Well Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Remember to join the HV20/30 forum at www.hv20.com There are a metric tonne of Vegas Pro users over there to get you up to speed on things like pull-down removal, achieving a good look for your projects, etc.

Now I'm finally in the "big boys and girls league"

Hmmm .. so my $2000 Canon GL2 is not in the "big boys league" because it's not HD?

Actually .. I don't think it is ... it takes a *lot* more than just HD or a 2 grand 3 chip camera to be in the "big boys league"

PS I hope you got an extra battery or two with that camera .. then there's a decent tripod ... external mic ...and ??

Congrats soniclight. Be warned though, an HD camera is no friend to your wallet :)

Thanks, y'all.

Brighterside said, "Hmmm .. so my $2000 Canon GL2 is not in the "big boys league" because it's not HD?"

Not an issue of HD -- more of a personal situation comment:

--- All I have (until UPS arrives :o) is a basic 2001 consumer model JVC SD floor model I bought new for USD $120 back in '03. Just getting a "real" camera with which I can do some nice looking work is big-league to me.

My JVC is a sweet and good looking camera, but it's more of a webcam with muscle. But lousy in low-light which is my specialty.
And it's been good to me, too, but time to move on, cuz...

Up to now, the only way I could explore what I would do with a decent camera was working with good resolution stills + ParticleIllusion + WorldWind (NASA).

I need to shoot some freakin' footage too - lol.

Congratulations.
Making a decision is always the hardest part.

Now go buy some daylight CFLs and start collecting discarded light fixtures. Add a roll of Cinefoil and some C47s (aka pegs) and you're good to go. All up that'll cost you another $100. It'll make a HUGE difference to your image quality.

Bob.

Congratulations, SL. . .
I'm happy for you, and the progress you've made by going to HD.
Disregard all the poo-poo comments and enjoy the moment.
If you've been at it a while, you probably have the stuff you'll need to make better movies ... lights, sound equipment, etc.

I think you made a good choice with the Canon.

Enjoy. . . bring some highlights over to viddler and share them with us... HD video is supposed to look better at SD resolution also. . .

Until that time. . . Earl J.

enjoy - but remember, the more you shoot, the more you have to review to edit ;-)

Bob, ye sayeth onto me...

"Now go buy some daylight CFLs and start collecting discarded light fixtures. Add a roll of Cinefoil and some C47s (aka pegs) and you're good to go. All up that'll cost you another $100. It'll make a HUGE difference to your image quality.

CFLs, and a couple light fixtures -- and a $30 500w halogen Home Depot stand lamp and assorted other color floods, I got. But...

-- Cinefoil: Just had to Google to find out what that was. Good idea. My thrift bought black cloth stuff is OK but not ideal.

-- Pegs, well, I'll have to look into that too, though I use duct tape too.
____________________

Now as far as anyone raining on my Yipeee! parade with caveats and such, sorry, but it's been a looo-oong time coming to this decision.

I am enjoying it and I won't anyone poop on it :o)

I'll have plenty of time to run into issues and ask pertinent questions later. That's what this Vegas board is about.
Learning from the most helpful vid folk I know.

A crazy DIYer just shot an entire feature on the camera you just bought (though he used the BlackMagic Intensity for direct capture, NOT HDV tape :) . As was hinted at before, the key to using ANY camera is knowing how to light for the medium. The HV20/30 just happens to be a fairly forgiving consumer camcorder, so you'll have more 'happy accidents' than not.

BTW, the link to the feature can be found here:
http://hv20.com/showthread.php?t=18484

This brings up a question I have wanted to ask for a long time.
I have the 3CCD Canon GL1 DV camcorder. Will the HV30 with it's single CCD give a better picture?
Thanks for your opinions.
Barry

With good light - YES.

Cinefoil is a must have. It'll hold its shape and will not burn.
You use it around your 'found' lights as barn doors or snoots. I've even seen it used to fashion a matte box with a bit of gaffe tape to hold it onto the camera.
Do not buy cheap gaffe tape, the friggin gum stays on whatever it gets stuck to, big mess that's hard to get rid of.
Avoid those cheap halogen work lights. You're working in a confined space. The risk of fire and overheated talent and crew (you) makes them a bad idea. Plus you will blow the lamps if you don't let them cool down before moving them.
Stick with daylight light sources, the cheapest being CFLs. They're cooler, cheaper to run, last a long time and your camera will perform better. Plus if you also have daylight shining into the room you don't have to worry about gelling the lights. I make good use of the mirror backed 15W CFLs, I guess you can get them in the USA. I have some really cheap lamp holders to go with them but you could find something on cleanup day with a stand that'd work just as well.

One caution about Cinefoil, it does conduct electricity.

Bob.

Thanks, Bob. As usual, informative.

As to halogens, I bought those on advice from someone here in one of my months-ago postings. I thought I was going to shoot outside at night, hence why I got them.

I may still do so some day, so I ain't tossin' them.
They're bought and paid for :o)