Alfred's Serif Users' Forums — Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2026-10-20T05:59:50Z

Just an update on equipment ! Apart from the odd bit's n Pieces that I tend to buy now and then, I did buy a Sony ax700 camcorder simply because of the large sensor for low light (and fully controlable) and an Osmo pocket 4 for it's small size. Although I have used the pocket 4 to make a complete video it is not my camera of choice as it's too fiddly to get at the settings instantly like a decent camcorder. Saying that at least it will go in your pocket !!! Also It's very rarely that I use my ax700 (although it is superior to the ax53) I find it too big and heavy to use for the majority and the type of videos that I make.
I am still using Moviplus X6 though as I at (being 80 years old very soon) I find things difficult to learn. Although it wont handle 4k straight out of the box, I still find it amazing seeing that it was made all those years ago ! A bit more memory and 4k it would be a top seller today.
Sue and I are still living in Spain and the UK for approximately 6 months of the year in up to 6 week periods but I don't know how long for as we are not teeagers in body anymore !!!!

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2024-07-06T10:37:32Z

One of the most important things that I can never do without is one of these ! well made and very strong, I often use it to hang a static camcorder and my audio recorder on in some of the most awkward places, and it has never let me down.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2023-11-05T11:34:56Z

Well for the last six months I have been using a Panasonic HCX 2000 camcorder, I bought it on a bit of a whim while I was looking on line. I found one that was still in it's box actually unused and still in it's individual plastic coverings. It was up for auction on eBay and I put a silly low price in more to see the result than actually buy it, and much to my surprise I actually bought it for well under 1k !
It is a good bit of kit for what I paid and I really like it. It is not the camera that I use for my films of music groups/bands in Spain as it is bigger and heavier and not practical for the hand held shots that I use, also I travel really light on our frequent trips.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2023-02-28T23:35:41Z

This is me in the early 80s using some of the first portable affordable video gear with a separate recorder. It cost a fortune back then compered to todays amazing stuff and the quality wasn't great. At least you could see the results immediately unlike the cine film I had used for 20 years previously !

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2023-02-27T02:53:57Z

I'm glad you were able to salvage the wedding film with MvP's color keying and I'd like to see it if you can find it.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2023-02-27T01:05:54Z

tomH wrote:

Yes, I mean green screen and blue screen backgrounds; even professionally made green screen clips are impossible to key correctly. Before the key is done MvP has washed out the subject or pixilated so badly it's worthless. Having said that, it's the only real complaint I have about the program and I do have a workaround.

I have had pretty good success with green screening on Movieplus over the years but it does take a fair bit of work to get it right. I will find one to show you that will be on a hard drive somewhere.
One that I had to do involved a wedding that I filmed in Morocco, everything was going fine and was being held outside in perfect weather. We were about to have the speeches when a sudden downpour developed and we were hustled into a small room that was far too small for everybody and I had to try and get to a position to record the various people.
I managed to get some footage of most of the speakers in the crammed dark conditions but missed most of the father of the bride.
When we came back to the UK I went to the brides fathers house and took my green screen backdrop kit with me and he dressed in the exact outfit (I took a photo with me for continuity) and he did the complete speech while I videoed it.
I took a screenshot off of the wedding video of him sitting at the table and got rid of him and anyone beside him in photoshop and placed him making the speech over the screenshot. As I had also recorded the original wedding on an audio recorder as well I used the sound of the guest laughing and making comments at the relevant times. I got away with it as the original footage wasn't the best in the dark crowded conditions and had to actually degrade the green screen video to match it!
I had to go to Ireland 3 months later for another one of the same family's wedding so they obviously liked it !

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2023-02-26T20:59:16Z

I've been using MoviePlus since 3x whether before that I don't know but it seems like years and years, on the shelf as I say I've got 3x,5x, and 6X, I couldn't be without it, I've got Corel VideoStudio and NCH VideoPad but I keep coming back to MoviePlus, for me it's great, I work quickly with it and it just flows.

I used to cover Speedway matches and make up DVD's for sale in the track shop, My wife is into dog showing, so I have videoed Dog Shows too, some of those are on my youtube, and of course I'm always videoing our Elkhounds

I just love Video editing, been doing it since 1980, crash editing then between VHS machines, today's a doddle

Alan

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2023-02-26T20:45:51Z

Yes, I mean green screen and blue screen backgrounds; even professionally made green screen clips are impossible to key correctly. Before the key is done MvP has washed out the subject or pixilated so badly it's worthless. Having said that, it's the only real complaint I have about the program and I do have a workaround.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2023-02-26T20:30:01Z

tomH wrote:

.
MoviePlus handles most tasks flawlessly, although it tends to crash during intense work, so I back up frequently and restart the program many times in the editing process. MoviePlus does not handle ChomaKey well enough to use. So I use one of the programs mentioned below when ChromaKeying is required and import the resulting file back to MvP.
I've tried other programs like Premiere/Sony-Magix/PowerDirector but find the interfaces confusing and with many more bells and whistles than I need (AFAIK). I have DaVicni Resolve and if I can become semi-proficient with it I may move away from MoviePlus, but that's a way down the road.

I do agree regarding crashing especially with intensive work like lots of stabilizations that can cause a bit of aggro, and like you I always make a copy of the programs every now and then while actually editing , especially in long projects. However I do use chroma key in various short advertising videos and find it OK, so do you mean green screen background problems or something else with it ?

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2023-02-26T19:25:07Z

I use MoviePlusX6 on a weekly basis to create videos for fraternal clubs, averaging 8-10 minutes each for show on their TVs, via SD card or email. They are a compilation of stock videos (subscription), a little smartphone video, and graphics I create in Photoshop. Fortunately, because they are used in bars and social rooms where TV sound would be distracting, I don't have to fool with audio unless there is a companion video for a club's website or Youtube channel.

MoviePlus handles most tasks flawlessly, although it tends to crash during intense work, so I back up frequently and restart the program many times in the editing process. MoviePlus does not handle ChomaKey well enough to use. So I use one of the programs mentioned below when ChromaKeying is required and import the resulting file back to MvP.

I've tried other programs like Premiere/Sony-Magix/PowerDirector but find the interfaces confusing and with many more bells and whistles than I need (AFAIK). I have DaVicni Resolve and if I can become semi-proficient with it I may move away from MoviePlus, but that's a way down the road.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2023-02-26T17:56:55Z

Hi you guys n gals, how many of you are still using Movieplus ?. Although I do have other software I still go for it when editing as I have been using it since it came out and kept updating it until X6.
I find that I can do "just about" everything that all the others do with a bit of improvising that suits me without spending vast amounts on something that I will never use.
Obviously you can't render directly in 4K but who actually needs it for the type of videos that most of us make ? Although you can render to 2k with Movieplus that is fine but I do film in 4k sometimes and use a free 4k editing software to enlarge certain parts with no loss in quality and render it to 1080p mp4, I then use Movieplus to string it all together for final rendering.
It would be interesting to find out what other "workarounds" people have found.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2022-09-07T15:08:57Z

pberk wrote:

It's so strange Gordon that you should pop up here .. I have a Sony NX30 .. It has pretty good stabilization. I use a tripod when ever possible.
I've been thinking of a new camera. I like the look and the reviews on the Sony FX3 .. I think it would take me up a level. I don't mind spending the money if I can convince myself that the films I make with the FX3 deserve it. And -- if I can convince myself to devote the time to learn a new camera well enough to be able to say "I'm glad I got this FX3 and spent all that money". So -- no new camera yet .. Right now I think the "little" ideas I have would not come out any better than on my old NX30.
One of the things about 4k is being able to crop into the image without losing resolution if your final output is 1080p I envy you that with your AX53.

Yes I agree on the "if's and buts" regarding upgrading. I too could afford to buy a more "professional" camera but although it may have more facilities and have better resolution/longer zoom/built in ND filers/more bells n whistles etc, It will be bigger and heavier. I find that I can pop my camcorder like the Panasonic VXF990 into my jacket pocket when I go for a walk or just hang it round my neck in the heat when in Spain. As I, and I presume yourself (along with others on the forum) fully understand how to use a camera in manual settings and their limitations can make a half decent job with what we have, and we won't be the next Steven Spielberg by spending two or three times the amount !
As I may have mentioned in other posts the only good point on the AX53 that I have found is the stabilization that suits me for the type of videos that I make when hand holding, apart from that the 990 is much better as it is fully controllable (unlike the AX53) more user friendly and the video quality is just the same.
My wife, who is a very good stills photographer is often asked what camera she has as it "takes brilliant pictures" she surprises them when she shows them her old Canon G9 compact. However she was bought up using manual 35mm SLRs with "proper film" when you made most shots count.
I am always surprised that some people buy a half decent camera/camcorder and have never used any manual settings and only use it for "baby on the lawn" epics, but hey ho if that's what they want then who am I to question them.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2022-09-06T23:26:39Z

It's so strange Gordon that you should pop up here .. I have a Sony NX30 .. It has pretty good stabilization. I use a tripod when ever possible.

I've been thinking of a new camera. I like the look and the reviews on the Sony FX3 .. I think it would take me up a level. I don't mind spending the money if I can convince myself that the films I make with the FX3 deserve it. And -- if I can convince myself to devote the time to learn a new camera well enough to be able to say "I'm glad I got this FX3 and spent all that money". So -- no new camera yet .. Right now I think the "little" ideas I have would not come out any better than on my old NX30.

One of the things about 4k is being able to crop into the image without losing resolution if your final output is 1080p I envy you that with your AX53.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2022-09-06T10:29:35Z

I sometimes use a setup like this if I am filming long takes indoors, however since getting the Sony AX53 it's almost made the gimbal obsolete. If I use the gimbal and the 53 together the video looks like it's made on a tripod but a bit of overkill.

Re: Camcorders, cameras, gimbals, equipment etc.

2022-02-18T20:36:43Z

I am actually selling one of my Panasonic camcorders a HDC TM900 with all the parts, a brilliant auto/fully manual camcorder that incorporates a 32GB hard drive as well as an SD slot. I have it on eBay on offer as having 5 camcorders I think is a bit OTT even for multi cam shots !

UPDATE
I eventually sold the TM900 after a time on eBay but only got £90 for it, however somebody got a bargain and it was just taking up space. I had had it for at least 10 years and it had served me well.