Digital technology makes shooting, editing much easier
By Jefferson Graham
USA Today
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Technology has gotten so much cheaper and easier to use that if you have a digital camcorder, a decent PC, $100 software and a $150 DVD burner, you can shoot and edit your own movie — complete with titles, music and full edits.
Camcorders once were pricey ($1,000 and up), as well as big, bulky and heavy. But manufacturers have slashed prices for video cameras, which now cost as little as $299. Some models are so small, they fit into your pocket.
Even with entry-level camcorders, such as the $280 JVC GR-250 or $290 Canon ZR100, you'll likely be delighted with the results — especially if you shoot in well-lit situations such as outdoor soccer games or afternoon birthday parties. The higher-end models, which cost $500 to $1,000, are a better option in low-light indoor settings such as weddings.
Camcorders are available mainly in two formats: Mini-DV and DVD.
Mini-DVs, the dominant format, record on tiny videotapes. Tape shot with mini-DV is "dramatically better than the old, analog VHS and 8mm versions," says Dave Etchells, who runs digital camera review Web site imaging-resource.com. "Put them side by side, and there's just no comparison. The quality even at the low end is stunning."
The fastest-growing market segment includes models that record directly to 3-inch mini-DVDs. They're more expensive than mini-DV models, but less time-consuming. You don't have to plug the camcorder into the TV or do time-consuming editing. Just pop the mini-DVD into your DVD player.
Last year, DVD camcorders were priced around $1,000. Now, Panasonic's VDR-M53 can be picked up for around $500, and Canon's DC10 is under $600.
DVD camcorders have some drawbacks. You can record only 20 minutes at top quality on a mini-DVD. And you can't edit with the software that comes with DVD camcorders. Mini-DV is more versatile.
Don't forget to edit your film. Most camcorder owners never bother. They just plug the camera into the TV and watch the raw footage. But if you want to show off your videos — minus the usual pauses, hesitations, lurches and fuzzy camera moments — you can edit them into mini-masterpieces.
Here's what you need:
Popular DVD camcorders from Sony and Hitachi have made it a cinch to skip the editing process and just slip the disk into your DVD player to watch. But until recently, if you wanted to edit your footage, you were out of luck.
The new version of Premiere Elements fills that need and lets you capture DVD video — at least from unprotected DVDs. (You still won't be able to copy or re-edit Hollywood discs.)
What about folks who have a Mini-DV camcorder and want to transfer footage directly to DVD without the heavy lifting? Studio 10, Premiere Elements and Apple's iDVD have features to let you move your film directly from your camcorder onto a DVD.
