In Box

by Larry Lemm
November 1998

A Word From Sima
The review of the Sima Products ColorWriter Plus (Model SCW-2) in your July issue had a number of positive things to say about our newest ti

tler. Thank you. However, the negative comments were inaccurate and misleading. The reviewer's main point - "for the price of a ColorWriter, there are better products available"- is plainly untrue. There are no other combined color titler and editors on the market even close to the $200 price of the SCW-2. The review was done from the point of view of a professional videographer. This is like reviewing a Honda Accord by comparing it to a Mercedes and then saying no one should buy an Accord. Not all of us have the budget (and long learning time) to invest in professional equipment.
We believe Videomaker magazine has a broad spectrum of readers - from beginner to professional, and any product should be reviewed in terms of what it is designed to do and who the user will be. The SCW-2 is a simple-to-use product with features like composite and S-video, 20 character sizes and a built-in video fader (which were never mentioned in the article!). With a minimal time investment, it lets video hobbyists put titles on their home videos. It does this very well.
Dave Hochendoner
Director of Product Development
Sima Products Corporation

Rules Are Made to Be Broken
You have a great magazine in Videomaker. I'd be lost without the help that you've given me in selecting equipment and helping me to understand how different components work. Your information about new products and technologies introduced to the public is invaluable. If I may, I'd like to add my two cents worth of criticism however. In my opinion there are too many repetitive articles about basic rules for making videos.
The late Duke Ellington said, "if it sounds good, it is good" and that could well be translated to video too "if it looks good, it is good". Elementary rules are fine but the true test of a video is, does it tell a story effectively? As in every creative process and medium, the best and most outstanding practitioners are those who break the rules by finding new ways to communicate effectively. Keep those issues coming.
George P. Miller
Columbia, MD

Thanks for your letter, George. True, we at Videomaker are dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of making video. The rules we offer outline those fundamentals. However, we also encourage our readers to push the envelope of creativity in their video efforts. The basic rules we offer are a road map for understanding the production process. Please, never let the "rules" get in the way of innovation, but before you can break the rules, you have to know what they are.
- The Editors

If the Helmet Fits...
I enjoyed the article about the video helmet (Look! Up in the Sky: It's Video Man! April 1998). I tried the same thing for skiing some years ago. I used a bicycle helmet and a Sony Hi8 camcorder, but did not have sense enough to cut the top off the helmet, which would have made mounting the camera easier. I got some great shots chasing the kids through the woods and a friend through the slalom gates. I also turned the helmet around and wore it backwards and got some interesting frontal shots of my subjects chasing me. I found the rig to be top heavy though, so I tried mounting the camcorder on one side of the helmet and the battery on the other. The helmet I had was too big for my head, so this did not work. It did make the controls easier to reach however.
My next step was to buy a small digital camera and try the side mount again. I now have a police riot helmet with a face shield. I have painted an aiming circle on the shield so I can follow my subject while keeping my hands free.
Louis S. Moore, MD
Naples FL

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In Box, c/o Videomaker, P.O. Box 4591, Chico, CA 95927.
FAX: 530-891-8443
E-mail: editor@videomaker.com

If published, Videomaker will award you a free one-year subscription or renewal. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space and to use them in all electronic and print editions.

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