The tools that dreams are made of: Sony HDR-FX7E prosumer HD video camera and Adobe Production Premium software suite.
After several rounds of quotations for getting video done for promotion purpose, I offered that if given the tools I could produce it in-house for a fraction of the cost.
Well, last week the tools arrived, and I’m in the process. The only hitch is waiting for a computer that will become the editing station, as my current Dell isn’t up to the task. It’s fairly new, but doesn’t have Firewire and it has only 1 expansion slot which can’t accommodate both a Firewire card and graphic accelerator.
So, what qualifies me for this? I’ve often asked myself this question and I have to admit I’m not qualified with much experience. I have studied in this field though. Sure, it was in 1995 and a bit of a Mickey Mouse ad agency in Cape Town, but it included Premier and Photoshop, the only software from then that has actually survived.
And ever since then I’ve nearly perpetually had a copy of Premier and Photoshop somewhere which I used with regular frequency. I’ve also had a video camera and have a few silly productions under my belt, so I’m not a complete novice.
This will nevertheless be an acid test, and I’m very excited about the opportunity.
Sony HDR-FX7E
. I did some research and eventually settled on the Sony HDR-FX7E, because it got great reviews for producing excellent quality for the price range. And for my intended use it’s actually way fine. It gives high definition at a good price.
There were really only two complaints that reviewers of the camera had and that was how it handled low light and the fact that it doesn’t have a professional sound input port. I’ll see how I’ll get around the sound bit, but the low light is not a big issue for me, as most of what I will shoot will be well lit.
Of course, I’ve tried it out, but I’m reluctant to make any statements, as I hardly know the ins and outs of it. I will be much better informed 1 month from now when I hope to be really close to my newest tool, well able to give comments on things that matter. Which I need to learn of course, which I’m doing.
Adobe CS3 Production Premium
As a PC user, I really only had one choice: Adobe CS3 Production Premium. It features Adobe Premier, Adobe Photoshop Extended and Adobe After Effects, along with several other pieces of software that’s going to make life a whole lot of fun.
I’m excited about all of it, and will post as I discover their potential – from a complete layman’s point of view of course. I can edit a decent movie in Premier, know my way around Photoshop and have even dabbled in After Effects, but on a very lame level.
So anyway, just wanted to share my joy and will share my video production adventures as they unfold. Expect video. Lots of it.