[ninhydrin]

Hi I am a keen photographer and love editing photos I have a great DSLR and a good editing programe, I would like to do the same with video and know nothing about it. What would be best I have done a very little bit of research and and have come to my own conclusion that tape is the way to go due to compression issues on other types of camcorder. For the camcorder I think I will start off with a budget model and see how I go then upgrade if I get into it (same as I did with photgography)... with a budget of £300-£400 what will I get and will it be worth it? Also what software will I need for the laptop?

Cheers

[dejongj]

Linux, Mac, or PC?

[ninhydrin]

sorry its a PC laptop running windows vista 2Gb RAM etc etc

Also dont mind buying 2nd hand if there is anything that stands out around the £300 mark!

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by ninhydrin

sorry its a PC laptop running windows vista 2Gb RAM etc etc

No need to apologise! As standard you will have windows movie maker already installed. Whilst perhaps basic it can handle digital video format pretty well. I would not rush out and buy something until you hit the limitations.

I started off originally on the mac with video editing and was a big premiere pro fan. But when I moved back to windows I really started to vegas by Sony media software. Both also do the "lite" versions in the form of adobe premiere elements and Sony vegas studio. Demo/trial downloads are readily available of both.

But all poducts available have a different feel to them and I think you cannot say that one is generically better than another. Although as I moved back to the mac platform there is one generically better on the mac. Only kidding!

As you like your dslr you probably already know that editing may be able to make up for mistakes like wrong exposure when shooting in raw. But you can't beat a proper photo with the right exposure, correct White balance a nice sharp lense and above all well framed. Same is true for video.

[ninhydrin]

that'll do me mate thats exactly the answer I was after... now just got to do some research on which DV to buy there seems to be some great ones on amazon for £100 to £200 but Im a bit dubious of paying such a low price even though they get great customer reviews?!?!?

[redsox_mark]

Even entry level cams like the Canon MD101 are pretty good (especially in decent lighting), but you will get better quality if you can pay a bit more. With the budget you outlined I'd look at the Panasonic GS320.

[ninhydrin]

cheers for your input redsox I will defo check the panasonic out bud

[senu]

Just as an aside, while you would seek to correct, exposure, contrast colour WB and "sharpeness" ( or the lack of it ) in a digital still,

Shooting and editing video is a bit like Shooting clips with a view to telling a story .....
Correcting any flaws in exposure etc is probably second to how you assemble the clips ( with transitions , music titles ect)
Your creative flair having as much input as the shooting, and editing
The camcorder and editing software are just tools albeit important ones

What did you have in mind as a starting goal for editing?

[ninhydrin]

not exactly sure, maybe beginner stuff like music, slow motion fluent stitching etc, not sure how much or how little you can edit, I have never looked at any of the software yet.

[senu]

Look at the Demo of the trials
Adobe Première Elements
Sony Vegas Movie Studio
Pinnacle Studio
ect
for Ideas
Then maybe download the trialss, some sample or your footage and have a play.. it can be fun provided you dont have to struggle too hard to "know how".