Saturday, January 07, 2012

Time for an upgrade


Well I took the leap.  I’ve been thinking for awhile about a high definition video camera; just needed the proper nudge.  It’s almost impossible to keep up with the technology.  By the time you get a new camera out of the box it is already outdated, or so it seems.  My first video camera was analog.  The year after I bought it everything went digital.  I was almost happy when a horse fell on it and smashed it beyond repair.  That camera was replaced by my first digital camera which has served me for the last few years; but it has now become a dinosaur with the advent of high definition video cameras.  There were some really great sales, almost half price, over this holiday season; and I thought if I was ever going to do it this was the time.  The new camera arrived a couple of days ago, and yesterday I took it out for a test drive.  I was really hoping for some shots of wildlife, but settled for a static scene just to get some footage recorded.  I also have a new editing program to get the hang of.  



 I set the camera to record at the highest resolution possible.  Today I waded through the instructions for the editing program and downloaded the attached video to my computer.  I have a 24 inch HD monitor for the PC, and what I am seeing there is fantastic compared to what I am used to.  I uploaded this clip to YouTube, and oh boy.  I have DSL, but not the high speed version.  It took an hour to upload this sort clip.  Maybe I need to reduce the resolution some before an upload?  The longer videos that I see on YouTube all the time must be uploaded by someone with a very fast connection speed, or they are lower resolution to start with.  I’ll do a little more reading on the subject tomorrow, and any advice from people with more experience is welcome.  This is a whole new ball game to me.   

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bob: Enjoy the pictures from your new camera. You must be a fast learner. Marion in SE PA

Bob Mc said...

Well not all that fast but I’m making headway. I found out I was using the wrong setting. Changed it without affecting the resolution, and reduced the upload time from an hour to 6 minutes. One thing about the camera that I didn’t like at all. When I turned it on it played some chimes, just like when you turn on a computer or cell phone. Not good when trying to video wildlife, especially on a calling stand. I knew there must be a way to turn that function off, but I went through the settings and couldn’t figure out how to do it. Had to make a call (toll free) to Canon Customer Service and the guy I spoke to straightened me out. So I’m happy at least for now. Just have to get out and find some live critters to play with.

spotted face said...

Looking forward to seeing some vids from you, Bob. I have been thinking about making an upgrade to a better camera, but decided I need to put the resources elsewhere for now. Good luck with your new toy!

Bob Mc said...

I've been trying Casey. Where are the deer? The alfalfa fields around here should be full of deer right now. Even the neighborhood pets have let me down. I took a drive up on the hill behind me yesterday looking for a large flock of turkeys that hang around the houses back there. Not a bird in sight. Really strange.