I shot this a few years ago for my nephew. First attempt at it but this gives you an idea of what a Canon t3i with a 50mm lens can do. Go easy guys, I don't claim to be particularly good at this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzZZwyK-aNU Camera 650.00 Lens 250.00 Edited on Sony Vegas
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In all honesty . . it is not bad Trying to figure is some of the wavering background was [Vegas] effect or camera movement. The Sounds is good. . .which put it ahead of most [Did you record sound through the camera or externally?] Rocket River
This is awesome! I appreciate all this information, I just signed up for Lynda.com and there is an overwhelming amount of information. Thanks for the recommendations.
Premier Pro seems good and has import/export to use with Final Cut as well. I haven't used Transitions, but I've heard good things. In general no matter what I'm using I try to go easy with effects that these editing programs use. In a professional movie, usually about 90% of the transitions are simply cuts with almost nothing else, except sometimes the audio for the next scene will stat the scene before it. I think it's easy to see a bunch of cool(in isolation) transitions and then start overusing them. But obviously some things will demand some effects and transitions. So there's no hard/fast rule.
I would avoid cheap SLR lensfor video. To get the big aperture cinematic effect you will need a filter in daylight. To use the zoom at all you will need a constant aperture. If you zoom with that lens, your exposure will be changed which will look like crap in video if you can even see anything. Also there is no need for a 18-135 zoom in video. Canon makes prime lens with IS for cheaper than the EF 24-105/4L IS USM.