Sunday, November 20, 2011

Sony Handycam HDR-HC7: For The Filmmaker In You!

Sony Handycam HDR-HC7

Are you a potential Hollywood movie maker. If so, you need to know what equipment you will need to realize your artistic skills. The correct technology will compliment your craft as a filmmaker.

The most common complaint among camera buyers, young or old, rich or poor, novice or professional is how often low light performing cameras ruin their photography or video projects. As expected this is a subject of debate among many photographers and videographers. What experts sometimes overlook and novices just have not yet realized is that the smaller the aperture on their equipment the less light will get through to produce a quality picture.

Cameras on the lower end of the budget scale will consistently not perform as well as more expensive models chosen for specific features. As consumers become more discriminating in their camera choices, they will see that the less expensive the camera the smaller the sensor will be. The proof is seen in pictures and videos taken in low light settings. An excellent example would be a boot leg movie taken in a movie theater. The result is a photograph that is grainy. And this applies to any low light situation.

Photography and video equipment has evolved. On the market now is the Sony Handycam HDR-HC7 to fill the gap between consumer and professional camera equipment. This is Sony's top of the line consumer camcorder. It records to tape in the HDV format. It features 6 mega pixels for still photos. From a design standpoint it fits into your hand well and it is well balanced. The T Star Zeiss coated lenses produce a visibly shaper picture than similar priced competitors. In a world where many manufacturers are dropping support for external microphones, this model gives you a connection for your external microphone. With this camcorder you will produce extremely sharp HDV video. The modestly priced HC7 delivers a great home movie experience.

The HDR-HC7 will empower you to capture spectacular photographs that you will be proud to display at every opportunity. The Super NightShot feature and Super SteadyShot technology will allow you to capture videos that you thought only film school graduates could produce. The professional grad Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T Lens with a 10x optical / 20x digital zoom and a ½.9" ClearVid CMOS Sensor will take your skills to the next level. You will benefit from the Touch Panel SwivelScreen technology feature that works extremely well with the 2.7" Wide Clear Photo LCD Plus.

In addition to immaculate quality video, you can capture 4.6 megapixel still images while the camcorder is recording video with the dual record mode feature. Take control of your pictures with the premium design features incorporated in this High-Definition camcorder. Intuitively you will quickly learn to produce the best videos possible with the manual focus, exposure, shutter speed, auto exposure shit and white balance shift.

When it comes to taking the highest quality video possible in lower light settings, there are higher end cameras that may deliver better performance. But it makes no sense to spend more money when you can master a camcorder in this mid price range. As you master your video skills you will appreciate not spending more on a higher end camcorder.

If you have a passion for photography and or video, or if you are a potential Hollywood movie maker, start perfecting your craft with the best and appropriate equipment for your money.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Make Great Movies by Yourself


Attribution:

Top 7 Tips for Making Home Movies That Look Great

By Gretchen Siegchrist, About.com Guide



When you’re making home movies, it’s easy to just pick up your camcorder and press “record.” Sometimes you’ll record unforgettable moments, and end up making home movies that will be treasured forever.

But, sometimes pressing record haphazardly means pressing your luck. Instead of making home movies your family can enjoy, you end up with lousy footage that’s not worth watching.

If you’re interested in making home movies that can be enjoyed for generations, always try to follow the tips below. They don’t take much work or time, but they’ll greatly improve the quality of your home movies.


1. Know Your Camcorder

Be sure to familiarize yourself with your camcorder before you begin recording for real. You’ll want to get comfortable with the controls and the operation of the video camera.

You can prepare yourself by reading through the manual and shooting some practice footage around the house.

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2. Make a Plan

The first thing to do when making home movies is make a plan. You should have an idea of what you're going to be making a home movie about, what you want to video tape, and what you want the final movie to look like, more or less.

This isn't to say that you can't be spontaneous. Some of the best home movies come from unexpected events and activities. But even if you pull out your camcorder without a plan, you can create one while you shoot. Think about what interesting shots and b-roll you can capture, and, even spontaneously, you'll end up making a home movie that's more coherent and entertaining to watch.

3. Lights

Plenty of light will make an incredible difference in the quality of the video footage that you shoot. Shooting outside will give you the best results, but if you’re shooting inside, try to turn on as many lights as possible, and bring them close to your video subject.

More: How to Set Up Videography Lighting (Video)

4. Sound

Video is a very visual medium, but don’t forget that recorded sound plays an important part in making home movies. Always be conscious of the background sound, and try to control it as much as possible.

More: Tips for Recording Better Audio

5. Monitor

Don’t just trust your camera to work best on its automatic settings. Check the audio with headphones, if possible, and check the video footage by looking through the eyepiece. The eyepiece gives you a better view than the flip-out screen, because you won’t be seeing any reflections or be influenced by external light.

6. Hold the Shot

When I’m shooting video footage, I like to hold every shot for at least 10 seconds. This can seem like an eternity, but you’ll thank yourself later when you’re watching or editing the footage.

It may feel like you’ve got enough footage after recording for only 2 or 3 seconds, but those few seconds will fly by later. And remember, DV tape is inexpensive, so you don’t need to be stingy.

7. Look at the Details

Sometimes, you’re so focused on your subject that you don’t notice the surrounding elements of the scene. Only later, when you are reviewing the footage do you notice an unsightly trash can in the background or a tree sticking out of your subject’s head.

I like to scan the video screen carefully before shooting to make sure there’s nothing in the shot that I’ve overlooked. Begin in the center of the screen and work outwards in concentric circles looking closely at what’s in each part of the screen. You may be surprised what you find!