Tools of the Trade
The
video industry has gone through a major revolution in the last several
years. No longer is it necessary
to invest tens of thousands of dollars or more to produce “broadcast
quality” video. Now, a very capable system can be put together
for less than $2500. Here are some key components:
Digital video camcorder ($500 +)
Single CCD Mini-DV or Digital-8 consumer brand digital video camcorders
offer a quality image at an affordable price. Such cameras come equipped
with an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) port for super-fast downloading of digital
video directly to and from your computer. “Prosumer” 3-CCD
cameras with higher picture quality, better lenses, and more professional
features range from $1500-$3500+.
Sony
Mini-DV Camcorders
Canon
Mini-DV Camcorders
Panasonic
Mini-DV Camcorders: Consumer & Professional
JVC
Mini-DV Camcorders: Consumer & Professional
Computer ($1500+)
An Apple Macintosh
or PC equipped with an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) port and adequate
hard disk space
(80+ GB) will get you started editing digital video. Storing a video project
will require 5-20+ GB depending on length; external
hard drives work
well for systems that may lack adequate storage space. A DVD-burner
allows for high quality distribution in this increasingly accessible
medium.
Video Editing Software ($100+)
Apple computers come equipped with iMovie, a very intuitive and easy-to-use
editing program. Though they are less intuitive for the beginner,
Apple’s
Final Cut Express and Final
Cut Pro offer a more robust work environment
with professional features. PC users can utilize Microsoft’s
Windows
Movie Maker or choose from a host of higher caliber products,
including Adobe
Premiere and Avid’s Express DV. These software
packages allow nonlinear editing of video, and behave much like word
processors. They enable you to cut and paste video clips in any order,
adding sound, text, graphics, transitions, and even special effects.
Other Recommended Accessories
- A
Good tripod with a fluid head for smooth camera moves and stability
($200+)
- An
external lapel microphone for capturing interviews ($100+)
- Additional
batteries and an AC charger ($100+)
- A
TV/monitor for use in editing ($200+)
- A
VHS recorder for dubbing copies (or better yet, use DVDs)
($90)
B&H
Photo - Video - Pro Audio
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