While the new Tracking feature in Premiere Elements 8 still needs some work, it can allow you to track movement and add objects, especially cartoon icons. In this shot from a promotional video shot with a consumer camcorder, we were able to track the speaker with two cartoon icons. (Copyright 2009, Church of the Savior.)
Value
For $89, Premiere Elements 8 is an extremely good value for a basic video editor. (Additionally, if you want it teamed up with a basic graphic editor, you can get it with Photoshop Elements 8 for $149, so you save a bit of cash.) While PRE8 can do many of the same tricks as Premiere Pro, including using Premiere Pro plugins, its workflow is not as robust or streamlined. Additionally, if you want to edit different scenes in a film in a separate timeline, you'll actually have to create an entirely different project for each scene. As such, if you can afford to upgrade to Premiere Pro or the Production Premium package in the future, it would be a great idea to do so.
Final Comments The new additions to Premiere Elements 8 are currently a bit more useful for hobbyists than filmmakers. As such, filmmakers who already have PRE7 may wish to wait for PE 9 before upgrading, especially for those who've moved to Windows 7. However, if you're new to Premiere Elements, then PRE8 is an excellent release to get started on.
Ease
of Use
8.8
Depth
of Options
9.4
Performance
7.9
Value
vs. Cost
9.5
Overall Score
8.9
The
director of two feature length films and half a dozen short films,
Jeremy Hanke
founded Microfilmmaker Magazine to help all no-budget filmmakers make
better films. His first book on low-budget special effects techniques, GreenScreen Made Easy, (which he co-wrote with Michele Yamazaki) was released by MWP to very favorable reviews. He's curently working on the sci-fi film franchise, World of Depleted through Depleted: Day 419 and the feature film, Depleted.
