Which product should I purchase?

[jwillb]

Impending mergers not withstanding, I would like some friendly advice.

I am a photographer first, video dabbler second. My primary purpose is to create fine photographic/video viewing experiences for friends, family, and self. I have some very good tools now, but lack a couple of things:

1) An NLE (editor) that can work with a variety of file formats and maybe even HD resolutions - using Adobe PrEl 2.0 now and it has trouble with those two items
2) a simple but still robust DVD Authoring tool.

I used the trial version of DMF 5.0 this spring successfully, although there were a few minor glitches. However, I could upgrade to VS 10+ for $59.95 USD.

I have a slideshow program that can generate AVIs at 1920 X 1080p (MemoriesOnTV 3 Pro) and want to be able to use clips from digital cameras that are 30 fps progressive (Canon) or MPEG-4. It seems like DMF and VS will both do these things - which would be the better purchase?

Jay B.
(Also posting on VS Forum)

[heinz-oz]

It's in bad taste to double post.

[sjj1805]

...... It seems like DMF and VS will both do these things - which would be the better purchase?

This is just MY opinion, other users may differ.
From my viewpoint VideoStudio 10+ can do almost everything that MovieFactory 5 can do but not the other way round - i.e. editing.

If you want to cut clips up to delete the bad bits or re-arrange video sequences. If you want to add titles and transitions and extra sound tracks. If you want to add picture in picture effects and lower thirds then in MY opinion VideoStudio is the more powerful program.

Having said that I have a large number of colleagues at my workplace who do not feel comfortable with editing their videos and simply want to get their holiday videos onto DVD as quickly and as easily as possible (no fuss) for those users then MovieFactory is the way to go.

[jwillb]

Heinz - please forgive the unintended Faux Pas. On other forums, like Adobe, the same people do not monitor for different products. I simply wanted to get opinions from both sides. Thank you for yours.

Steve - If VS 10+ has everything DMF 5 has, why do you have both? The only reason I ask is that I would prefer to have one central tool and then only use any others as necessary for conversion or utility. Actually, I wish PrEl was designed to handle HD, because I understand their workflow and use Photoshop Elements for image editing and management.

Jay B.

[sjj1805]

Sorry but I edited my first post and you possibly didn't pick up the extra sentance. MovieFactory is for users who do not feel comfortable with editing and want to get their video (more or less 'as is') onto DVD as simply as possible.