How to merge Panasonic VXF1 scenes?

John Latter

I'm thinking of buying the VXF1 and was wondering if anyone could offer any advice on how to merge scenes.

The user manual shows how to divide a scene but there doesn't appear to be any info on how to join/stitch scenes together (I would really like to be able to do this in-camera 'cos my computer is quite s-l-o-w!)

Any help would be appreciated

John Latter

Terfyn

Basically each scene is a file, if you run them through a player, they will follow on each other. There is no way to combine files in the camera to make one big file but you should be able to do it in your PC.

John Latter

I feared this might be the case.

Oh well, perhaps this will prove to be the incentive to buy a new go-faster PC sooner rather than later (I usually wait for the current machine to crash before upgrading).

Thanks for replying, Terfyn

12harry

This question raises the issue of PC specs. . . . ideally you want a fast processor - recently "BitCoin" has cornered CPU's, so there is a World-shortage. . . . no doubt the situation will return to normal.
You need a fast motherboard( go for a big-one rather than a miniature which can be cramped ... ideally one that will take a SSD for the operating system - something like 300G is sufficient - these have their own MBO connection. For storage you need at least two HDDs - something like 4Tb each - if you want RAID, then this increases the cost of storage.
External drive for back-up safety and a card-reader - external ports should be USB3 mostly. Internally SATA connections are useful for expansion of HDDs.
The graphics card need not be top-spec ( reserved for 3D gamers), but something like £100  should do. Then there is Memory: The more -modern is usually faster but you need to watch the MBO spec... something 8Gb or less is too little, whereas over 16Gb is probably too much. Make sure you have enough fans. Personally I prefer my PC case not to have LED lighting, windows, etc.

Most Video-Editors will allow you to merge two files - there are several ways to do this - you can merge video at the same time as Audio - or you can merge the audio just moments before the video changes ( but your second clip needs to have a source of this brief audio ). There are many means of merging the video - a jump-cut is immediate, or you can involve many forms of Transition . . . you can dissolve one scene into the next ( this is easy on the eye )... Or you can include Cinema favourites like a clock-wipe ( suggesting  later-on ), or "slide" where the new scene pushing in. There are many that hold some arty effect like "juggle" where the new scene moves about the screen until it settles . . . IMHO these are annoying. Expect more than a dozen and each of these will be variable! Another transition is to take the screen to a colour - anything from white through colours, greys to black . . . you preset this colour. Then quickly, or slowly transition to the new video.  I like this when it's another misty morning, by setting the colour to pale-grey. You can add effects like brightness / contrast / blur /film scratches = too many to list, but done with CARE! can be effective  once!

Just be sure your  PC is up to the New 4K Editing program - many offer a 30-day trial which should allow you to get started . . . . but if you've not done this before it may mean doing tutorials on YTube - which can vary in quality.
I still use HD so my Movie Studio v12 is good and has about 20 "show me how" where you have to use your mouse to move through the tutorial. This forces you to learn the screen-positions.  This software is now owned by Magix and they also sell the Pro-version  "Vegas" - not hugely expensive but similar in layout, so you could "Move-up" if you desire even more special features - and some are really useful.
If you get the Suite ( now renamed?) then you get additional programs - one in particular Sound Forge Studio, integrated with my Editor...so I can select a film clip, take the audio to work on it and return it to the Editor - then you can swap this for the original. Audacity is a free program for audio-fixes, but I prefer SF for editing  and sound-level purposes.... esp. as it is easy to extract the audio from a video-file. Audacity is particularly good for cleaning-up audio, provided it's not too bad in the first place.  Record twice,  edit once.
All Editors allow music to be added and audio levels changed, along with too-many fonts for TEXT - useful for Titles.

.....Hope that helps....

John Latter

Thank you for such a comprehensive reply, 12Harry

It's a lot of information to assimilate in one go but it does give me an overview of the factors that are involved.

Obviously, I'm going to have to do a great deal of research before deciding in which areas I'll have to make compromises.

Never mind, this will give me time to save up some pennies!

12harry

Read twice, buy once might apply???
It was a tad long, but hopefully comprehensive.
I note that you haven't yet bought a camcorder... so, maybe back to Basics think what you wish to do with it?
For many folks a quality HD camcorder will suffice - you only "need" 4K if you want to be future-proof ( when lesser formats can't be played - it's difficult to show 8mm cine these days - but I have seen some excellent digital conversions ).
Is this for filming family?, or some sport/hobby? -OR- are you wanting to turn ideas into documentaries, etc.?
Maybe join a local film-making Club - where you can see what's possible with both older/new gear - ?  This would be a Zero-Cost option.

As soon as you go-4K, then the issue of a suitable PC will pop-up.  It's true you can Edit "by proxy" ( where you can Edit in HD but Render in 4K - so the output is 4K but the PC only struggles during Renders -so leave it running overnight! ).

Maybe it will come down to Budget.

Good Luck.

John Latter

Oh, it'll definitely come down to budget in the end!

My initial interest is in making some rough and ready local history videos, no more than about 10-15 minutes in length, and similar to some I made about 10 years ago:

                               
I have had a Canon 600D and GoPro Hero 4 for several years and have recently purchased a Parrot Anafi drone, a Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal, and a Yi handheld gimbal (none of which I've used yet).

I'm currently looking for a new smart phone with good low light capabilities (perhaps the Pixel 2), and either a camcorder like the Panasonic VXF1 or a camera such as the Panasonic FZ300/330 (excellent f2.8 zoom lens).

The phone and camera will blow the rest of my budget so I won't be making and 4K videos immediately but I would like to be future-proof to some degree.

Thank you again for replying

12harry

I suspect, but cannot know, that you already have enough gear to satisfy your filmic-needs.
Any more and you'll have to consider how you will combine the different files.
A PC update might be a better use for new-money, although we all like to show-off new photo-tech.​I like the idea of a drone ( until they are all banned, due to a few dafties!), as this helps to establish "Place" while giving a better impression of how buildings relate to each other.  You can see a river/railway and how it relates to the community far better by drone.... Normal filming on the ground is just not as good.
Cheers.