With the advent of new technologies in DVD and digital video production, corporate production houses are poised to start creating much higher quality videos at a much lower cost. Recent HDV model releases from both Sony (HVR-Z1P) and JVC (GY-HD101) has seen high definition video production become available to smaller production companies. As a result we are now able to produce videos at full 1080i HD resolution, and with the release of Canon's hugely anticipated XL H1 get full HD-SDI uncompressed video straight from the camera.

The Canon XL H1 is long awaited follow up to the industry stalwarts the XL1/2 series. It is the company's first foray into HDV video and is also the first camera in this range to feature uncompressed HD-SDI output. What this means is that for the first time video producers can purchase a relatively cheap camera (less than US$9000) and edit full uncompressed video, without the disadvantages of using HDV and an intermediate codec to edit.

Whether you are in music video, corporate video, DVD or multimedia production, you now have the opportunity to compete with the larger companies with much higher overheads. This is great for freelancers and the industry in general as productions can be completed at more competitive rates and the huge investment in both camera gear and edit suites doesn't break the bank like it used to.

Remember the good old days when a BetaSP rig cost you $80-$100000 and about the same for an Avid setup? I for one am sure happy about the reduction in expenses and look forward to seeing some amazing work from everyone with all of this new gear.

Focusview video and multimedia is a Melbourne based company specializing in video production, CD ROM production and DVD production.