Adrian's Journal

Panasonic Pro AG-HMC150 3CCD AVCHD Camcorder I just read the reviews (almost 100% positive) on the Panasonic Pro AG-HMC150 3CCD AVCHD 24fps Camcorder . This affordable mean machine is definitely on the top of my shopping list. It has everyting a creative videographer like me wants. Things like the built-in wide lens, professional audio input, High Definition, memory card recording and 12 hours of recording on a 32G card. I just hope the Panasonic batteries have the stamina like that of Sony and indicates its power by minutes. I declare I will be abandoning my all-time-favorite Sony camcorders for now till they come up with a better CMOS technolgy that works in low light. Read more...

Photo Mode Review of the Sony HDR-SR12 and CX12 After collecting my Sony HDR-SR8 (100GB High Definition Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder) from the Sony service centre, I stopped to test the new Sony HDR-SR12 (10 Megapixel 120GB High Definition Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder) and the Sony HDR-CX12 (High Definition Memory Stick PRO Duo Handycam Camcorder) I only had a few minutes of free time, so I tested these features I wanted to know: How long do I have to wait between snapping photos? How long do I have to wait for the photo flash to recharge? How many photos can I take during video recording and will there be flash? How long do I have to wait between snapping photos? I have bad experiences with slow consumer still cameras. You miss a lot of good candid moments if the camera does not react as quick as your eyes. I hesitate to buy a family still camera because of this. The Sony HDR-SR12 and CX12 seem to do fine, instant, though you need to get...

Professional Memory Card Camcorders Comparison I am in the midst of deciding the purchase a new professional video camcorder. Looking at the recent models, there is a clear trend towards recording on memory cards. This is great as I have always thought tape is so obsolete in the digital world and a waste of time when capturing video. Here are three professional video camcorders I have narrowed down. They differ in image sensors, video recording format and the type of memory card used. Panasonic AG-HVX200 vs Sony HVR-Z7 vs Panasonic AG-HMC70 . Read More on my new blog...

How do you shoot the best angle without getting blocked or pushed when you are a videographer in the paparazzi? Yesterday at the Singapore Arts Festival Outreach Launch, I had the opportunity to jostle with the paparazzi to get my best shot. There were like 10 photographers and video camera people representing the media. Not too many as compared with the Singapore Flyer Official Opening I did last month. The media people wanted to catch the best shot for TV and magazines. I wanted to catch the best shot for my client. Actually, it was not as bad as most might think. I remember in the old days, you really get pushed around and have someone just plant himself right in front of your camera. Read more here... How To Fight With the Media People or Paparazzi?

Who wants to buy my Sony HDR-SR8? Coz I am getting the NEW Sony HDR-SR11 ! Top 3 reasons why I want the Sony HDR-SR11 : Read more here... I Want The Sony HDR-SR11 10MP 60GB High Definition Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder

VideoLane.com presents... "Rats Steal Tarts" - A stop motion animation for the Chinese New Year 2008 celebration, the year of the rat. Produced by Adrian and Cheryl Lee. Shot with Sony HDR-SR8. Edited with Sony Vegas Pro. Edited on Acer Laptop. Starring chinese new year food stuff, chocolate rats and pineapple tarts. Thanks for watching! :) http://www.lulu.tv/?p=21774 Adrian Lee http://videolane.com/ http://videolane.blip.tv/ http://instantviralvideo.com/ http://adriansjournal.blogspot.com/

Would you like to create a christmas greeting card that is unique, unforgettable and viral? Are you still sending ecards, paper cards or those boring standard multimedia cards. In this day and age, sharing Youtube online video is the way to go. I'm not talking about the boring looking into a webcam and speaking a message to your friends and family. Hre's my idea. Record and edit a time lapse video of the progressive construction of your christmas tree. Watch the video here... http://youtube.com/watch?v=eXnCltZUzLM All you need is your video camcorder and a computer OR just the computer alone if you have a webcam. Next, you need all your family members to be present and all dressed up. Finally, you need your christmas tree and the decorations, disassembled. Already fixed your christmas tree? Take it down. Then follow these steps... STEP 1: PLAN - PREPARE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE Decide the location where you want to fix your christmas tree. Mine is in the corner of the living room. P...

T raining younglings the fine art of videography. The elder one firmly gripping the Sony HDR-SR8 100Gb Handycam Camcorder and supporting one arm on the railing for a steady shot. The little one plans the perfect composition while waiting for her turn. This is our little England vacation where the Sony HDR-SR8 100Gb Handycam Camcorder came in handy. EASY TO USE It is so easy to use that I don't have to shoot all of the time. My kids do it on my behalf. It takes less than 5 minutes to teach them how to operate the camcorder. The rest of the time is teaching them framing, composition and secret tricks that professional videographers do. STEP 1 : TURN ON FOR VIDEO OR PHOTO The default is video when the power is switched on. Flicking the power switch again changes the the mode to photo. I discovered that the Sony HDR-SR8 100Gb Handycam Camcorder can also shoot photos while in video mode, except that the flash does not activate. STEP 2 : FLIP OPEN THE LCD SCREEN The touch-screen LCD is...

I just completed and uploaded my latest video assignment. Please watch it here... http://www.videolane.com/?Videos:Asian_First_Films_2007 It is a star-studded Awards Ceremony for the Asian Festival of First Films organized by Teamwork Productions in Singapore on 4 December 2007 at Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel. Here is what I have to do as a videographer working alone. THE EARLY BIRD I like to arrive 2 hours before the event starts. This gives me ample time to survey the place, watch the last minute rehearsals and find out the exact flow of the event. For recording stage shows, I will also need some time to plant my tripod on the best spot and hook up the sound feed to my camcorder. EAT THE SOUND Getting the sound feed means hooking up my camcorder audio input to the hall audio system's output. That is, instead of recording ambient surrounding noise, I have crisp clear sound recording from every microphone setup on stage. Got to do this early because I know lots of press media people...

"I WANT MY INTRO" My client demanded an intro to be added to their seminar dvd video product. I have really spoilt my clients by giving them excellent stuff. So when I decided not to edit the intro video sequence but do a static title opening, they were not happy. (pssst.. I did that coz I was in a hurry to complete loads of projects 1 day before my London trip) "GIVE THEM THE USUAL FORMAT" My colleagues told me to use my usual format to save time. Huh? What usual format? To me, every seminar I shoot is different. Unique in its own way. Every seminar has its own theme. I have to CREATE something special. I hate to say it, but sometimes I do too much and charge too little. Passion for my work? WHO IS PRESENTING? That was the first question that crossed my mind. This is an "Internet Millionaire" training seminar conducted by Matt Bacak. I usually check the speaker's website to get the idea of who he is and what's his corporate theme. Then I will grab...

One night in China... no, no... first night in Shanghai. Slept well. Woke up early. Anticipating an exciting day ahead. Breakfast at Yi Cafe, the hotel's 2nd floor restaurant. Met an American-Korean girl alone next to my table. We chatted. She said she has traveled to many places and this was one of the finest restaurant she has ever experienced. Indeed it was a fine breakfast. The display of the food is an art by itself. Talking about 5-star, the power plug at the Pudong Shangri-la hotel room was international standard. Didn't have to use my universal travel power adapter to charge the camcorder's batteries last night. Still have time after breakfast before the first official video shooting assignment. Went back to the riverbank of Huangpu River. This time catpuring the day version of the same place recorded last night, the Bund and the Futuristic City. Walked to the Pearl Tower and around it. Captured it from every good angle. Many local photographers were stationed aroun...

A night of Loud Music and Dance Party. Can you believe? It is an Esplanade Concert really. Shankar Ehsaan and Loy, the famous trio from Bollywood. They make cinematic Indian music today sound so good. More from Shankar Ehsaan Loy... The audience screamed, danced and cheered. I could feel that the performance was much revered. Although Indian music is not my daily cup of tea. I can't help but to tap my toes while doing the videography. More from Shankar Ehsaan Loy...