AVCHD or Mini DV - What are the pros using?

[Clay Hayes]

Is anyone doing much editing with the new AVCHD format?  I'm floundering on whether to get a Panasonic AG-HMC40 or the Sony HDR-FX7.

The HMC-40 records in AVCHD which is supposed to be a bugger to edit, while the FX7 records to MiniDV which I'm used to.

I'd rather have a camera that records to a hard disk an not have to fool with the tapes, but I've heard some horror stories about editing the AVCHD format.  

I'm editing in Adobe CS4, which will run AVCHD natively, but still have reservations.

Does anyone here have any experience editing AVCHD?  Or, can anyone point me in the direction of someone who can?

ch

[Chris Shelton]

Clay I was wondering about this too, so I did a bit of reading.  It seems to me that all the non-linear editing systems scrambled to support the new format but Adobe seemed to be a bit ahead of the gun.  I think everything is headed to AVCHD, and even if you go with the panasonic you can just shoot in SD, so it would be much easier to edit.  I really hope someone that has actually edited with it chimes in because I really dont trust what I have read online, lol.

BTW I just bought CS4 design premium and it is awesome, now I want after effects like you have, lol.

[Clay Hayes]

Sooo, you've got the web page creation software?

Adobe has some good student discounts if you haven't already figgured that out.

ch

[Chris Shelton]

Yessum, now I just got to learn how to use it.  I got dreamweaver, photoshop, illustrator, flash, indesign, fireworks, and bridge.  The only one I know how to use well is photoshop but I am taking a graphic design class this summer, which is why I had to get it.

Dreamweaver is the HTML writer/designer.  But that is like foreign to my film mindset as I am sure you can relate

There student discounts are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, lol.  You cant beat 80% off!  But 80% off 1500 bucks is still expensive, lol

[Clay Hayes]

Once you get into the adobe software, you'll want After Effects bad.  If you have dynamic link, all the applications will work together simultaniously(sp).  When you have them linked, you can change something in a clip open in photoshop and it showes up in AE or whichever app your linked to. cool stuff and a huge time saver.

When you learn to use dreamweaver, I might hit you up for some help    

[Clay Hayes]

Oh, I ended up getting the Panasonic HMC40.  $1850 at TV Specialists in Salt Lake.  That's $150 bucks cheaper than B&H.  Good price.  It shoots full 1920x1080 HD as well as 720, both progressive and interlaced.  Records to an sdhc card and the only moving parts are the focus and zoom so the battery life is great (2.5 hrs on stock batt).  I've gotta get a good mic next.

My computer is a little jerky running AVCHD, but when I transcode it to P2 it runs smooth as silk.  I'm going to have to get another hard drive though to store this stuff.  I flipped about 8 minits of video to P2 and it came out at 1.64 GB.

[Chris Shelton]

Nice!!  shoo, 1.64 GB, that is basically massive!!!  That camera didnt come with a mic?

I am learning fast!!!  CS4 comes with a registration bonus, and one of the things is a 30 day trial for a website,  www.lynda.com.   And they have some awesome video courses, and I can create a basic webpage now.  The absolute best part about everything is that you do not need to know anything about HTML or CSS code(which I dont)to make a website.  Dreamweaver does all the coding for you, which is Grreat!

[Clay Hayes]

It's got an in camera mic, but I need something a little better.  I'm thinking a Rode Videomic may be the ticket.  Good audio is a must for good film.

[Chris Shelton]

yea with that recording tape head you can get a hi pitched screaming noise!  It drives me crazy, but I dont have tapes anymore, but now the lense adjustment from the rare cases when I use autofocus still makes that noise, lol.  I cant get a external mic though . . .

[Clay Hayes]

why can't you get a shotgun mic?  Will it not attach?  The Rode mic is only $150.

I just got a new Bogin tripod in the mail today.  The head is smoooooooth.  Can't wait till it quits snowing so I can try it out.  Maybe I'll go to Yellowstone this weekend.  The bears are waking up!

[Chris Shelton]

well my current camera is a point and shoot, the one I am getting comes with a shotgun mic.  Going from a point and shoot to a ENG camera is a big step:).  

OOO nice tripod!!!  I need a new tripod, mine drives me crazy.  So sketchy:(.  You should post some video when you get something good, so we can see how everything turned out!!