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Advice on which camera to use
I need to shoot a series of simple interviews, without using a lighting kit (maybe an on camera mounted one) and only using a handheld mic connected directly to the camera.
I have access to both a DVX-100 and a Panasonic AVCHD handheld camera (not sure of the model number though it is about 2-yrs old). I prefer working with the AVCHD workflow, though I am not sure which camera will produce better quality video and sound in this type of environment.
1. Which camera would you use in this type of environment, with unknown lighting?
Thanks for any advice!
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7 Replies
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Depends on the camera. Consumer AVCHD is inferior to the DVX100 but if it’s say an HMC150- go for it. Also I would recommend some lighting or it’s kinda pointless to shoot at all. Even a $4 light bulb in a $3 china ball is 1000 times better than no lighting.
Noah
Writing RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera!. Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, HVX200 and Apple Color.
Now featuring the Lens Adapter Guidebook, Sony EX1 Guidebook,
DVD Studio Pro and How to Light Interviews.
https://www.callboxlive.com -
Hi Noah,
The AVCHD camera is a Panasonic HDC-SD1 AVCHD.
https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-HDC-SD1-Definition-Camcorder-Stabilized/dp/B000LO92EK1. Guessing that you recommend the DVX over this AVCHD cam based on what you mentioned earlier?
2. Would you recommend mounting a light to the DVX? OR do I need some type of better lighting. I am trying to travel to the interviews with as little equipment as possible.Thanks!!!
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DVX is far superior, better chips, optics and audio connectors just for openers. On camera lights look like on-camera lights- deer in the headlights. Unless that’s what your going for. A china ball folds flat and a light bulb is a light bulb. That’s about as stripped down as I can imagine.
Noah
Writing RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera!. Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, HVX200 and Apple Color.
Now featuring the Lens Adapter Guidebook, Sony EX1 Guidebook,
DVD Studio Pro and How to Light Interviews.
https://www.callboxlive.com -
Hi Noah,
I am planning to walk around the floor of the conference and trade show and do interviews. This is the primary reason I was trying to avoid bringing a lighting kit, so I can be mobile. I have access to KNO FLOs, and I can look into whether I might be able to set them up in some corner to conduct the interviews.
1. If not, how and where would you hang the china ball in relation to the DVX? Is there some portable battery type of way to power it without requiring it to be plugged in?
Thanks for your help!!!
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If it’s a walk and talk- yeah go with the on-camera light. It will look like the 6 o’clock news but that’s what you have to work with…
Noah
Writing RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera!. Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, HVX200 and Apple Color.
Now featuring the Lens Adapter Guidebook, Sony EX1 Guidebook,
DVD Studio Pro and How to Light Interviews.
https://www.callboxlive.com -
Hi Noah,
Would I achieve a noticeable increase in either audio or video quality by using the HVX-200 instead of the DVX for this type of shoot, one with very little control of the lighting and no mixer for the audio? Will both camera produce similar audio? Which one works better in low light conditions? The final video is going to be down converted to h.264 for the web.
Thanks for all of your help!
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Audio quality is the same except you have 4 channels instead of 2. 2 of the channels on the HVX200 are the onboard mics which for me are last resort- so essentially the same.
Video quality of course is going to be much better with an HVX200 than a DVX but of course you’re also adding several thousand dollars more to the price tag so you’d expect that.
Noah
Writing RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera!. Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, HVX200 and Apple Color.
Now featuring the Lens Adapter Guidebook, Sony EX1 Guidebook,
DVD Studio Pro and How to Light Interviews.
https://www.callboxlive.com
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