Advice on moving to GH1 and HD video, please?

[gdi]

My first post here, but I have occasionally lurked! I am seeking advice on switching some of my gear around.

I am an avid amateur photographer and use my camcorder just for occasional home use - vacations, kids, kids' projects, etc. I would like to give a more formal short project a try, however. My primary still gear is Leica M with a few lenses (Leica, CV, Canon, Hexanon), and I use the lenses with an adapter on a G1 now and then.

I am considering converging my G1 and TRV900 to a GH1. On the surface this seems logical, but I'd appreciate members' perspectives on this. The Sony has been a great camera, but the GH1 samples I have seen seem much better.

I think I can sell my G1 and Sony, add a few hundred and get the GH1 kit. But I have not imported all my miniDV tapes to disk, so the more convenient, and expensive, thing to do would be to keep it for a while till I transfer the old video.

Are ther any other obvious reasons I may regret giving up the Sony? Am I correct in assuming that a TRV900 would not really compliment a GH1 very well as a possible second camera due to video format (resolution, aspect, etc) and other differences?

Thanks in advance.

[yslee]

Wow, the TRV900. Isn't that like over 5 years ago?

Sorry man, I've no idea on how to advise you. I do like having a memory-card based camera though. Shoot, then just copy to drive.

[gdi]

Wow, the TRV900. Isn't that like over 5 years ago?




More like 8 years ago! :)

[Ozpeter]

Step one - what type and spec of computer do you have for editing, and what software? If you haven't got the means effectively to edit the GH1 footage, then you'll be rather limited with what you can do.

[bbinnard]

Ozpeter is correct. The GH1 takes superb video but the key to real success is editing. To edit HD you need both a fairly strong system (mine is Vista-64 on i7/6GB, but that may be a bit more than necessary) and a good piece of editing software. I found 2 that seemed reasonable: Sony Vegas and PowerDirector (I forgot the Powerdirector manufacurer.)

Either of these edits the GH1 HD files directly and does a good job of it. Personally I liked the features & interface of Vegas better, so that's what I have. The lowest cost version of Vegas that works wtih GH1 HD files is $85 and is called Vegas MOvie Studio Platinum.

[gdi]

Ozpeter is correct. The GH1 takes superb video but the key to real success is editing. To edit HD you need both a fairly strong system (mine is Vista-64 on i7/6GB, but that may be a bit more than necessary) and a good piece of editing software. I found 2 that seemed reasonable: Sony Vegas and PowerDirector (I forgot the Powerdirector manufacurer.)

Either of these edits the GH1 HD files directly and does a good job of it. Personally I liked the features & interface of Vegas better, so that's what I have. The lowest cost version of Vegas that works wtih GH1 HD files is $85 and is called Vegas MOvie Studio Platinum.

I have a new iMac as well as an Windows editing machine - I can upgrade whatever I care to on the PC if I need more juice.

I thought about upgrading my Adobe CS 3 to Production Premium and using Premiere - I have experience with Premiere 6 on the Windows machine. But I could go with Vegas if it is enough.