Hugh DiMauro
October 8th, 2004, 02:43 PM
I had the priviledge of attending this year's LEVA (Law Enforcement and Emergency Videographer's Association)Conference/Government Video Expo in Washington, DC, and boy, was it fabulous.
Firstly, I finally met the man responsible for DV INFO, Chris Hurd, and let me tell ya, he's a delighful, very approachable, salt-of-the-earth-type chap (and much taller than Rick Bravo and me). No wonder this board is so successful. I thanked him then and I thank him again now for all of his hard work in maintaining this site. It has been invaluable to me personally.
My second thrill was attending the Vegas 5 seminar taught by "Mr. Vegas" himself, Douglas ("Call me Spot") Spotted Eagle. Holy s**t! In 90 minutes time he showed us just a small sampling of what Vegas 5 can do and I was sufficiently blown away. I kinda thought I was hot stuff with Vegas until he demonstrated the software. In one word: Humbling. He made using Vegas 5 look easy and effortless. I'm not dissing FCP or the MC platform, but I'm here to tell ya, I won't be selling my PC platform soon. I thank heaven every day I bought the Vegas software during their inexpensive upgrade window.
My third thrill was wandering around the Expo floor and handling the Panasonics, Sonys, and Canons. Oh, and yes, I checked out the new Sony HDV camera. This wasn't the FX-1 consumer model. The Sony rep told me this model, currently named the "HDV", is not prosumer either. He called it their "professional" model with a January or February, 2005 release and a retail cost of around $7,000.00 dollars U.S. The picture was stunning. I've already made my decision to forego the DSR PD-170 (which was also sweet as hell) and buy the new Sony HDV.
And last but not least, a hearty thanks to all of the law enforcement videographer types from all over Canada and the U.S. who I had befriended and swapped video war stories with at the LEVA conference. Any video cops can join at www.LEVA.org.
Oh, and by the way, the bartenders at Coyote Ugly DO dance on the bar!
Firstly, I finally met the man responsible for DV INFO, Chris Hurd, and let me tell ya, he's a delighful, very approachable, salt-of-the-earth-type chap (and much taller than Rick Bravo and me). No wonder this board is so successful. I thanked him then and I thank him again now for all of his hard work in maintaining this site. It has been invaluable to me personally.
My second thrill was attending the Vegas 5 seminar taught by "Mr. Vegas" himself, Douglas ("Call me Spot") Spotted Eagle. Holy s**t! In 90 minutes time he showed us just a small sampling of what Vegas 5 can do and I was sufficiently blown away. I kinda thought I was hot stuff with Vegas until he demonstrated the software. In one word: Humbling. He made using Vegas 5 look easy and effortless. I'm not dissing FCP or the MC platform, but I'm here to tell ya, I won't be selling my PC platform soon. I thank heaven every day I bought the Vegas software during their inexpensive upgrade window.
My third thrill was wandering around the Expo floor and handling the Panasonics, Sonys, and Canons. Oh, and yes, I checked out the new Sony HDV camera. This wasn't the FX-1 consumer model. The Sony rep told me this model, currently named the "HDV", is not prosumer either. He called it their "professional" model with a January or February, 2005 release and a retail cost of around $7,000.00 dollars U.S. The picture was stunning. I've already made my decision to forego the DSR PD-170 (which was also sweet as hell) and buy the new Sony HDV.
And last but not least, a hearty thanks to all of the law enforcement videographer types from all over Canada and the U.S. who I had befriended and swapped video war stories with at the LEVA conference. Any video cops can join at www.LEVA.org.
Oh, and by the way, the bartenders at Coyote Ugly DO dance on the bar!