[Kennon Shain]

Thanks Peter,

Maybe I should just send it in to Canon. But I’m assuming it would take at least 2 weeks before I got it back, and I hate to go that long without my camera. Plus I have a wedding coming up on April 14th.

But I guess I should do it right. Thats weird that Canon doesn’t let anyone else service/maintain their equipment. There’s probably at least 6 good Sony shops around me!

[Kennon Shain]

What about maintaining the 3 chip cameras? Can I trust a local shop to clean and take care of a Canon?

Thanks-

[Kennon Shain]

Thanks for the advice Steven,

I appreciate the long post. I think renting to experiment with the workflow is a good idea. Not sure how the transcoding time, effects rendering, etc. will affect everything.

I have a dual 1 GHZ G4, with maxed out memory (1.5 GB), which edits DV fine. But not sure if it will have issues with HDV. Since most of my delivery format is SD DVD, it wouldn’t be an issue at first (just downconvert at capture). Then again, if I want a HD master of the final edit, I would have to deal with the HDV editing times.

I use a standard flat screen 20” TV, and probably couldn’t afford a HD monitor for awhile. I’m assuming that means my monitoring wouldn’t be that accurate for HD footage, but I’d be willing to sacrifice that at first, as long as its decent.

Maybe I should just maintain the equipment I have, and be patient. With the wedding season a little over a month away, I figured now would be the time. Otherwise, I mind as well wait till next season. Offering HD as an upsell to my wedding packages is a possibility, and it would pay for the cameras over time, but I’m not sure if brides really care yet.

Thanks again!

[Kennon Shain]

Thanks for the feedback Steve. I figured that something had to be sacrificed for the tape to be 83 minutes, so that makes sense that the tape would be thinner and easier to stretch. I just can’t spend the $1000+ for a dsr-11 yet. And Master Quality tapes are expensive, which is why I was using LP mode. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and keep all in SP mode when outputting.

But I don’t shoot in the field in LP mode because I’m cheap-it just helps out to have the wide camera recording throughout the ceremony. Shooting by myself, its pretty much impossible to switch tapes on the stationary cam when shooting my cam (I shoot on a monopod). I only use LP mode in live events with my stationary cam-but I guess I should try to limit it.

I do occasionally use a mini-DV tape twice, but never more. I do try to limit that, but I know of videographers who use it over and over and over. That does seem like a bad idea, especially since most tapes are only $5 each. Isn’t 3 re-recordings on a tape when it starts to dropout?

[Kennon Shain]

Does it affect the tape quality? I think I heard it also makes the tape degrade faster over time. It just seems so much easier in event situations. Plus, when outputting a 2 hour wedding, it saves you from using two tapes (with a Panasonic 83 minute master).

[Kennon Shain]

One more thing-the 2nd GL-2 does connect fine with the 1st via firewire. Its just when you connect it to the computer, it isn’t recognized. So would it still be the firewire port?

[Kennon Shain]

Thanks Doug,

I didn’t realize that the heads were so sensitive-I figured all tapes would play in everything. Thats a good thing to keep in mind, especially when hiring other cameramen to shoot for you (which I am starting to do more).

I can’t record in LP on my main camera, but I always use the 2nd GL-2 to get the wide shot, so its easier to just set it for LP. That way, when I switch tapes on my 1st camera, I know the 2nd will back me up. Since I am usually a one-man show, its tough to get to the 2nd camera during the ceremony to switch tapes. And since most ceremonies don’t go over 90 minutes, I’m good.

I never used LP mode until another videographer swore that there was no difference in quality, and that he uses it all the time. I think there is a small difference, but the convenience for a 2 camera shoot out-weighs the difference.

I always hate sending away cameras for repair, but maybe thats the best way to go. Is head alignment expensive?

I know the firewire cable and port on the computer is fine with the 1st GL-2 and the XL-1. Its just the 2nd GL-2 that won’t be recognized by the computer. Thats why I think its the firewire port on the camera, but I did buy it almost new (slightly used). I just wasn’t sure if there was some simple setting on the camera which would prevent it from being recognized.

Thanks!

[Kennon Shain]

Thanks Joe,

I actually did all ready delete the user settings, and created a new one. It didn’t seem to make a difference when I was trying to export the sequence. But my client just told me that he did successfully create a quicktime last night, unfortunately it has “media offline” spread throughout in random spots. Gotta love the irony….

The last time I attached the camera, it was almost impossible to even output any footage. It would record for a few moments, then Xpress would freeze, therefore ruining the output. Its scary, because I always thought I could at least use the camera to back it up with Avid. Now I’m not sure.

I’m using a GL-2 to input the footage, and I think I’m using the XL-1 template that existed all ready…let me check on that, and I will at least try a general DV template.

I think thats the only FW drive on the bus though. I just use the other FW input to connect the camera. The rest of the drives are internal (mirrored) and one SCSI.

Thanks-

Kennon Shain

[Kennon Shain]

Thanks Doug,

Yeah, having the DVD duplication tower as a stand-alone is very appealing, since I can be doing other things with my computer. I don’t burn too many copies for weddings, so a 1-4 tower is more than enough for me.

I currently just print labels with my HP all-in-one printer, and with the Discus software. Not bad for low quantities, and I am getting good at putting on the labels. But I have read about the R200 through many threads on cow, and I probably should just make the investment. I saw it on ebay for about $50-75. And I think you can still use Discus with the printer. Need to free up some desk space though….

The Primera Bravo Pro is the ultimate goal, since it can print the labels in no time, on multiple discs. But the $1700+ price tag is too hefty for me right now.

Anyway, thanks again!

Ken Shain
Cupid Productions
https://www.alloccasionvideography.com

[Kennon Shain]

Thanks Gary,

I will check it out. The 4 bay unit is probably the best for me, factoring in space and money. I do want to copy protect my discs eventually (which these units won’t copy), but I believe you can’t without professional $1000+ equipment. Too many brides know how to copy DVD’s!

Ken Shain
Cupid Productions
https://www.alloccasionvideography.com