Microsoft Windows XP 32bit users rejoice! An affordable video editing solution for Canon HD DSLR workflows arrived for non-Apple MacOSx fans. My search for native video editing software for the proprietary Apple Quicktime H264 format without all that time consuming transcoding came to an end. For under $100 after rebate on Amazon, Adobe Premiere Elements 9 bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 is a great value for people who have not upgraded their computers to Windows 7.
The more expensive Adobe CS5 Premiere Pro debuted in July 2010 touting native H264 video editing for Canon DSLR's. That is great and wonderful news for Windows Operating Systems but is almost two and a half years behind the HDSLR video editing curve. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II arrived in November 2008 with only Apple computers to harness the creative and powerful potential of this affordable cinematic tool. I discovered another monetary and physical obstacle for potential Adobe CS5 Premiere Pro users, the Windows 7 64bit operating system and hardware requirements. In a nutshell, Adobe CS5 Premiere Pro rejects Windows XP 32bit operating systems and hardware. It will not even attempt to install the program on your XP 32bit or 64bit machine. Nothing, Nada, Zero !
Do not misunderstand me for one second, I am a big fan of Apple MacOSx, Final Cut Pro and especially iMovie'09 and iMovie'11. I am also not blind to the fact that we live in a Microsoft Windows world with a captive audience hungry for an economical solution for Canon HD video editing.
I installed Adobe Premiere Elements 9 on my Windows XP 32bit machine with a Intel Core 2 Duo processor with no problems. The editing interface of the Adobe Premiere Elements 9 is intuitive when you choose the timeline mode with separate video and audio channels. The ease of use stops at that point. Apple iMovie'09 and iMovie'11 is a better and easier program to jump into for first time video editors. In Adobe Premiere Elements 9, my basic needs were importing Canon video footage, inserting video with audio and most importantly exporting the finished timeline to a h264 .MOV format. I accomplished these tasks with above average ease except exporting a Apple Quicktime h264 .MOV video file.
With hair pulling difficulty, you have to "share" to export your timeline and choose the Quicktime export to your computer. Then you have to make a custom preset to export your timeline with exacting specifications like in the picture above to get a proper H264 video file. What a headache, right? I think Adobe caved in to Steve Jobs when the entire DSLR video world asked for a iMovie'09 and iMovie'11 Windows equivalent. Of course, submission to Apple means make Adobe Premiere Elements 9 less intuitive to Apple H264 users. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No.
In conclusion to my Adobe Premiere Elements 9 review, the video editing program for Canon HD video shines for under $100 after rebate. My Canon EOS Rebel T2i Video Test using the Adobe Premiere Elements 9 video editing interface proved easy to manipulate the footage but difficult to export a Apple H264 video file. Hey, beggars cannot be choosers when it comes to sub $100 video editing programs, right? What other choice do Canon DSLR users have? Windows Movie Maker? I would choose Adobe Premiere Elements 9 any day over Windows Movie Maker, by far. I shot the Youtube video with a Canon EOS Rebel T2i paired with the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens in Fort De Soto Beach Park.
One last note, today marks the one year anniversary of ChadSorianoPhotoBlog. I cannot believe it has been a whole year of photoblogging about Canon gear. Well, I look forward to 2011 with a large embrace. Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement!
