High Def, Tiny Lens - the cost of convenience

Nearly ten years ago I came in from work knowing that my new Sony camcorder had arrived earlier in the day. I clearly remember the pleasure of opening the packaging and beginning a journey of discovery that continues today. But so very much has changed. I still have the camera and still use it occasionally. But it shoots video in the standard of its day, the 4:3 aspect ratio of the CRT TV set virtually none of us watches anymore. To replace it with a similar quality unit shooting HDV (high definition video) can be done for half of what I paid back then, and of course for as much or more, depending on the unit of choice. And the editing software I used with it won't ingest the file format created by HDV camcorders so more than a camera purchase is required. But, as I've shown in earlier posts, HD video can be acquired by various devices far less expensive than prosumer or professional cameras. Under ideal conditions units such as my Blackberry Playbook produce good looking output. But low light and a tiny lens take it out of contention for anything serious. That said, almost no Videographer has a rig at hand all day every day. Devices like the Playbook make that possible. So video like the piece below gets captured and for those who care about the content that's significant. Significant too is a price one tenth of what I paid ten years ago. And that standard definition Sony doesn't collect email, isn't an ebook reader, doesn't browse the web...
This piece is an example of the experience offered by a company called "League of Rock" and coincidentally, its co-founder, Terry Moshenberg, shot the sequence for me. The League offers amateur musicians weekly ten-week turnkey access to the rock and roll experience - fellow band members, fully equipped rehearsal studio space, showcases in live venues with coaches' feedback, a final live performance with a live audience and a recording studio session to create a keepsake of the experience. In this piece, one such group performs three songs in the second live event with coaches present. Those of us performing are glad to have a record despite the degradation of low light and a tiny lens. If you don't see a video player you can view the segment here.