Fellow Rennlisters I need your help with this.

My daughter took a Media course last semester and would like to get a video camera to practice making videos (commercials, music videos etc). We are looking for one that uses flash memory and outputs a file in AVI format. My understanding is that she wants to go straight from shooting the movies to editing with an Adobe Premere without needing to do any type of conversion.

Does anyone know of an economical make/model that fulfills these requirements? I have tried researching on internet but the specs do not tell me if the output file is in AVI format.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

I think Geoff and Esh are our resident experts here........

 

This would be the best forum to use.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/

 

Mark most programs that edit movies will work in multi codecs for importing.
So I'm not sure why this is an issue. If you need to export the movies in .avi that should not be a problem either.

 

Sorry forgot to mention, she should be using a Mac. iMovie is fantastic, and it's Free.

 

Thanks Eshel, thats what I was thinking but I though I would post to see if anyone knew of a video camera that outputted a "raw" AVI file.

Thanks, we'll check it out!

 

[QUOTE=Mark Lue;7766169]Thanks Eshel, thats what I was thinking but I though I would post to see if anyone knew of a video camera that outputted a "raw" AVI file.

as far as I know .avi is a compression codec for video, same as .mov and another bunch of codec's that I cannot remember. The closest format to raw that I am aware of is to shoot with a tape based video camera. The downside to that format is you physically have to watch it download. PITA. The SD based camera I have has less resolution than my 1080i Sony, eventhough it's 1080p, fortunately it's very convenient for importing video, separating events, and not having to rewind or FF a tape.

 

I have a Sony HVR-Z1U and a HDR-HC9, both are miniDV tapes, as he said, it's the best to use, but there are not very many tape units left.

MAC is probably the easiest and best for editing, but then it depends on how much you want to spent on equipment for her.

You will need a fluid head tripod, different microphones for different situations.

Comsumers stuff is 3.5mm, pro mics are XLR.

Pro camcorders are 3 chips ccd, comsumer are usually single chip CMOS.

 

The tape based unit is what they used at her school so that explains why it downloads to avi.

I'm trying a different approach...if I can get my hands on hands on Adobe Primere I maybe able to get a better idea on where I'm going.

 

Adobe allows you to download a trial version at the following link:
http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/

 

Thanks thats the link I have.

 

I'd seriously consider going with an SLR that shoots video. Controlling depth of field and the ability to change the lens out are things that regular video cameras just can't do (or do well). Any basic programs (iMovie) are a great way to start editing footage. Most of what makes good videos is the footage, not the effects or capabilities that more advanced software (premier, final cut) gives you. Quick simple cuts of great footage is honestly what you see in commercial work. SLRs give you an amazing ability to work with available light or fully rigged sets.

In short, any software will do, it's the footage and the careful editing using simple cuts that sets apart the good from the great.

YMMV

 

Thanks Geoff for the advise, my daughter takes that approach to some extent she enjoys taking what I would call random snippets and edditing them into some decent footage.