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Hey there "derguy".... welcome to our fun with digital video group!

I use a Sony Handcam miniDV camcorder. I started with a Hitachi VHS camcorder in 1986, winding up with a whole closet full of VHS tapes of family, trips, etc. Now I also have about 70 miniDV tapes full of "just about everything"! I finally had to set up a database so I can find certain videos and clips.

I use Mac's iMovie video editor to piece together special occasion videos for burning to DVD. For instance, for our grand daughter's 13 birthday I made up video/music video out of clips from her very first day. Took a LOT of editing.... but she really enjoyed it. She couldn't play it enough. We have several grand children and great-grandkids, so I do spend a lot of time on these type videos.

It's fun too to get scenic material on tape, and edit it into a music video. Editing is where you get to convert seemingly random video into a very enjoyable and viewable piece of work.

Our niece's son was recently married, I took lots of video from the church to the reception, edited it all into a really nice remembrance DVD for them and their parents. Same thing with our grand daughter's wedding.... only a bit more "elaborate".

Once you get into editing, you'll come up with all kinds of creative video ideas. The reason you may never look at your "tourist" footage is because it is boring to look at in it's raw format. But if you edit it down into a brief artistic montage of interesting clips, with nice looking scene transitions, maybe some background music, special on screen text... your tourist videos will take on a whole new meaning.

Hopefully I gave you some ideas.... BTW.... Windows comes with Movie Maker editor.

Good to see you here.... keep us posted with what you'll be up to in our wonderful world of video.

- Trip

hi, derguy,,,great to have you here!

I use two Canon GL1 cameras, which each cost about a grand apiece back when. One is permanently attached to my DV editing setup and just serves as a kind of tape deck, while I shoot with the other.

(I shoot with one camera, pop out the tape, then pop it into the "tape deck" camera for capture to my system.)

Neither of these are HD. If I had the money I would go for an XH G1 and get into HD, but don't have the dough to buy this equipment at the moment.

My "tape deck" GL1 with my editing system (at right above keyboard):

I have a Sony "HandyCam" model type : DCR-HC36. I recently aquired a "Flip HD" camera that a friend got for me in Scotland from EBay (that I could not aquire anywhere here in Thailand). I understand that these are very simple amature type cameras. Also the scope of what each camera is capable of doing is quite varied. I like the cameras. I do like the "Flip" camera and really wish to get a "Kodak Zi8 HD" camera. I will look into the editing programs. I am in FaceBook. Are any of you?

I can't be on facebook due to contracts at work.

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Find a coffee table in the shape of an elongated rectangle.

Put the DCR-HC36 at one end, facing down the length of the table. Place the FLIP HD at the other end, facing the HC36.

Make sure the lighting is right, then start both cameras on record. They'll be shooting each other across a long table.

Leave the cameras running. Use a ruler to move one camera 6" toward the other. Then go to the other camera and move that one up 6" as well.

Then go back to the first camera (leave both recording at all times) and move it up another 6". Then to the other camera to move *it* up another 6" inches.

Keep going back and forth with your ruler, moving each camera 6" closer to the center of the table until they meet in the center.

Turn the cameras off, then capture both recordings to your DV editor. Intercut between the cameras, edit yourself out, add some appropriate sound and see what happens.

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