Ernie Santella
Forum Replies Created
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Well, I finally spoke to an authorized Panasonic repair tech. They recommend using the head-cleaning tape between 50-100 drum hrs. And then to have the tape path thoroughly cleaned about 3 times per year by a authorized tech, don’t try it yourself. This all depends on average useage (More often if you’re shooting the Discovery Channel’s ‘Dirty Jobs’)
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
My camera is new, so no need for service yet. So, you’re saying never clean the heads? That can’t be right. There has to be an average amount of hours before running the head cleaner tape. I was just wondering if you also need to do the alcohol cleaning also.
All us Varicam/900 users, are you guys not cleaning your heads?
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
Love my 30″. No issues, no dead pixels and I agree, this is for editing elements, not for critcial viewing.
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
“Using a Mac Pro Quad 3.0, exporting 6 minutes of 8 bit 720×486 via compressor to MPEG2 for DVDSP, 60 minutes.”
If it’s taking 60 minutes to compress a 6 min segment, you have something seriously wrong. My Intel Pro 2.66 is way faster than that, more like 5 minutes or less. Not sure where you are going wrong, but something isn’t right.
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
My 900 does suck down my older ProPacs quickly too as the Cam is 36 watts. A buddy recommended these, so I just tried some and they are working great. They last better than expected. Nice alternative to Anton’s.
https://www.batteries4broadcast.com
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
The ‘pre-record’ function is under the Main Menu – System Setting – REC Function. Then you set the Pre-Record Mode to On/Off & Pre-Record Time 0-7.
Other tricks, well, there are some nice files to download for video & film looks here on this thread.
Other differences with the 900 that I like are you can preset your viewfinder with 2 settings which are selectable by a button on the side of the camera. Nice to have a 4:3 mask for reference.
Not that you’ll use it, but it has a stereo mic vs. the Varicam’s mono mic. It actually sounds pretty cool for nat sound ambience.
And the viewfinder is far superior to the early VariCam’s. The ‘F’ Varicams had horrible ‘blooming’. This one is much improved as the did on the ‘H’ Varicams.
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
Ooops, my bad. I just checked my cam. The video out port (back of cam) is the SD selectable output and it has a switch on the side door like Ray mentioned abouve. The Monitor port (side of camera) is not changable to SD, but it does have a menu under ‘System Setting’ that changes it from HD-SDI to HD-Y, that was what I was thinking of.
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
Yes, you can use a SD monitor with your 900.
Ray, my HDX has the Monitor Output selectable by menu? Under System-Monitor-Out Select. Then you get the choice of changing the Monitor port. You are correct that the Video port is not changable.
And it has the pre-record memory of 1-7 sec which is selectable as well as an interverlometer function to auto-record timelapse.
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
I’ve been doing this for years. Never had a problem… yet. Don’t scare me!
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
F/VESCO (Film/Video Equipment Rental Co) in Denver also offers extensive VariCam and Sony HD classes quite often. Check them out too.
fvesco.com
Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com