[Nate Stephens]

But does the Kona LHe uprez SD to HD ??? As well as the Kona 3? The LHe has the component inputs from Betacam SP correct.. But not the Uprez and cross transcode from 720 to 1080.. I did not know the Dell had component inputs, that very interesting..

Looks like more Googling in my future.. Thanks Jeremy

But I could use the MXO with our MacBook Pro….. hmmmmmm….

[Nate Stephens]

Jeremy, Thanks for the link and your kind words “Selfless bunch aren’t they?”

That is why I love the Cow, All this LUV being shared….. and on a Saturday… 😉 . but your right and if you buy my AB roll Betacam SP suite (still works) I can use the proceeds either on paying off its’ 20 year bank note or maybe buy the Kona and a nice Raid 5 Sata array… Please make an offer… shipping not included…

“”As far as trying to not get a Kona in your MacPro, how are you planning on monitoring your p2 footage? What do you master to? ”

And this is the rub… My recent survey of HD Spot deliverables in our area trends towards FTP, DVD-rom and Blue Ray as the emerging local acceptable standards.. I will still have my trusty G4 -Cinewave for any Betacam SP or DVcam tapes. For HDcam mastering I will follow Walters lead on finding a local/regional shop that will take DVD-rom, ftp or Hard drives with the DVCproHD / Quicktimes to master from.

For critical monitoring and color correction, I think Shanes MXO is the target. The question I have is, does the Matrox Duel or Triple Head adaptors really work, or is it cheaper to get a second monitor card. The goal is to use an ACD as the broadcast monitor via MXO and 2 Dells (if David W. still loves his new ones).

Will it work? With out bugs? AM I cutting the tech too tight? I would love a Kona 3 and a Big Panasonic or JVC HD monitor, but my main client cut 15K from my summer budget..

SO the big question is, can I cut 15K from my Federally mandated HD upgrade? The HVX200 is here. The HPX500 sans lens is ordered. The MacPro will edit DVCpro HD using internal raid, so I can delay the external sata raid (and still not sleep any better). Russel L swears by his 2.8 MacPro which saves $1,600 (off the 3.2) that will buy the 4 (maybe 6) gigs of ram and Western Digitals that Walter likes.

Can I delay buying a HDcam or Pana 1400, Kona 3, Sata external raid, HD broadcast monitor and HD CAC lens for the HPX500 for a year, pay my bills and still grow my business??

Now that is the Big question…

[Nate Stephens]

Thanks Walter,

Is this a generic available Kona software codec that works on intel Macs without the Kona cards? It is a little hard to fit a Kona card into my MacBook Pro.

And I am trying to avoid the extra expense of the Kona card on my MacPro upgrade.

We are moving to P2 and are hoping to duck the need for HD VTRs and the Kona card for another year.

[Nate Stephens]

I have read many posts that suggest you use an old technique to lower noise in the image.. When shooting with the HVX, don’t try to shoot zero black.. Keep your black levels up a little towards grey and then in post drop them down to black…

I haven’t had the opportunity to try this method with the HVX. I have used it with my Betacam tho…

[Nate Stephens]

Ben, I forgot to mention that I modified an old plastic AV cart for everything. Laptop, mirrored drives (2 sets, firewire and sata), wireless audio reciever, 4 channel audio mixer, 24″ LCD monitor-VGA, HD component and composite. I have a camera mono-pod that I have considered mounting to it and I have a large UPS battery with AC/dc converter that I have been meaning to test/time with the system. The UPS battery will power my Sony DXCwsl with DSR1 back and 4″ viewfinder for almost 4 hours. Oh, not to forget I have a 32 foot Granite Digital Firewire cable that works great.

It is all very mobile, all on wheels.. A remote pan/tilt head and zoom/focus would be a nice addition as would a cooler of very cold beer.. to sit on of course….

[Nate Stephens]

Ben, Are your cameras going to be on tripods, locked down to one position..

If so, why not Firewire to laptop ( I use MacBook Pro) capture via FCP to external mirrored esata raid…. I have recorded over 2.5 hours with NO problems in the studio..

You should be able to capture the show on a couple sets of 500gb esata drives per camera. I have a set of (cheap-n-dangerous) Calvary 500sata that were 100 bucks each.. I had them running for a week to see if they would fail, nope…

You need the laptops for P2 capture. You need the Hard drives for P2 off load.. So why not just use the laptops for video recorders…

[Nate Stephens]

Jan,

Thanks for the word… I was hoping you would pop in… Are they being delayed for the 5600 preset???

It has been almost 2 weeks since I placed my order with my dealer and he can not get a ship date confirmed… Is this customary? Am I being too eager? Or is my dealer pushing the wrong buttons?

He is the same dealer that I purchased the HVX200 thru.. last December…

Thanks again,,, knowledge is what we sell, knowledge is what we illustrate, knowledge is our armor,,,,, and I appreciate you sharing yours…

[Nate Stephens]

“I am at client(s) discretion (ie their checkbooks)”

I understand that disease. My summer client cut 15k after 8 months of saying the budget was solid…. hence no HD lens.. I can rent a HD 11x lens for 300/day if I have to.. Other than that it is SD lens until the money shows up… Paul Colin in a thread below swears by his Canon HJ17ex7.6B-IRSE e-HDxs 17x 2/3″ ENG High Definition Wide Angle Lens, with 2x Extender and he also has more money in the lens than the camera….

If the camera would ship I could make a judgement on how ugly the SD lens is. My current clients would be happy with a Betacam SP look in HD. So I do not think I need a super sharp lens..

I have to stay away from the Sony CMOS chips. I am in toooo many old buildings with flickering flourescents or group events with camera flashes…

I am trying to get the details on a Lettus / redrock type adapter for 35mm lens.. But I do not want the flip device… the HPX has a flip circuit..

[Nate Stephens]

Matt, Do you have the HPX500?? If so what lens do you use and why? Good, best, bad…

I ordered our HPX without lens….. so the question is which is best for the dollars..

[Nate Stephens]

Matt,

I can understand the concern Matt.. I could have this HPX500 busy next week. My order is in for the HPX500, but no ship date. The cameras work as is right now if you use the white card to white balance…… but you have to find a stocking dealer with inventory and then Panny only pays to ship it back to you after it is fixed…… but you can ship it in anytime under the 5 year warranty.

At the price for this camera after the Panny rebate, I wish I could get 2 of them….

I have only had my order in for a little more than a week,, and I need to concentrate on organizing another clients edit,,, so it is good I don’t have a new toy just yet…..
But by the end of next week would be great to have my new HPX500….. hint, hint 😉