YouTube goes HD

It looks like YouTube has finally started supporting HD content.  I have been using Vimeo HD for a while now, but in order to get unlimited HD uploads I would have to pay $60.  If YouTube offers a better deal than that for free, I might just have to switch over to youtube (which is too bad because I thinkVimeo is a great site).  For now, there is no ‘HD’ button I can see on the actual YouTube pages, so to watch a clip in HD you have to append ‘&fmt=22′ at the end of the URL (Edit: They have added a “Watch in HD” button now).  Here is an example of 720p HD vs SD from youtube (click play on both at the same time to see the difference):

720p HD (click here for full resolution):

Standard Quality:

I got a Sony HDR-SR12!

For my Birthday this year, my girlfriend got a great surprise gift for me with help from my family.  It was a Sony HDR-SR12 HD Camcorder.  It is exactly what I wanted.  I didn’t even remember that I wanted it because I had given up on the idea of getting one because they are so expensive.  Right now I am trying to learn how to use Sony Vegas Pro 8 since it is one of the only pieces of video editing software that will edit AVCHD in its native format.  I like it so far, but haven’t done much with the new camera yet.  Check out my vimeo page for videos I have shot with my new camera.