Just getting my feet wet with my very recent leap into this world (my P4P+ is yet to arrive) and i am looking into the "need" for post filming editing, production etc.  My needs at this stage are purely recreation and i am not looking to become a professional cinematographer etc, however i would like to have the ability to be able to improve my shots / videos so that they are of decent quality.

Of course this may turn into a greater interest (addiction) as i start to get some cool video shots and want to increase the quality of my results.

Understand that i am truly starting out in this field and i am still getting my head around ISO, apertures, fps, lighting, filters etc.  

What video editing software would people suggest?  I have a Mac so it comes with iMovie - will that be a good start or is it too basic to be of use.  Next i am familiar with Final Cut Pro and for $300 that doesnt seem to be a massive leap.  Adobe Premier Pro seems to be a big leap with probabaly a PhD course required in learning how to navigate it.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated and i thank you in advance for taking the time to read and consider my requests for help.

Cheers

For a mac, Final Cut Pro

If your familiar with Final Cut Pro, you can do plenty with that.

i too started fresh just a year ago and made the investment into FCPX. Theres so much free material on youtube and tutorials that its a great place to start. you can do so much more than imovie. Well worth the effort to continue in FCPX imo.

I started in IMovie and now use Final Cut Pro. Final Cut is fast and handles anything I throw at it from my P4P and previously my P3P.  I use Affinity for stills.

QiiFlight Posted at 2017-1-4 12:30
I started in IMovie and now use Final Cut Pro. Final Cut is fast and handles anything I throw at it from my P4P and previously my P3P.  I use Affinity for stills.

anything other than h265 that is !

birdingbilly Posted at 2017-1-4 12:41
anything other than h265 that is !

I transcode to ProRes using iMedia converter.

QiiFlight Posted at 2017-1-4 12:30
I started in IMovie and now use Final Cut Pro. Final Cut is fast and handles anything I throw at it from my P4P and previously my P3P.  I use Affinity for stills.

Affinity is $39.99, is this the one you are referring to?  Does Final Cut Pro not take care of stills as well or is it purely for video?

for stills Photoshop comes to mind but i know that is not cheap.  Does Affinity have the power to do much (at $39.99 it seems cheap - guess i am used to seeing higher prices for effective tools).

Aussie4220 Posted at 2017-1-4 13:28
Affinity is $39.99, is this the one you are referring to?  Does Final Cut Pro not take care of stills as well or is it purely for video?

for stills Photoshop comes to mind but i know that is not cheap.  Does Affinity have the power to do much (at $39.99 it seems cheap - guess i am used to seeing higher prices for effective tools).

I use FCPX for video, but it will work with stills. Affinity (39.99) is great. I use the AEB function to make great HDR photos, it provides several tools for RAW processing, provides the scopes needed to assess your photos. I think it is a great deal. I, however, am not using photography to feed myself or my family.

QiiFlight Posted at 2017-1-4 12:54
I transcode to ProRes using iMedia converter.

is that freeware ? and how long does that take to convert? - for say 5 mins of 4K UHD to 422
Thanks

birdingbilly Posted at 2017-1-4 15:16
is that freeware ? and how long does that take to convert? - for say 5 mins of 4K UHD to 422
Thanks

Its not free, 60 USD. It takes my MacBook Pro about a minute and a half for every minute of 4K 30 to 422. It does batches so I usually start it and walk away.

QiiFlight Posted at 2017-1-5 02:41
Its not free, 60 USD. It takes my MacBook Pro about a minute and a half for every minute of 4K 30 to 422. It does batches so I usually start it and walk away.

Thanks, how do the file sizes of the h265 and 422 compare ?

birdingbilly Posted at 2017-1-5 04:07
Thanks, how do the file sizes of the h265 and 422 compare ?

Prores files are a little bigger depending on what you choose (422, 422LT, 422HQ, proxy)