[Bruce Quayle]

Thanks for your clarification on this. I was panicking a bit ’cause I had just ordered a new laptop specifically with the i7-840 processor.
Cheers,

Bruce

[Bruce Quayle]

Sorry – my last post should have been titled as above!

Bruce

[Bruce Quayle]

Hi Bob,

Have a look at the HP Pavilion DV8T series configuration I have just bought:
https://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/load_configuration.do?destination=review&email_id=1716388&jumpid=in_r329_emailconfig

Besides having a faster processor (i7-840 QM) than the suggestions above, it more importantly has dual 500GB HDDs both running at 7200 rpm. This will help greatly when editing HD.

It comes with a below-par graphics card, but as Vegas doesn’t use the GPU, this won’t affect your editing speed. However, this card is better than nothing when using photoshop or other graphics programs.

It’s not exactly light to carry around, but the 18.4″ screen gives you excellent HD quality.

The price point is not bad considering what you are getting.

Good luck,

Bruce

[Bruce Quayle]

Thanks. This should be useful.

Bruce

[Bruce Quayle]

Hi Brian,

No lecture here. Just some very sound advice: Buy yourself the Vortex “How to” DVDs and Field Guide on the EX1. I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Doug Jensen does an excellent job of explaining the camera and gives all sorts of insight into getting the best from your investment. I bought both and keep the Field Guide in my camera case at all times for location reference. https://www.vortexmedia.com/DVD_EX1.html

He recommends VERY strongly that almost all “auto” settings should be disabled – especially the auto white balance – which, by the sound of your description, appears to be precisely your problem. If the wedding was as hectic as you suggest, you might easily have knocked something by mistake. If you were accidentally in ATW, any flash photography occuring during your shot would be enough to set it wandering – hence your fluctuations in colour.

NB: If you pushed the “Full Auto” button by mistake, it completely overrides any white balance you might have set using your preset white balance memory switch!!

The BBC also have some excellent reference info for settings for the EX1r: https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp034-add30.shtml

Also: PLEASE use the Clip Browser software to transfer your clips. This seems the only way you can ensure that a duplicate copy of your original material gets onto whatever archival device you might have. I copy all my material to two duplicate external hard drives. Each then is stored in completely different locations.

I have great empathy for your situation what with the masses of technical advances being made in this field on a minute-by-minute basis. I started my career at the BBC in London back in 1975 – the days of 2″ tape…when the term “quad” referred to the spinning heads of the VTR, not processors in a computer! After I sold my film company, I decided to get back into the creative realm and shoot and edit my own documentary work. Ouch! What a learning curve! But I have to say that I have enjoyed it all, and a guy like Jensen really does simplify the technical aspects to the acquisition process.

On another matter you may find useful…I have been using the Hoodman RAW HDSC 32GB cards with great success. It allows me to have more cards available on my shoots while not breaking the bank. And they have been fine for overcranking too.

Good luck with your upcoming shoot. Just make sure those “auto” buttons are off!

Cheers,

Bruce

[Bruce Quayle]

I updated my EX1r myself without a hitch. Just followed the instructions to the letter. Have been using the Hoodman adapters and 32Gig SDHC card combo and have had no issues. Overcranks just like the SxS cards.
Cheers,

Bruce

[Bruce Quayle]

Thanks so much for your in-depth response John. I’m interested to hear what your answer would be to Norman’s question too. That might also give some more perspective to the uses…and therefor which one would suit my situation.
Thanks again to you and all the other terrific folks who care enough to answer our sometimes tedious questions.
Cheers,

Bruce

[Bruce Quayle]

Hi Alf,
Forgive this OT post, but I noticed that you made some comments re your laptop and HD playback.
I have some very specific queries relating to this as I will be on location for some months and need a laptop for HD editing. I have been doing a bunch of research but could use some experienced input. Could I contact you directly with a couple of queries? Or is this “not done”?
Cheers,

Bruce

[Bruce Quayle]

Hi Mike,
I have been shooting extensively on my sailboat and find that with practice you, as cameraman, are the best stabilizer around. You learn to move with the boat and can even maintain a steady and level horizon.

Just as Dean suggested, you have to have your knees bent, but I personally prefer to hold the camera in front of me with both hands. A little movement in your shots on a boat is not a problem – in fact if the shot is too stable, it can look unnatural. It is tiring, but great exercise – and you get used to it.

There are times when I have to attach the camera to an arch at the stern of the boat for a wide shot of action in the cockpit, but I try not to show the horizon in these circumstances. These shots are always cut away with action close-ups so the “staticness” of the shot is softened.

I have also found that depending on what I am shooting and what effect I am trying to achieve, I will keep either the horizon level, or keep the boat level. But stability is something you will achieve with practice.

Just as an aside, unless you are shooting in really calm conditions, you should ensure that you have some decent form of protection for your camera. Don’t think it won’t get wet…it WILL! And you must have a polarizer and a wide-angle lens!

Good luck with your shoot.
Cheers,

Bruce

[Bruce Quayle]

Thanks John,
Always appreciate your advice, and of course the regular backing up you do makes so much sense – thanks!
Cheers,

Bruce