[Robin Probyn]

Yes you can plug a +48 shotgun mic direct into the back of the camera.But I found the level is very hot,way higher than my Sony digibeta… but if you switch to manual level and dial it right down,its fine.Guess you could put in an attenuator in the cable,but I was told better to deal with it at the camera end,and when the levels are set pretty low its within the limits.Just a bit freaky the first time to have the levels set so low.. dont know why its so much more sensitive than the Sony?
And ofcourse monitor it from the miniplug out from the camera,its fine for sit down interviews (done on a small budget !!!). anything else you need an audio guy for sure.

[Robin Probyn]

I,ll be using my HDX900… he has been using the RED previously .. so he,ll need a deck to digitise when he gets back to his edit.

[Robin Probyn]

Was in the exact same boat last month.In the end got the BT900A.. it is pricey ..but at least you get what you pay for… there s a good reason that nearly all the rental houses have them over the world.

The BT 80 I didnt like the screen so much.. and I dont think it covers all the formats .. but fair enough its cheaper..

Its a pain but for something as important as a monitor,I think its a dis economy to compromise on the quality.. the dir will complain and you,ll have to rent the BT900 anyway.

Buy it from the UK.. with your dollars! Petrol also does a very nice case/bag for the BT900A at a very reasonable price

[Robin Probyn]

Hi Ernie

Ok thanks for your reply.Just out of interest… what do the players rent for.. presuming cheapest model to use for digitising only.

Thanks again

[Robin Probyn]

Hi Mark

Thanks,yes that makes sense..

[Robin Probyn]

Yeah was also wondering.. its my first stop forum with coffee too!! although I only have the HDX900.

Just got the panasonic BT 900A monitor.. another item I,d been renting way too long!! and quite a niffty bag from Petrol for it.. has a protect screen built in…always wished there was some protective screen for that monitor.

[Robin Probyn]

Ok thanks for the info… saved me some homework..!! 🙂

[Robin Probyn]

So does that apply to tapes these days too eg digibeta /HDCAM/DVCPro

Thanks

[Robin Probyn]

Yes I guess if they could,they would have by now.

I waited ages for the PDW700,which always seemed to just around the corner,while renting mostly the HDX900 for HD work… and then woke one day and smelt the coffee.. and rushed out to buy the HDX900 that I had already spent so much money renting!!!

Hopefully will get at least the money back on the HDX900,bought last Oct,and most likely make some money.. and then buy the PDW 700 .. when its become as popular as I thought it would be originally.
Just should have got the HDX900 at least a yr earlier.. the price of procrastination !! or avoiding the $50,000 door stop.

[Robin Probyn]

I wonder can the P2 cards become bigger (data storing wise) and down to $40 for say 40mins.Then just treated as tapes/DVD,s
No problem with the extra data wrangler on the crew,or mucking around with HD,s in hotel rooms till 4am.
Then wouldnt the P2 camera,s be better than the XDCAM? esp if they make just one Varicam with all the bells and whistles.
I,d have thought it would be worth Panasonic to heavily subsidise the P2 card costs,to make their format the dominant one.. then put the price up 🙂