[Dan Brockett]

Dean:

Thanks for your input, as an owner, you have had far more experience with the camera than I have.

The rolling shutter artifacts have actually turned out to be more of an issue when photographing flashes and strobes, I have seen several clips and stills that show a very unnatural “tearing” effect when exposing strobe flashes (for instance, at a wedding reception).

I found in my testing that if you shoot any kind of racing or other high speed sports, the rolling shutter artifacts can be quite distracting. I did shoot a documentary on the Japanese sport of Drifting a few years ago. In a situation like this, with photographing constant high speed pans, based upon what i exprienced with the EX-1, it would have been a detriment. Like everything else, it depends on what you shoot and how high your sensitivity for visual distortion is.

While yes, the EX-1 produces nice images, to me, the fact that it is a 4:2:0 35mbps signal means that the images cannot be as robust in compositing and in pulling keys as the 4:2:2 100 mbps signal from DVCProHD.

Remember, I wrote this list merely as a summary.

All my best,

Dan

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[Dan Brockett]

Hi Peter:

Tons of this discussion over at DVX User but as a summary

Sony EX-1 – positives
1/2″ CMOS imager gives shallower depth of field than HVX’s 1/3″ CCDs
EX-1 seems to have less noise at higher gain levels
EX-1 image has been perceived as sharper
Real manual iris ring
Lower data rates mean longer shoot times on same size storage cards
Outstanding quality LCD screen

Sony EX-1 – negatives
CMOS imager has significant rolling shutter artifacts
35mbps format is much lower data rate than DVCProHD and less color sampling than HVX
Maximum size on SxS cards is presently 16GB vs. 32GB P2 cards
Some viewers/users report that camera loses significant sharpness and detail when camera is moving. (sharp when stationary, then blurry when panned or tilted)
Horrendously bad ergonomics
General consensus is that EX-1 produces more video-like images (may or may not be a negative for you?)
More expensive than HVX by 20-30%
Audio quality is unknown at this time. All past Sony sub-$10k cameras have had audio quality ranging from poor (Z1u) to unusable for professional quality work (VX and PD series)

Panasonic HVX-200 – positives
Excellent image quality in normal to good lighting
Very filmic image
100mbps 4:2:2 color sampling, great for green screen and compositing
Relatively low cost
Excellent audio quality
Image remains consistent whether moving or stationary
Good lens for fixed lens camera
Acknowledged great colorimetry

Panasonic HVX-200 – negatives
Camera is rated ASA 320. Not good images in low light
Noisier picture than EX-1
Softer picture than EX-1
Terrible LCD screen
Better ergonomics than EX-1 but still clunky
Shorter run times per P2 card of same size as SxS

FWIW, I own an HVX. I love the camera, it’s a great tool. The new Sony seems nice at first blush, but when you delve deep into it, there are some fundamental limitations to the camera that may or may not be deal breakers for your needs. I have see some excellent footage from both cams so it just depends on your preference. You won’t go wrong with either but it does boil down to what your needs are.

Best,

Dan

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[Dan Brockett]

I second the grey, it’s by far the most versatile color to have because with the mere addition of some colored gels, you can make it into anything you want. I turned ours into a nice Army Green for the interviews I did for the MASH DVD box set. In looking at the monitor, even I was amazed at how green just blending a couple gels made the grey.

We used to also have a deep blue/purple one and it was never as useful.

Good luck,

Dan

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[Dan Brockett]

Hi Vince:

Along with the mic article I recently posted that you are reading, I would highly advise you to read this one. It’s old and some of the model numbers have changed but the basic concepts of assembling an effective location sound kit are right there. https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/location_sound.html

Also, I agree with Steve, the SD mixers are excellent and very popular.

Dan

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[Dan Brockett]

Hi:

You definitely do NOT want to record your dialogue at 0dB, if you do, you will definitely clip your audio signal.

It really does not matter where you record your tone between -12dB or -20dB as long as your tapes or hard drive are so labeled. -12dB = analog 0dB is sort of a prosumer/FCP sort of spec and -20dB is how the professional world of audio does it.

Who is editing? Is it being broadcast? Is it being sent out for replication/duplication?

Dan

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[Dan Brockett]

Hi Luke:

Some nice imagery. I have a few questions for you:

1. Who is the reel supposed to be aimed at? Who is your audience? Shooters looking for an editor? Wedding couples? I am a little confused as far as who it should be appealing to.

2. Not a single lit shot. To be honest, it’s not that difficult to go out and get some cool nature and outdoor footage. What separates the men from the boys are shots that are lit beautifully, that show a potential client, “this guy can do it all, nature, outdoor and indoor” If your target is weddings, I would want to know that you can either light a wedding or shoot within the confines of available light and make it looks killer.

3. Agree, vignetting is too distracting and there seems to be no reason for it.

4. Really like the underwater stuff, that shows some depth and breadth to what you can do.

5. Not a bad reel at all but you need to focus and probably have at least 2-3 reels, one each for different audiences.

Best,

Dan

Providing value added material to all of your favorite DVDs

[Dan Brockett]

Hi:

I think the answer is simple. If you need mobility, you need a laptop. If not, you will have more power and speed and more professional capabilities in a desktop. End of story.

The Kona AJA Io is an amazing product but beware, there are limitations to what it can do and it is expensive. Also, if you are going to run the Io successfully, you need the top of the line MBP.

The AJA Kona 3 (I own one) is superb and it is one of the smartest buys I have ever made. It really does everything I need it to and it does it well.

If it were me, I would purchase a MacBook for a portable inexpensive laptop solution for travel, e-mail, Word, etc. and I would buy a desktop. I own a dual 2.3GHz G5 with the Kona and new MBP (2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo). I thought I would actually use the laptop for occasional editing but so far, I have only partially edited an ambitious home movie on it and most of the time, I prefer to edit said home movie on my G5 because I have dual 24″ monitors, a real keyboard, speakers, etc. Editing on a laptop is totally possible, it’s just not as fun as editing with a more powerful desktop.

Best,

Dan

Providing value added material to all of your favorite DVDs

[Dan Brockett]

Hi Ben:

Thanks for the response. I dug around some more and it seems that there are as many recipes for this as there are for Apple pie. I experimented and did some tests and it seems that 30p, with it’s “half interlaced/half progressive look” seems to be a little bit different than if I were cutting against 24p looking video.

The recipe that is giving me tbe closest look is to duplicate the layers, add de-interlace filter on lower layer and put 30% opacity on upper. Doesn’t match exactly but it’s a lot closer.

I should check out Graham’s filters, I have heard nothing but great things about them.

Thanks for your help,

Dan

[Dan Brockett]

Hi Will:

I am so glad that you found the article helpful.

That is very good information since I am now working on a lavaliere review article. That is one of the things I would like to test, how well each lav intercuts with shotguns but without having each shotgun back (an impossibility I am afraid), I am not sure how to do tests for that. I guess I can record some of the lav samples with the same voice I used for the shotgun/cardioid tests in the same location and then set up some A/B clips in the timeline and output those for the review.

Yes, the Beyer is a good mic, it did pretty decently in almost all of the tests. They do not market the mic very well here in the U.S., I agree, most users here have barely ever heard of it.

Thanks for the kind words!

Dan

[Dan Brockett]

Hi David:

I am talking strictly economics here, the HPX is a good camera and I am sure that it looks great with that lens but at that price range for the total package, many other options come into view as well or will be coming into view at NAB in a few months.

I’m just saying, if it were me, I wouldn’t do it. Would be great to see side by side footage tests of the HPX with the good lens like the Fuji or Canon CAC lenses versus a great lens.

Dan