Reading mode: Light Dark

New to video

Go to last post
R

riman

Senior Member
Messages
1,267
Solutions
1
Reaction score
388
Location
Rhode Island, US
Hello

I would like to learn to shoot and edit video and need some advice. Can someone recommend software that is easy to learn and simple to use for a beginner?
All I really need to do is cut out the parts of the video that I dont want and put the rest together in one video..

Also where can i learn about the various settings and format I should use and finally what do I need to view the videos?

Thanks!
 
Windows, Mac or tablets/phone?

What camera do you use?

How do you want to view videos that you have edited?
 
Last edited:
apekkpul said:
Windows, Mac or tablets/phone?

What camera do you use?

How do you want to view videos that you have edited?
Click to expand...
I have windows on a desktop. for camera I have Nikon Z 6 11 and want to view the videos on my desktop screen
 
riman said:
apekkpul said:
Windows, Mac or tablets/phone?

What camera do you use?

How do you want to view videos that you have edited?
Click to expand...
I have windows on a desktop. for camera I have Nikon Z 6 11 and want to view the videos on my desktop screen
Click to expand...
Windows has some built in programs for viewing the EDITED video (and possibly the uneditied video... not on my windows machine right now so can't verify). You can even use windows Photo app to view the video (if you go to the video location, then right click, then open with Photos).

A lot of people download the free video player VLC which is quite capable (and is also free).

As for video editing programs, there is Shotcut and also Openshot, which are both free and relatively easy to use. Although I think that Windows also has a built-in video editor (something like windows Movie Maker or something???).

A lot of people on this forum use DaVinci Resolve as there is a free version that is quite comprehensive. However, there is a much steeper learning curve than Shotcut or Openshot.
 
I started with shooting MP4 HD video on a Canon 600D using Windows Movie Maker (Windows 7) then Windows Video Editor (Windows 10) before trying OpenShot (free software) which was much better then Davinci Resolve 16 (now on 18.1.1) (free version) which is fantastic. Each editor can create rendered video in MP4 or other formats that can be watched on your computer.

Just video anything for a few minutes, ideally with changing action, and run an editor and play with it.
 
If you have a decent computer than I recommend the free version of davinci resolve. For basic video creation for beginners it is really quite simple to get started (and yes it can get complex but 99% of it you might never need to know). There are also 100s of tutorial videos for it on YouTube.
 
riman said:
Hello

I would like to learn to shoot and edit video and need some advice. Can someone recommend software that is easy to learn and simple to use for a beginner?
All I really need to do is cut out the parts of the video that I dont want and put the rest together in one video..

Also where can i learn about the various settings and format I should use and finally what do I need to view the videos?
Click to expand...
I think Davinci resolve is pretty easy to use if you don't use the advanced features. Just drag and drop into the edit tab, and then you can drag around clips and press CTRL+B to cut them...honestly not much different than even the so-called easy to use editors. There's also a "cut" icon that looks like scissors in case you forget CTRL+B.
 
I also recommend DaVinci Resolve. The tutorials on their website are great and YouTube also has many tutorials to start. The basics are not difficult to learn and are the same whatever software you are using.
 
Hendrik_nl said:
I also recommend DaVinci Resolve. The tutorials on their website are great and YouTube also has many tutorials to start. The basics are not difficult to learn and are the same whatever software you are using.
Click to expand...
I also recommend Resolve, but be aware that it requires a reasonably capable computer with 32GB or more of memory and either an integrated GPU or a discrete graphics card with 4GB or more of VRAM.
 
Sean Nelson said:
Hendrik_nl said:
I also recommend DaVinci Resolve. The tutorials on their website are great and YouTube also has many tutorials to start. The basics are not difficult to learn and are the same whatever software you are using.
Click to expand...
I also recommend Resolve, but be aware that it requires a reasonably capable computer with 32GB or more of memory and either an integrated GPU or a discrete graphics card with 4GB or more of VRAM.
Click to expand...
Or a Mac M1...I'm using Resolve with just 8GB of Ram here and it works for all my YouTube projects using both 1080p and 4k footage.
 
I found the built-in Windows editor extremely imprecise, and would recommend against it, in favor of any NLE software.

I think PhotoShop or equivalent software is worth learning for photographers, and the same idea holds true for people shooting video.

Put in the time & monetary investment to lean a genuine non-linear editing program like Avid, Edius, LightWorks, Davincei Resolve, Premiere, or Final Cut.
 
He is on a Windows machine so needs more RAM and more vram. It's why i switched to a Mac this past year after using Windows since version 3. First version i thought was worth using.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top