Well it’s official, our Hi-def cameras are now being field tested! These new hi-tech tools of the trade will allow us to deliver video from the field in full HD (high definition-1080i for you “techies”). These cameras will provide greatly improved color and resolution and will actually make our workflow in the field faster.  These Sony PDW-335’s record to an optical disk that’s basically a re-writable Blu-Ray DVD that holds about 60 minutes of video. These “video files” can then be copied to our new laptop computer editors at 2 1/2 times normal speed. The camera also simultaneously records a low-res version of each file that can be copied to our reporters laptop in a matter of a few minutes. These features will allow us to log and edit our footage much faster than before and quickly provide our viewers with video on air and online. We’ve been training with this new gear for several weeks and are still learning how to fully integrate what it’s capable of.  These cameras are also capable of shooting in SD (standard definition) so we’ve been able to try them out in the field. (Although you won’t be able to actually SEE the difference in quality-here’s a story recently shot with the camera by Photojournalist Evan Linnert.) Just to give you an idea of how advanced these cameras are, the menu has 84 PAGES of user-adjustable settings! The camera also has a memory stick to store user settings for the camera as well as settings for our Avid editing software. Keep checking out PHOTO OP for posts on our newest “toys”.

Updated: Wed. 6:24pm

As I said in the comments of my Blu-Ray post here are the deals you’re going to want to check out for Black Friday.

It covers gadgets, games, TVs, Blu-Ray players almost everything.

Read on and enjoy the savings. Updated Wednesday Night!

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