to his position.
Look, if you don’t believe in the purpose of preserving your family’s milestones through video, you’re probably not reading this anyway. If you’re on the fence, allow me to make the case, with the help of Pogue, who lists five reasons for shooting video:
1. For our older selves – “Life is fleeting,” Pogue writes. I couldn’t agree more. My youngest kids will be out of the house in 10 years. I already watch their baby and toddler videos over and over. You don’t think I’ll want to watch their soccer, baseball and basketball games when I’m 60?
2. For our descendants. Sure, the relatives I’ll never meet may not care about my kids’ (their grandparent’s) baby videos. Yeah… right. I would love to see video/film of my grandparents as children. But it doesn’t exist. One of the people who commented on Pogue’s post put it best, you need to “Plant a seed for a tree you’ll never sit under.”
3. For pleasure. Home video and photography is a rewarding hobby. But it also has a purpose (See #1 and #2).
4. For historians. Because you never know, Pogue says, “The home videos of today might become a valuable archive for historians of the future.”
5. For posterity. Yes, it’s true. Our ancestors may not care to watch our home video. But, Pogue writes, “Believing that somebody *might* someday be interested in your videos inspires and drives us.”
In his folo-up to his original post, Pogue reposted this comment from a reader, who said we document our lives because “It is as natural to our natures as breathing and our need for love.”
So why do you shoot home video?
If you’re comfortable shooting video, but don’t have the computer, software or skill to edit it on DVD, give me a call at 651-402-7086 or email me at kevin@kevinhuntvideo.com.
I’d love to help you tell and preserve your story.
Comparison of video sharing sites
October 5, 2008 at 1:02 am | In Editing Video | 2 CommentsTags: compression, online video, video sharing sites
John Chow dot com has an interesting comparison of a video he uploaded to YouTube, AOL Video, Google, Vimeo and Viddler.
It just goes to show what not all video sharing sites are the same.
And while YouTube is by far the most popular, you can see in his post that Chow realized higher quality compression of his video sample at Vimeo.
I’ve noticed the same drop in compression of my videos. I prefer keeping most of mine on YouTube, not only because of its popularity but because its videos are easily embeddable in a variety of blog platforms and Web sites.
I like Vimeo, but I also have been using Viddler a lot more recently because they allow you to embed a logo in the bottom right corner of their player.
Because after all, it’s your video right? It’s not YouTube’s.
Get the most from your high school team highlight video
September 10, 2008 at 1:38 am | In Editing Video, Shooting Video, Team Video | 1 CommentTags: farmington, high school team highlight video, Kevin Hunt Video, team DVD
(This post is also available as a PDF on Scribd)
“The DVD was a tremendous hit at the banquet. Lots of laughs, applause and smiles.”
That’s the kind of actual customer feedback craved by every video production professional creating a high school team highlight DVD.
Did you feel that way when your son or daughter’s team video was played at their season-end banquet? If your answer is no – or “sort of” – then this article is for you.
Now more than ever.
In this era of the ever-increasing popularity of video – online, on the go and on your fancy flat screen at home – it’s becoming more likely for high school coaches, booster clubs and parents to hire a videographer/editor to capture the memories of their team’s season on camera and showcase them in a compelling team video.
But one video editor’s idea of “compelling” can be different than their competitors. And too often the less compelling video costs more.
Because your memories matter.
This article presents three concepts to consider for anyone concerned that the highlight videos ordered every year by their high school coaches, booster clubs and parents – no matter what the sport – have been falling far short of what they could and should be. Continue reading Get the most from your high school team highlight video…
Editing video at the Olympics
August 22, 2008 at 12:36 am | In Editing Video | Leave a CommentTags: apple, Editing Video, pow! pix, sports video, studiodaily, Television Broadcasts Limited, video editing software
As entertaining as it has been to watch the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing on TV, it’s worth noting the amazing talent and efforts of the numerous video editors from around the world working 24/7 behind-the-scenes.
On its website this week, Apple highlights the editing on Macs at Television Broadcasts Limited (TBL), Hong Kong’s largest broadcaster. They use Final Cut Pro, no surprise, to handle the large volume of work they’re doing with video, graphics and animations.
It’s interesting to note that Apple and Final Cut are firmly entrenched in the video editing workflow in China. The article says TVB selected Mac because local operators trained on Final Cut Studio are readily available. “In Hong Kong, most of the artists are using Macs in college, so it’s easier to adopt,” notes Chung Nin Lee, Assistant Creative Imaging Director for TVB. “At this point, we don’t have to do much in-house training. We look at a prospective editor’s resume, and if they know how to use the Mac and Final Cut Studio we already know we can potentially work with them.”
For you true video editing techies, I also spotted an article on StudioDaily that highlights how Pow! Pix is helping NBC look good. It’s a bit technical, when it comes to their equipment, but you still get a feel for the behind-the-scenes work.
Do or do not, there is no try
August 6, 2008 at 8:44 pm | In Editing Video | Leave a CommentTags: Editing Video, Kevin Hunt Video, video editing software
How’s that for a quote? Star Wars fans will recognize it, out of the mouth of Yoda.
I’ll use it here for a quick post pertaining to learning to edit video on your computer. Either you make the time to do it or you don’t.
There is no try.
Well, there is actually a lot of try. When I first learned to edit I needed to try many things to get the hang of it. But I found what worked – and works – best for me is to set aside large blocks of time to do it. I can’t start something tricky that I haven’t done before, go mow the yard, and come back to the computer.
It doesn’t matter if it’s editing video or putting together a shelf from IKEA. I need to spend as much time on something until I get it. Get the distractions, a.k.a. the kids, dog, etc… out of the house, and get to it.
I encourage you to try editing video. It’s easier to do than it’s ever been. Especially on a Mac.
But do, or do not.
If you do get the hang of it and find lots of uninterrupted time to work at it, great.
If you “do not”, call me!
A father and son story
August 1, 2008 at 10:18 am | In Editing Video, Interesting Video, Photography | Leave a CommentTags: howard county times, maisie crow, max seidlitz, news videographer, prader willi
I’m sharing something I found on the Web that is notable for so many reasons:
The use of video, photos and audio.
The love of a father.
The struggles and sincerity of a son.
Max Seidlitz has Prader-Willi syndrome. The disorder makes him feel like he’s always hungry. Please watch this compelling story about Max and his dad Lon on the Howard County TIMES Web site in Maryland. The story is by Steve Kelly. The photos are from Maisie Crow.
Thanks to News Videographer for posting the link. I think you’ll find the images powerful and the soundbites of Lon and Max very moving.
The do it yourself dilemma
July 24, 2008 at 9:53 pm | In About Me, Business Video, Editing Video, Shooting Video | Leave a CommentTags: Kevin Hunt Video, www.kevinhuntvideo.com
As I get older – pushing 40 now real fast – and my kids inch closer to the dreaded teenage years, I find that it’s easier to make the decision not to try and do a do it yourself project that I have no business doing.
Make sense?
Let me explain… Sure, I cut and nailed in all the wood trim after we (my wife and my brother-in-law) put in a Pergo floor in our living room.
But the trim was a pain to install. It took me a whole day! Not to mention the horrible job I did with all the nails that I couldn’t get to go in all the way so they’re sticking out of the trim. Nice look. Bugs me every time I look at the trim.
Should have hired a pro.
Sure, I’ve painted my kids’ bedrooms a few times but each time it’s taken several hours, not counting the cleanup, because I’ve always managed to blob repeatedly on the ceiling or on the carpet, making it much more of a mess than it needed to be.
I learned my lesson on that one. When we wanted to paint our main rooms…
We hired a pro.
Just because you can change a headlight bulb in your car, it doesn’t mean you can replace the brakes.
Just because you can build a shelf in the garage out of 2×4’s and plywood, doesn’t mean you can build a four season porch add-on to your home.
I know that many of you reading this have dabbled in learning to edit your home video. You may even be getting good at it. That’s great! I hope you have enough time to keep it up.
But no matter what your skill level, I can save you the time. I can add professional editing experience to your projects. I can add creativity that comes from the passion I bring to telling your story. Your video is as important to me as it is to you.
When it comes to video, hire an experienced (and affordable!) pro.
One day, some day
July 18, 2008 at 12:22 am | In Editing Video | Leave a CommentTags: farmington video, Kevin Hunt Video
Are you suffering from the dreaded “One day, some day” curse?
One day, I’ll convert my VHS tapes of home video to DVD.
Some day, I’ll organize all my miniDV videotapes and see exactly what I have.
One day, I’ll learn how to import my miniDV tapes into my computer.
Some day, I’ll learn how to edit my home video once it’s on my hard drive.
One day, I’ll learn how to create a memorable DVD of my home video.
Some day, I’ll realize I just don’t have the time to do it myself and hire someone to do it.
If you’re in the Twin Cities metro area, let me be the “someone” you hire. I can save you the time and hassle of preserving the memories you have on home video.
And make today your “One day, some day.”
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