Filmmaker One HD Production Diary - Must buy new toys.

February 12, 2008 | 2 Comments posted | Filed under HD

I am committed to starting up a secondary video podcast for a number of reasons. I want to present some visual material to accompany the Filmmaker One audio show. But I also want to explore distributing HD video through RSS and iTunes.

So, first things first. How do I use this project to justify buying cool new gear?

I already have a Panasonic HVX200 at work, but I don’t want to lug that thing around. That’s too much like work. If this show is a labor of love, lets keep that ratio more love than labor.

That’s why I’ve been eying these cool little Sony and Canon consumer HD cameras, Like the Sony HRD-SR5 and the super-popular Canon HV20. I decided on the Canon HG10 because of the hard drive, the AVCHD format, and I got a killer deal on it. The prices of the Canon cameras are dropping like crazy in the last few days. Newer models were announced at CES, and will start shipping in April.

The new version of the HV20, now called the Vixia HV30 is almost the same camera. It makes a few baby steps with improvements to the LCD and the zoom button, but the innards are almost identical, including its use of MiniDV tape for its HDV recording.

After spending some time with solid state recording devices, like our Panasonic and my wifes Flip Video, it is hard to go back to tape. It feel like dial-up.

So I am sacrificing image quality for convenience and going with AVCHD, and the 40GB hard drive inside the tiny Canon HG10. There is an ongoing, unresolved debate over the image quality between HDV and first-generation AVCHD. For my particular project, convenience wins out.

As usual, everything is a trade off.

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

2 Comments posted

Filmmaker One HD - Pemieres March 2008

February 9, 2008 | Comments? | Filed under AppleTV, HD, iTunes

Filmmaker One will soon launch a companion video show, Filmmaker One HD in March of 2008.

The new show will present supplementary video content to accompany the material presented in our audio show. For example, we will feature film clips, gear images and whatever else we think might enhance the show and the community.

The show will be produced and distributed in High-Definition video, and made available through iTunes, RSS, Apple TV and on the Filmmaker One web site.

More details to come as the show takes form. Have any ideas for the show? Let us know in the comment area.

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.