RobertAlbright

This is an upgraded (and more expensive) version of the projector I recommended. It should be very good - a professional dealership will let you drive before you buy.

At over £5000 the Canon WUX10 Mark II is an extremely expensive option. At least it is Full HD which the Canon XEED projectors are not. In my opinion, the better value for money options are available in the Epson and Optoma ranges.

Another one to consider is the Epson TW3600. This is used by two clubs I belong to, both very satisfied with color balance etc. It has the advantage of an adjustable lens which allows you to avoid most of the common key-stone problems. This is a link www.avitav.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=4421&category_id=54&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=135http://www.avitav.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=4421&category_id=54&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=135vitav.co.uk&gclid=CIKSt-v7yKcCFQUz3wod7hhRFA

Xahu Please clarify your comment on submissions to RPS AV festivals: 'shows that consist of 2 or more files are not welcome'. The RPS welcomes productions which, for example, include HD video, as well as still images in transition. The Technical Requirements in section 8 say 'If you are unable to create .exe files, other formats (eg .mov, .mpg) may be accepted in consultation with the organising committee.' The RPS is happy to accept all formats within the practical possibilities of a tight schedule over three days of world class AV production. I will refer your note to the Festival Organiser, Ian Bateman FRPS, should any further clarification be needed. Robert

Just to supplemement Lin's comments, the latest version of Photoshop (CS6) has a good basic video editing facility within which you can also do all the usual Photoshop editing functions. You can then export the completed work to PTE in PTE compatible formats. This might be a route some PTE customers used to using Photoshop for stills editing will find easiest to adjust to. Robert

Well done, Charlie. My cousin lives near you in Parisot - we hope to visit again in October. Robert

Peter Good to see you've had useful input from The RPS AV Group. I haven't been to the Bradford or Northumberland meetings for a time now. Just sent off my entry and accomodation booking for the 20th RPS International AV Festival. Are you planning to go?

Hi Tom and Lin No problem, I agree it's horses for courses. It's just that I don't want our thoroughbred eliminated from the race before it starts. Regarding projectors, 1920x1080px (or 1920x1200px) are common and inexpensive but not the higher resolution ones you indicate are coming down the road. Many UK camera clubs have gone the extremely expensive route of Canon 4/3 projectors because they don't want to crop their images to 16/9, the main format for cinematic presentation. Robert

I agree with all you say, Lin, except the last two words - 'our purposes'. The beauty of PTE quality images (and video) is that it can be upscaled from the computer monitor screens and flat screen TV's used exclusively by so many to full size cinema-style projection. 'Our purposes', meaning the people all round the world who use PTE to show their work in National and International festivals, is for image resolution that will stand up to scrutiny on a projection screen at least 10' wide and sometimes considerably bigger. I did a show at Winchester Photo Club the other week where the 100+ audience sat in tiered seating running back to the top of the hall; and this was a photo club, not a big AV convention. I've just been booked for Exeter club next March with a similar number in their club. A six foot screen ain't any good if 100 people are trying to see the pictures. I know 'these purposes' are rather under-represented on the PTE Forum but I hope they won't be ignored. It is why PTE needs to produce Rolls Royce quality even though 90% of the customers are happy with a Ford saloon.

Hi Dave I've tried KFSD in Google and it's either 1 the call-sign for Joe Foss Field Airport, Sioux Falls, South Dakota or 2 a genetic disorder called keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans or 3 the Kuwait Fire Services Directorate Either way I'm pretty nervous about inserting video into AV and I think I'll hang back until there's a safer option. Robert

Thanks, Eric. The prices look good. I will investigate further. Robert

Thanks Dave and Tom. Cropping a Full HD .mov file from 18 seconds to 10 seconds and moving the slider to 100% Quality seems to work perfectly when inserted into a PTE file with still images. There is no jerkiness or apparent loss of quality when played back and the fades from still to video to still are excellent. Robert

It is very likely than Lin is right about the video card. In my experience, travelling around widely and seeing my and other people's AV's shown on different computers, it is usually an inadequate graphics card that leads to problems. As it happens, I am looking for a laptop with the right graphics card and full HD screen (1920x1080px) for AV to include HD video. The prices are extraordinary - the best price I found was £550 ($850) for a Sony Vaio and this was basic requirement fulfillment. To buy an i7 machine with upgraded graphics card you're talking £800 ($1300) and upwards. Unlike most things computing, the prices of laptops seem not to have fallen in recent years.

Where is this Crop function, Dave? When I drop in a video clip, PTE offers me the option to Optimise. This normally works very well, even with MOV files output from my Canon 5D (PTE uses AVI); so far I've always pre-edited in another programme (there is a separate Forum discussion on this). I think most of us are learning here - but we must persist. Remember how painful learning Photoshop was 15 years ago? Well video options are a lot more complex than stills, so it's not surprising it hurts a bit. Incidentally, Canon have been making movie cameras for decades whereas Nikon are relatively new to the game. I believe the D300 did not include a movie function but Nikon woke up soon after and introduced movie functionality with the D300s. Apparently the movie function in the new D800 Nikon is excellent. So we're not the only ones learning!

Peter Did you try VideoPad Video Editor? Lin and Eric have confirmed it it achieves sound editing. I find it quite intuitive. You will need to test if it achieves your particular requirements.

I had the same experience as Yachtsman with Video Prism. The only free programme I have found so far that seems (a)good (b)doesn't try to take over your computer is VideoPad Video Editor. Interestingly it is made by NCH Software, the same company as makes Conflow's recommended program. But unlike Prism Converter, there doesn't appear to be the 14 day trial problem. Another option is to download the free Beta version of Photoshop CS6. This now incorporates video editing, as will the full release version. I find it quite easy to use for basic editing which is what I think most of us want to do.

I don't think Gary is now going to get any sleep during the entire Easter holiday

The frame rate and shutter speed recommended by experts for shooting video with a DSLR is 25fps at 1/50/sec. This enables easy calculations for the camera and in post production (x2). Here is an extract from the Wikipedia text on frame rates. PAL is the European TV system, NTSC the USA version: As of 2012, there are three main frame rate standards in the TV and movie-making business: 24p, 25p, and 30p. 35 mm movie cameras use a standard exposure rate of 24 FPS, though many cameras offer rates of 23.976 FPS for NTSC television and 25 FPS for PAL/SECAM. The 24 FPS rate became the de facto standard for sound motion pictures in the mid-1920s.[2] 25p runs 25 progressive frames per second. This frame rate derives from the PAL television standard of 50i (50 interlaced fields per second). Film and Television companies use this rate in 50 Hz regions for direct compatibility with television field and frame rates. Conversion for 60 Hz countries is enabled by slowing down the media to 24p then converted to 60 Hz systems using pulldown. While 25p captures half the temporal resolution or motion that normal 50i PAL registers, it yields a higher vertical spacial resolution per frame. Like 24p, 25p is often used to achieve "cine"-look, albeit with virtually the same motion artifacts. It is also better suited to progressive-scan output (e.g., on LCD displays, computer monitors and projectors) because the interlacing is absent. 30p is a progressive format and produces video at 30 frames per second. Progressive (noninterlaced) scanning mimics a film camera's frame-by-frame image capture. The effects of inter-frame judder are less noticeable than 24p yet retains a cinematic-like appearance. Shooting video in 30p mode gives no interlace artifacts but can introduce judder on image movement and on some camera pans

' Um, I guess so. Can I trust you? ' Love it, Ken. Must be an April Fool's?

Well done, Eric. The widescreen presentation fits my monitor perfectly. Have you ever attended the Wilmslow Guild AV Group? http://www.wilmslowguildav.org.uk/

Hi Robert There is a calibration screen included to the BenQ software, greyscale & colour. Had a look for the one you use but the two sites I checked were out of stock. There appears to be more than one type, one called a One eye & the one Amazon did stock had 3 lights. Can you clarify which one & what the cost is. http://www.purelygad...ct/view/1701-NA Yachtsman1. Hi Eric This is the best site I found http://www.designsupply.co.uk/photographyaccessories.htm The price I paid is nearer the £149 than the £1031 version and is quite adequate unless you are a professional calibrator/printer/producer. I believe Gretag Macbeth are owned now by Eye-One. Robert

Exciting stuff, Eric. The high quality monitor I bought about 2 years ago is a brilliant investment. I use a Gretag Macbeth calibrator which reminds me to re-profile the screen once a month. This only takes about 10 minutes each time. Robert

Here is Dave's advice: 'Your graphics card will drive almost any resolution monitor connected to it but not when the Laptop Monitor is running (even your club's HD Projector). I've done it at Gwynfa with my 1280x800 laptop. Connect the laptop via the HDMI to the TV. Go to the Display Properties and find out which monitor icon is the TV. Select "This is my Main Monitor" and adjust the resolution for it to 1920x1080. You can either turn the LT monitor off or extend the desktop to it. If either way I think that you will then need to use the TV monitor to view while changing settings. When you unplug the HDMI it will revert to normal but in any case take a note of the settings before changing anything.'

Thanks, Eric. I can report the problem as solved. I had some offline correspondence with Dave. The problem related to my laptop settings, not the TV or PTE. I didn't realise it is possible to reconfigure an SD laptop to simulate Full HD images. Hopefully others who may have experienced this know how to sort it. I'm happy to copy and paste Dave's comments if he is or he can do so.

Thanks, Eric. I'm using HDMI link and all other points except Mediafire about which I know nothing. What is it?