Digital Video Camera

Just got a DV Camcorder for X-Mas. So I was thinking about chasing my cats around for a while to get started with learning how to use it. I am looking for recommendations for editing software. Do you use Final Cut Pro, or iMovie, or what else? I think iMovie is too simplified, and from what I've use of Final Cut Pro, it might be a little bit more difficult for a first time videographer . Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

I has played with both. You might want to start with Imovie first and then move to Final Cut. One thing about Final Cut, you can do almost anything you want to do. It just take a little work.

i do almost all my home movies in iMovie. its great, its simple and doesn't take much time. when my friend and i make our semi-professional low budget films we use Final cut all the way. although we did rejected for our last submission to the Sundance movie festival....

you can do some cool stuff with iMove, especially if you buy some cool transitions for like $20.. heres something i did with my spring break video from last year.. I'm the blonde hair guy who wins!!!

(outdated link removed)

Interesting video... Nice production company name Got any links to other stuff you've done? I'd like to see some of the effects you can do with iMovie or Final Cut Pro.

im working on one now that me and my band made while recording some of our music... i think everyone will find the ending very funny... im just waiting on the guitar player to give me the recording back

Emrys, what kind of DV Camcorder did you get. I am starting to do the research, in order to purchase one. You trying to get the most bang for the buck or bells and whistles.

B)

I got a JVC GR-DVL520u. As far as bells and whistles are concerned, I don't know nay of them yet... Still haven't had a chance to use it, but I plan on it. Gotta scope out some properties, so I figure if I video tape it I won't have to "remember' everything

So Emrys, how is the camera working? Did you get a chance to try it out?

I took some video of my cats, but I haven't really done anything with it. I imported it into my Mac with iMovie ( fireware rules! controls the camera so there is no sync issues ). I will try to mess with it some more. My girl and I are going to look at houses in Vermont next week, so I plan on taking it up there and shooting the houses so we have something to look at when we come home ( if we didn't already make an offer on a house ). So that will be some more practice.

The camera is really nice though. It doesn't focus as fast as I would like, but then again it isn't human

The focusing problem is simliar to the problem I have with my digital still camera. You press the button to take the picture. The first flash (red eye flash), flashes. Then everyone starts to move when the final flash and picture is taken.

Nope, it's not about that. It's about when something moves in front of it, it gets WAY outta focus, and then it takes a while to get back into focus. I will have to check more into how the AUTO mode works.