[Craig Seeman]

[Carl Varney] “1. Were you able to successfully update your Episode 4.1 settings to Episode 4.2.2 and pass Fastchannel certification? “

Yes, but you should be on Episode 4.4.1 now.

[Carl Varney] “. If I’m interpreting the posts in this forum correctly, it would seem that Fastchannel USED to accept video at 720×480. Now, the only acceptable size is 720×512! To my mind, this would certainly account for a lot of potential weirdness in the final file. Have you successfully encoded video at that size and passed certification using Episode? “

Yes they used to accept 720×480. They now want 720×512. I thought “padding out” letter box would work . . . easy to do in Episode . . . but NO, they want the black to be on the top only (vertical interval blanking of sorts).

I’m going to test a work around but it may be a bit awkward.

[Craig Seeman]

Thanks Joel,

Usually the game I get is: I’ve got a shoot/edit for x coming up.” Followed by description of job. I then show them relevant demo reel. It’s clear from the reel who the client is. If they ask for references I send links to the client’s websites (which are publicly available anyway of course). They can verify the job and the clients are genuine.

I will NOT give them client contact info.

I do not want to give my client info to anyone who may hire someone else and retain my client contact info.

If such “consultant” likes my work they can hire me. If I don’t live up to my reel, they’ll hire someone else next time. Such “reference” isn’t going to verify my skills anyway. My reel does that.

At best such “reference” might show that I’m easy, creative, etc. to work with but such consultant might find that out by interviewing ME on the phone or in person. If they’re hiring me to be part of a creative team than maybe referring them to other industry professionals are in order (directors, producers, sound people, gaffers, etc.) may be in order, but NOT clients. As you mention.

Personally I think asking for client contact info by such “Media Consultants” is a form of phishing.

[Craig Seeman]

EX1 has 6 user controllable Picture Profile Settings. Rather elaborate ones too.
Matrix
Color Correction
White
Detail
Skin Tone Detail
Knee
Gamma
Black
Black Gamma
Low Key SAT

Each of the above has several sub menus and those include additional controls.

For Example:
Gamma/Level -99 to +99
Gamma/Select/STD1, STD2, STD3, STD4, CINE1, CINE2, CINE3, CINE4

and
Matrix On/Off
Matrix/Select/ Standard,High SAT, FL Light, Cinema
Matrix/Level -99 to +99
Matrix/Phase -99 to +99
Matrix/ R-G/ R-B/ G-/, B-R/ B-G/ -99 to +99

[Craig Seeman]

That video clip is in APPLE XDCAM codec so someone would have to have Final Cut Pro 6.0.2 to play it. I believe one could also play it in VLC.

This is why what one archives is important. Archive off the card and anyone can use Sony Clip Browser (or apparently VLC) to play the video. Archive after using the Sony Transfer Tool into FCP and you have Apple XDCAM .mov file.

Windows Sony Clip Browser will convert to MXF. Apple Sony Clip Browser does NOT do that. But at least with Apple Sony Clip Browser you can do a direct copy.

Sony, you have to change that!

[Craig Seeman]

The key is this Schneider Optics stock code
Stock Code: 66-1001705
They make quite a few 77mm filters and I wouldn’t be surprised if some are thicker than others
various 77mm

Although the stock code I mention is the ONLY 77mm Clear MRC they make. Some will try to sell you Clear UV Haze filter which seem to have 2 versions 010 and 010M but those are HAZE filters and I want unaltered optics (or as close as one can get to it).

[Craig Seeman]

Ken, it seems the FSB6 has replaced the DV4 since the FSB6 is priced just a bit cheaper than the DV6. FSB6 with 1 stage Aluminum legs start at $1349 at B&H. DV6SB starts at $1749 at B&H.

FSB6
and
DV6SB
Which doesn’t really tell much.

[Craig Seeman]

I got Schneider Optics B&W Clear Glass
and got it at Adorama

Not all 77mm filters are thin enough to allow you to but the EX1 Lens Hood back on. The above wokrs and Schneider makes good glass.

[Craig Seeman]

I’m in the same hunt. I was looking at Bogen 503HDV or Sachtler FSB6. It’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find reviews though. Sachtler’s “seem” better but it’s hard to tell without hearing from those with experience. My current tripod is over 15 years old so tripods may well be the longest lasting piece of gear one gets, if it’s good. The Sachtler FSB6 is the upper limit of my budget but I’m always cautious about buying a “name” rather than a product that really outperforms another product.

Any thoughts?

[Craig Seeman]

There should be a difference between shutter speed and shutter angle regarding how the camera handles changes in frame rate for example. Shoot at 720p24 at 1/48 and change to 720p60 and the shutter is still at 1/48. Do the same with shutter angel 180

[Craig Seeman]

Interlace is recorded sequentially otherwise there would no difference in recorded motion between them. Just watch the jitter on an interlaced frame of any subject or camera movement, on a TV monitor.