1. The fact that your camera is likely to be Sony makes absolutely no difference. In actual fact Sony brought out their first AVHCD cameras before their software could edit it (whilst some competitors software could!)

EDIT: There seems to be some distance between Sony Creative Software (who distribute Vegas) and Sony the hardware manufacturers. So much so that Sony can often be seen demonstrating Premiere on their laptops!

2. Your question about Elements or pro also applies to Vegas - Movie Studio or Pro. My advice would be, whichever manufacturer you go with, to go with the consumer version first.

Your investment in time getting to know the software will cos you much more than the cost of the package and there is PLENTY to learn with the consumer versions.

If you later decide you've got the wrong package you've wasted < 100 actual money.

If , on the other hand, you get on with the package, all you've learnt will still be valid with the pro version. And the cost of buying Vegas Movie Studio and then upgrading to Vegas pro is not that much greater than buying Pro in the first place (Don't know about comparative costs with Premiere)

With four tracks of audio and four tracks of video and most of what you're likely to need, Vegas Movie Studio Platinum (I'd go for that if only for the colour corrector) will almost certainly cater for 95-100% of your needs.

Have only used a trial of Premiere and that was a couple of years back so it would be unfair of me to comment on that.

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Tim

great help there, thanks a lot,

although people seem to say that vegas is easier or more user friendly, i was thinking more about the features adobe offers such as after effects...

does sony offer any of these or is it just as easy to use vegas videos on it as is it adobe ones.

sorry to ask so many questions its just the software is so damn large i dont wana go installing and paying etc

After Effects is a separate program. Many people who use Vegas also use AE.

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Tim

Have a look at the Canon HV30 where you can record HDV to tape but replay the footage, via firewire, into your computer as SD and edit it with your current programmes. Later, if you upgrade your computer and software, you've got the original material on tape as HDV and you can re-edit it.

I'm also an Adobe fan and Premiere is an excellent editing platform.

The main consideration for any camcorder you buy is (a) does it have manual over-rides for exposure, focus and white balance, (b) does it have a mic input and a headphone output?

Guru what was that book I got of you, or did you reccomend it.. er.. how to read a film - monaco. Great book if i have it right.

Most people seem to have no idea how fims are made due no doubt to the magic of cinema. I had a blazing row with 2 ish friends recently who told me I was stupid insisting that dialog scenes were not shot with 2 cameras......

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Lowering the tone of video since 2004.

www.zaskarfilms.com You tube channel 'zaskarfilms'
JVC DV5001e (big cam), Sony PC6E (tiny cam), Vinten pro5, PAG light, SM58, Sony ECM50, Sony C-76, 0.5x convertors for sony, Rode video mic, Vegas 7.