[Craig Alan]

[Gary Bettan] “That brings the cost down below $2500”

plus apple care plus tax.

I’m only saying this because the more expensive the total package out the door, the less of a deal killer any particular choice seems, psychologically.

For sure get the minimum ram and look to OWC or crucial to get your 32 gigs. Or 16 gigs. OWC has 2 x 8 gigs for $115. You can always add the other two later if the need is there.
Hold onto the original ram. Great way to find out if the ram has gone bad or something else when you start having problems.

Since it requires surgery to replace the hard drive, I think the sweet spot is 1TB fusion. Under warranty Apple will replace it. After that, you can elect surgery or just go external. We’re most likely looking at about three years from now and fusion and SSD will be a lot cheaper and thunderbolt will have a lot more options.

Not sure if the Mac will boot with a dead internal drive. Hopefully by then the repair shops will be good at cracking open sealed Imacs and the new Mac pro will somehow blow these Imacs out of the best option for pro apps advice blogs.

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Not sure that matters on the small projects he has planned, though it might stay current for an extra year or two. Another concern might be an external media drive for it. The older Imac still had 800 firewire – so factor in an 800 raid. OWC has some decent affordable ones to store your media.

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Panasonic plasmas

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Panasonic+TH+42%22+HD+Plasma+Display&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

scroll down to different models.

They are not a FSI color correcting monitor but they have been used for years as a client and editing and switching monitor in professional circles for years. Great black levels and can be configured. Also have room for add on boards for different inputs-outputs (though third party devices are often cheaper). They are not TVs – no tuners. So you are paying for their ability to monitor.

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Hi John,

If the suggestions from the FCP X gurus don’t help—

Try playing your footage HDMI out the camera to a HD monitor/TV and see if the footage is out of focus. There is a button near the lens that switches the cam to manual focus and MF appears on the LCD. Also sometimes even if this is not set the camera gets screwed up and the solution is to turn off and turn back on the cam. This will be a soft reset and auto focus should kick in. If not then you need to try a hard factory reset. Unless you are shooting a macro type ECU you do not want to use manual focus on this cam.

Also make sure the play out is set to HDV and not standard DV.

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

[John Wade] “I just succeeded in getting an import to work if I have a tape in and hit record on the camera before I begin the import process in FinalCPX.”

John, I have a related problem. I have about 10 of the HV30s/HV40s. Last year’s Imacs (800 firewire) and 4 to 9 pin cables. No matter what I try I cannot get the Imacs to see the cameras. Yes the footage is HDV. I have tried different cables (though all the same brand bought at once) different cameras different Imacs. The ports on the IMacs work because they do recognize drives connected to them. I have no other devices that use 4 to 9 pin so I can’t test that. The cables were bought from BHphoto and not some cheapo brand.

By the way I called Canon tech support twice on this issue. Both times I was put on hold while support checked with some higher-level tech guy. The first time I was told that these cams don’t work with FW800. The second time I was told they just tried it and it works fine so it must be something on my end. That left the batch of cables I have.

I’m not following your solution: You have recorded HDV media on camera. You attach the camera to Mac and are in the capture/import window of FCP X, you put the camera in record mode and record some footage? Then switch to play mode and rewind to the beginning of your HDV footage and then FCP X recognizes the camera???

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

will one of these match?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=g3+Receiver&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

though at this price you might be better off buying a second kit.

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

with such a set up does everything stay in sync? any chance of the lav picking up both the talent’s voice and then the voice coming out the PA a split second delayed? or is this not a concern?

It would certainly solve problems I have had trying to get a feed from a PA where I am not in control of the levels or not finding the right amount of padding. This way I loan the house a mike and a receiver and I am good to go.

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

go to https://www.bhphotovideo.com/ and do a search for on-camera LED light. you’ll see a lot of choices and almost all are reviewed. including some you mentioned.

Question:

You are shooting video? Or stills?

how does an on-camera light help light an area as big as a dance floor?

Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought that most on-camera lights are basically good to add some catch light in a subject’s eyes.

Since most weddings are videotaped affairs, it amazes me that the needs of the photog and videographer aren’t built into the planning. The whole thing is basically one big production.

For many times your $200 budget I’d think about:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/845160-REG/Kino_Flo_SKITD4_120_STD_Diva_Lite_401_Kit_120.html

would be my first choice for a run and gun. its dimmable. it can take different temp bulbs. you can option for two or four bulbs being lit. it makes your subjects look good with its very even lighting. its easy to set up and runs off normal current. the kit comes with a diffusor so subjects won’t be hit with glare. You can use the egg crate to control spill. the stand is basic but the baby mount gives you a lot of choices. you could even buy a clamp and safety cable to mount it to any overhead grid. You’ll also have a great light for interviews which has to be a part of wedding stuff.

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Not an answer but maybe an easier workaround: disk utility mounts and un-mounts drives much easier than the finder. Much more responsive, no need to disconnect and reconnect a drive to get them recognized for example. You can add disc utility to the load at start up preferences and have it when needed. I assume event manager was doing the trick for you until lately but disk utility works great.

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/287409-REG/Remote_Audio_CASDT_Unbalanced_Line_Level_3_pin.html

or

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/293008-REG/Sound_Devices_XL_7_XL7_TA3_F_to_Mini.html

so u can use the screw down part of G3 cable

should do the trick but i would call sound devices tech support and ask them. They have been great when I had questions.

or if this does not work use the built in mike on your cam as a reference only for sync.

MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.