Eric Pensenstadler
Forum Replies Created
-
In my research I’ve concluded that I was pretty sure it was related to the SDHC cards. I was not aware of the Media Dump as opposed to reformatting the cards. I will do that. I haven’t had this occur in months and I’ve been shooting a lot. But I will double check my cards and compare the Mbs. I will glady invest in new cards if it gives me my confidence back!
Hey, what about the hard drive attachment (flash memory unit)? I know that I probably should be using this in place of / together with the SDHC cards but I haven’t purchased them yet. What do you recommend?
Thank you,
Eric -
Thank you very much for that info. That is what I found out the hard way. Unfortunately the first few projects I shot with these cameras I immediately log and transferred directly from the camera into FCP, then of course cleared the cards. So I’m stuck. I’ve found a work around that is time consuming and reduces quality a bit, but it helps – being that the projects are not for broadcast.
I do now transfer the cards to an external drive and then log & transfer into FCP. Those were SD, but what about HD. Everything I’ve read says with HD to go ahead and L&T into FCP and let it convert the files to Apple ProRess 422. Do you still use Squeeze or Streamclip with HD clips from this camera before L&T into FCP?
Thank you!
Eric -
Have you tried transferring all the files from the card onto a harddrive first? Then once you’ve done that, open the L&T window and use the icon in the upper left (a folder with a plus sign) to find the files on the harddrive and import them that way.
Eric
-
Thank you for sharing your info James, that’s really good to hear. If I’m not mistaking, though, the software that came with the camera is only for PC, not Mac (ie, Final Cut Pro). I should revisit that to make sure.
At least there IS a work-around, even if we think it shouldn’t be that way or if it’s a little inconvenient.
I’m still in the process of some more specific test but unfortunately I will be out of town for 2 weeks so they’ll have to wait. In particular I’m very surprised that when I record long shots in HD it is transfering into FCP as ONE clip! I don’t know why, I thought it would have been multiple clips in 12 minute incraments. Anyway, I’m still curious as to if there’s audio dropouts every 12 minutes but at least for syncing purposes I won’t have to resynce every 12 minutes.
I’ll report back.
Eric -
Just following up. I did the same test where I shot about 40 minutes in 1080 60i. Same thing… it only created ONE clip the entire length.
I mean, that is really great, but I’m confused now. Reminder, this is the first time I’ve experimented with HD clips over 10 minutes. Before it was SD and the cameras created a new file after 30 minutes – which was my original post because the end of that 30 minute clip had a loss of 4 frames of audio.
Others replied to my original post and shared their stories of these cameras creating a new clip every 12 minutes with HD footage, and losing frames of video and audio at the end of those clips. So I tested this in HD and found that the camera did NOT create the 12 minute clips like I thought it would.
Any thoughts?
Eric
-
OK. Thoroughly confused now.
Regarding the issue of dropping audio and video frames, and the headaches of resyncing the camera-created clips every 12 minutes: I just did a test where I recorded for 38 minutes. Keep in mind this test would mark the first time I’ve recorded HD for over 10 minutes (although I had plans to later this month). My expectation was that a new clip would be created every 12 minutes and that I would lose a couple frames of audio and probably video too at the end of each clip.
What happened? It created ONE clip 38 minutes long. What the crap? I mean, that’s really awesomely fantastic, but why didn’t it break up the clips every 12 minutes?
This test was done with settings at 1080 30P. I’m doing the same test now at 1080 60i. Would this really make a difference? We’ll see.
Eric
-
That’s interesting that they both drop the frames, definitely sounds more like a camera issue then.
-
My sentiments exact Joseph. Again, I did a lot of research before investing in 3 of these things and I wish I would have known these issues before.
Anyway, a firmware update would be just fine! I’d prefer that to trying to sell or return these and then buy new ones.
John, to your point, I have talked to others who use tapeless format and they do not seem to have this problem. HOWEVER, I have a little Sony palm camera that I use as back up or hide in the flowers at a wedding and it does the same thing! I just noticed this. I talked to somebody last night that suggested maybe it’s the HDSC cards I’m using. He is going to lend me one of his which is a different brand and size than mine just to see if there’s any difference.
What cards are you guys using? I’m using Transcend Class 10 32GB. Hey, I’d be happy if buying all new cards solved the problem.
I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for all your support… misery loves company!
Eric
-
Thank you for your reply John. I appreciate your feedback once again.
I think this is the final straw for me with these cameras (remember the SD problems of severe interlacing and flickering footage?). First thing Monday I am going to start the – probably ill-fated – attempt to return these cameras to Sony. I’ll get my attorney involved if need be because there’s a chance I will end up having to refund a lot of money to clients.
If I was a client receiving a video and it had all the problems I’ve mentioned before with the SD footage, and then now has audio and video dropouts, I would not pay for the product. I’m expecting my clients to feel the same way.
It is a shame, but these cameras cannot be used professionally. I did a lot of research on cameras before I purchased these NX5Us. Nowhere did anybody review the cameras that it had these limitations/problems. Everybody just said how wonderful they were. Yes, there are a lot of great features and they’re good cameras, but I feel they are totally unacceptable for my professional services (and believe me, I don’t say that with an ego, I do very little for broadcast and I’m not doing anything more than most readers of this thread are doing). Sorry for my rant, but I just can’t believe Sony could put out this good of a camera with “show-stoppable” limitations and problems.
Wish me luck as I prepare for battle with Sony!
Eric
-
It may be too late now, but in response to Gary St Martin’s post above there is an update for FCP 7 that fixes that issue. I’m going off memory here, but I’m pretty sure that was the fix.
Eric