[Craig Alan]

Hey thanks again for your help. After exploring the web site I knew more or less what the speed ring looked like. When I got back to the lab I found it under a bunch of disorganized wire. I also found the rods that slip in the Chimera. It was pretty easy from there to assemble. I used it to shoot some throw away scenes. I think I either had the wrong cloth that filters the light or had the stand too close because the faces of the talent seemed a little blown out. As I backed up the light stand things looked better. But I was judging only by the color viewfinder. I’ll know better when I can get a good monitor. I also found some less transparent filter cloths so I assume these will filter the light more. I guess it depends on the wattage of the bulbs being used?

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media

[Craig Alan]

[Matte] ”
Its nearly always (no, make that ALWAYS) better to use a lav mic or a boom mic for picking up on-camera voices under studio conditions.

I’m aware of this and it’s why I am asking. This will be a temporary situation in a studio situation with students until I can get a boom and external mic. I have to go through forms and hope certain things are approved. This will be amateur production but hope in time to raise the level. For now we will shoot against a bare b.g. and tight on the talking heads. A wide-angle lens would no doubt be better but I’m assuming I can get a mic and boom in the coming months.

Sorry, but if you shoot sync-sound dialog with the on-camera mic, you’re going to be judged as an “amateur” or “guerilla shooter”, true or not.

Well it is true but hopefully over time the bar can get raised.

So for now, how close to the subject will this lens allow?

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media

[Craig Alan]

So what monitor would you recommend given the camera’s ability to shoot in 4:3 and 16:9? I’d like to use it for color correction/FCP as well.

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media

[Craig Alan]

Thanks again! I’ll go back to their sites and see if I can order their catalogs.

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media

[Craig Alan]

Ok, looked at the picture of the speed rings and yup that would have made sense to me. Chimera

[Craig Alan]

Thanks so much John,

Between your response and a look through the B&H lighting catalog, I’m beginning to get it. I think what that fabric is in the mole case is a chimera, because there is one white square and one black circle hood with Velcro. I don’t see a particular model specifically for the solarspots but I think that is what it is. What has me confused however is where exactly stuff goes. In the clips in front of the glass do you put first the screen then the scrims (if you are stopping down) and then the barn doors? And what are the diffusion frames and molering frames used for and where do they go?

Ok assuming all that–will one of these solarspots using a 650-watt bulb be enough to light one subject without needing to use a second fill light? I think there is only one chimera. Obviously experimentation will tell. However, I will not initially have a monitor, never mind a broadcast monitor, to judge, so I will need to use my eyes and the viewfinder. Do lighting designers use a monitor to judge or do they go by their light meters and their own eyes?

Craig

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media

[Craig Alan]

If render times are not an issue for you then almost any mac will do. However points to consider are: you need to put your media files on a different drive than the boot drive. With an imac that means an external drive. the graphic card that comes with an imac might be less than ideal. the maximum amount of ram is less with an imac. and yes dual helps with speed. I’d try the imac first to see if you are happy with the amount of screen space when you open up all those fcp windows.

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media

[Craig Alan]

https://www.crucial.com/

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media

[Craig Alan]

do you see them in your finder? they do need to be mounted, but otherwise CCC has always been able to write to an external drive.

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media

[Craig Alan]

Interesting site. Reminds me of some of Raskin’s comments. I agree that all icons should be complemented by words. Both/And not either/or. Apple, in general, will err on the side of looks over function even with hardware–one button mouse, no ports on the front of towers, etc. But I do think the designers did put a great deal of thought into their interface even when they get it wrong. Understanding their logic can be helpful.

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media