Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have been filming our hunts for a number of years. Starting with a big VHS video camera in the early 90's.

After that we went to a Hi8mm camera, and when when DV cameras came along we upgraded to a DV camera.

Our DV camera has given us great service. And my PH, Alan Vincent, uses it to video all his clients that request this service.

This year we need to buy a new video camera, and after looking at what is available, we decided to make the upgrade to Hi-Definition, and bought a Cannon XLH1

We have taken some video with it here in our backyard, and the footage is absolutely stunning when viewed on a Hi-Def TV.

We are going to video our hunt this year in Hi-Def, and we will make a Hi-Def video available for those who have teh equipment for it.

Of course, standard DVDs will also be available to those who have not upgraded yet.

Walter is sitting behind me watching a clip we took of our crocs, and he is amazed of how many fingers and toes the crocs seem to be missing

He says he needs a make up artist to improve his looks, as this format shows great detail, and he did not wish to appear so old to any ladies who might be watching him!

Horst is telling him the only female who might give him a second look is going to be a mangy old hyaena!

Saeed:

Congrats on the new toy.

With the new format, will "normal" DVD players play this disk in HD, or do you need a "HD DVD Player?"

I have an HD TV (42 in) and can say that HD TV is utterly amazing!

I'm sure the new format will be jaw dropping for people to watch.

Saeed,

I checked out the link. That looks like one awesome piece of equipment!! I am a bit of a closet DV junkie, but that bad boy is way out of my league.

Can't wait to see the results!

Cheers,
Canuck

Thanks Saeed, can't wait to see it!

quote:

Originally posted by 577NitroExpress:
Saeed:

Congrats on the new toy.

With the new format, will "normal" DVD players play this disk in HD, or do you need a "HD DVD Player?"

I have an HD TV (42 in) and can say that HD TV is utterly amazing!

I'm sure the new format will be jaw dropping for people to watch.

The way it looks there going to be 2 competing HD formats. The Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. These two are not compatible with each other, and their disks cannot be played on a normal DVD.

We can capture the video as Hi-Def or set the camera to output it in Standard Def.

So far we can only watch the Hi-Def straight from the camera, played on a 65 inch plasma Hi-Def TV.

We can also capture the HD footage and edit it, but, we cannot output it onto anything yet although we can play it back on a computer.

I understand there is a new format developed in China and the UK. The way I understand it this format uses normal DVD with up to 10 layers!!??

There is so much hype about all the different versions, we will just have to wait and see which one makes it.

I think we will eventually see players that play both formats.

We have a number of computers, so we might upgrade one to Blu-Ray and one to HD-DVD. That way we will be able to have access to both formats.

I think this answers the question,"What do you buy the man who has everything?

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
I think this answers the question,"What do you buy the man who has everything?

Saeed,

Congratulations with your new camera.

Might I suggest a Steadicam Camera Stabilization System

It makes a big differance when filming "on the run" in my experiance.

Saeed, as they say, the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys! Glad to hear you have a new one. I've enjoyed your previous hunts on video, as have a number of friends. Thanks,
Max

Saeed

That sound real hi-tech and wonderful what you are doing.

Just a brief (general DVD) question to yourself and others in the technical know how ..

With regards the old technology video tapes I know it was very important that people in the USA/Canada got tapes in the NTSC format and those in Africa / New Zealand got tapes in the PAL format, as we have different TV format systems around the globe

My question is

What is the situation with regards formats and standard DVD's ... If I have say a commercial DVD bought here in NZ which I can play OK on my standard home DVD player, can that same DVD be sent to someone in the USA and can they then play it on their home DVD player, OR is there also this crap PAL/ NTSC format problem to be considered with DVD's ... or are they compatable worldwide and not in any special format for different regions around the world

Peter

Saeed

Any idea of where you will be hunting this year?

Good luck with the new camera.

Peter,

I think we will have Region Coding just like the DVDs we have now.

Originally I heard they will do without it, but now I read they have decided they will add it.

NitroX,

We will be hunting LA1.

I love watching Hi-Def on the 73" television. What a difference! Glad you could update. Maybe you could convince the folks on the Discovery Channel to run it on their Hi-Def Program so we could all watch it. Tell them that it's a documentary about Walter.

Sigh

I just returned from an assignment in Kansas where we were hunting turkeys and used the new XLH1. I was very impressed with the camera and the footage is the best I've seen on a TV screen (HD, that is).

Well, since my biggest (and only) TV is 23", I'll just have to take your word for the quality of the video.

I'm not buying anything until the dust settles on all the HD formats! (I first said that 6 years ago, and I still mean it today!)

Patience is a virtue, Don!

Saeed,
I look forward to your reports on camera and hunt.

I have used the 8mmDigital Sony for a number of years, but it is clearly being 'phased out' by new technologies. The old cameras were robust, trouble free and made good videos. I am looking for a replacement and look forward to not only your film, but you assessment of the new equipment under the use it gets in Africa.

Kudude

It's in my contract that I can't be photographed in HD.

Regards,

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by T.Carr:
It's in my contract that I can't be photographed in HD.

Regards,

Terry

Aaah! Now I know why you are hiding behind that elephant

My "exploits" are bad enough when captured on Mini DVDs by my ever faithful companion, my dear wife, who has trekked with me, step for step, after lion and elephant.

My wife's voice over narration is sometimes painful. I will never be able to forget her awful supplication, recorded forever on the DVD, "Please make it die . . . ."

And that's when I was pretty much doing everything right!

Seriously, HD is not appropriate for some of us!

Seriously speaking HD TV is not (very good) for us 60+ veterans of the world or baby boomers, especially when plastic surgery has not been used yet to enhance our OLD Sunburnt ex:Rhodesian complexions ...

Cheers ... Peter

What makes Walter think he didn't need the makeup team when it was just DVD?

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
What makes Walter think he didn't need the makeup team when it was just DVD?

Will,

Walter says you should be the last person talking about looks! He says you should be starring in movies, as a new Boris Karlov - I haven't the slightest idea who this one is, probably an ugly creature by the looks of it.

I love it when Walter has someone else in his sights instead of me

Saeed,

Microsoft has a HD WMV codec for their media player. If you can get the video file into the computer there should be a way to convert it to HD WMV. That way you could distribute clips on Data DVDs that could be played in High Definition on those with compatible computers.

Sample clips and instructions for Authoring High Def DVDs playable on computer are in the link below. (Warning not for slow internet connections or dated computers)

WMV HD Showcase

Also nice about distributing this way, those who don't have Blue Ray or HD DVD now will eventually be able to burn one of whichever format in the future

I believe you will be absolutely delighted with that Canon. I would certainly have chosen the same one to get into the high def format.

Hope this helps.

Will,

Walter says you should be the last person talking about looks! He says you should be starring in movies, as a new Boris Karlov - I haven't the slightest idea who this one is, probably an ugly creature by the looks of it.

I love it when Walter has someone else in his sights instead of me clap[/QUOTE]

Images from Frankenstein (1931) next
"Frankenstein" Boris Karloff 1931 Universal

Here is Karloff for you.
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1265/Mptv/1265/5577_00...ery&path_key=0021884

Frank

Will look forward to seeing it Saeed. HD really is good.

When are you off on your enxt hunt?

here's wishing you the best of luck. Will they allow walter on the airplane with the lipstick, makeup etc. on?

We are going to be in Tanzania from the 13th of August to the 4th of September.

Walter is normally the star attraction wherever we go.

Last week we went out to have dinner, and he fell in love with our waitress!

They brought us a complimentary dish made of olives and vegetables mashed together, and arranged in an artistic way.

The waitress "I hope you enjoy this. Our chef made it especially for today"

Walter "I ordered soup. This is not soup!"
Waitress "The soup will come sir, this a complimentary dish from the chef"

Walter, as he tasted the dish "MMMM! Your chef must be very good. This is the best de-hydrated soup I have ever tasted"

I said "Walter, stop bothering the young lay, and eat your food"

Walter "You be quiet! You told me to come and have a good time, so don't ruin it as you usually do like in Africa!" Turning back to the waitress, "I am from Chile, and I have been in Dubai for almost 30 years. My bad luck I met this man, and I have been suffering ever since. He takes me to Africa every year, makes sure I have a tent has no sipper. He invites the hyaena's to my tent by putting bones in front of it. Last year the lions and hyaens were chasing each other around my tent. I got so scared I hid underneath my bed. The bed was only six inches high, so I had to carry the bed while lying underneath it. I did not have one second of sleep. And, and, and, he says he is my friend"

The girl was laughing so much by now, and she was joined by the head waiter, who was from South Africa.

Head waitor "Where were you hunting sir?"

Walter "Hunting? Hunting? What do you mean hunting. We don't go "hunting" as you call it. We go all the way to Africa so everyone laughs at Walter! That is what we do"

Horst "By the looks of things, we don't need to go all the way to Africa to laugh at you. You are doing a great job of making a fool of yourself right here"

Walter, talking to the head waitor, and pointing at Horst; "That is our talking Ostrich. He comes from Austria, like all Ostriches. How he learnt to talk I have no idea"

And so it went on. One friend we had with us, who had the misfortune to sit between me and Walter, was in tears! He only knew Walter slightly. And after the dinner he said he had never, ever, laughed so much in one evening.

He said "I think I might come hunting with you guys"

Walter has promised him some shooting lessons. I think we might have a new candidate for our 577 T.Rex rifle

I wanna see Walter shoot the 577 T. Rex.

For those of us that don't (and won't have) a TV IU'm sure I'm missing something here.....maybe I can borrow one from the neighbor's

Saeed, its kinda cool the store he(Alan V) bought his new camara at is 500 meters from my LA house. He was staying there and walked down to buy it...small world. Its am amazing camera and he is a great camera man, I cant wait to see the video after they edit it, Leoni is amazing, it will be the best video yet, I have a HD VHS player so I'm going to see the HD version. hope your well.