The Nikon P7700 – a compact stills/video powerhouse.

Video DSLRS have revolutionized the way we shoot video at all levels of production. But can the same thoughts now be applied to smaller internal-zoom cameras? They can all shoot full HD now. Add a microphone input, a built-in hot shoe & image stabilization, and lots of external controls, and it becomes a capable production tool.

The advantages are obvious. You don’t have to carry around several different lenses, or bother with lens changes because something is too close or too far. Another key advantage in this particular camera is the f2 – f4 28-200mm, image stabilized, Nikkor lens you get in a $399 (street) camera. A DSLR lens alone with that capability would cost you considerably more than the Nikon P7700, before you even add a camera body.

But what are the caveats?

Raiders of the Lost Card – recover “lost” still images.

I think we’ve all “lost” an image at one point in time. If you haven’t had it happen to you, then you’re not lucky, it’s just hasn’t happened to you yet.

Your still camera has issues, or there’s a bad import session between your computer and your still camera and suddenly, your images are gone. Or one of your kids, or someone playing a joke on you deletes an image you wanted to keep on your camera.

Well, there’s an easy solution…
(how seldom do we really get to hear that!)

New Compression Tool: Stomp

I’ve added a new link to my tower of links over to the right there. This one is for version 1.0 of Stomp, a compression utility by Shinywhitebox. It includes support for all QuickTime codecs, presets for all sorts of outputs (check out the video demo on their web site), manual control of all audio and video options, compression of multiple videos at once, video effects, and other features. Stomp is a Universal Binary priced at $29.95, is Universal, as well as Tiger and Leopard compatible.