[Ronnie Martin]

I also would like to see some warmer PPs for the EX. I have the EX-3 and so far have not changed any of the settings. A lot of my shooting is at night under poor and ever changing lighting conditions.

Ronnie Martin

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions

[Ronnie Martin]

The Magnolia track on the clip is the best lit track of all that I attend. Most of that footage was shot early in the afternoon before the sun went down. The sun is to my back and I get some nice shots there. Some of the others really are a challenge not only for me as a videographer but for the drivers as well. It all depends on the placement of the lights and my vantage point. At some of the tracks I have to shoot right into them when the cars come out of turn 4 and then on the the front straight. The EX series sure does a good job for there is no smear at all. I just wish it came with a 20x lens. One of the best vantage points that I have is at a track in South Mississippi right at the Mississippi Louisiana line. The track has several dark spots and the infield is really not lit at all. I started there with my PD170 and it was the best low light camera I have used at the dirt tracks. AT the track in South Mississippi,I am usually way up on top of the press box and it is like shooting fish in a barrel. The end result is pretty good in spite of the low light conditions.

Thanks again guys for all your help

Ronnie Martin
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions

[Ronnie Martin]

Talk to the track owner about spending a couple hundred grand on evening out the lighting. He’ll probably decline because the beer drinking crowd at dirt tracks don’t care.

Thanks guys for all your suggestions. I have been shooting dirt racing video for the past 4 years or so and progressed from a PD170, Zu1, EX-1 and now finally the EX-3. I know you don’t mean to trash the dirt racing crown Steve, but obviously you have not been to the same tracks I have been going to lately. In the main grandstand no alcoholic beverages are allowed. Many tracks have a section for this on the back straight a way. The cars are very sophisticated in construction and design. I guess the best way to describe it is to go to this link on You Tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCss53LmJDA

(sorry about the poor quality it actually looked pretty good until You Tube re encoded it.)

It is more like mini NASCAR these days. I am sure you can find some of the tracks that you mention but they are the exception not the rule.

Many of the current NASCAR drivers drive dirt during and in the off season to keep their reflexes up to par. Also many of them have bought interest in the larger tracks across the country. The top class is the Super Late Models and they move very fast and the action is really hard to capture with just one camera. Our results last year with the EX-1 were much improved over the Zu1 even though our end result is a SD DVD.

The only complaint that I have had with the EX and the ZU1 is when I down convert to SD DVD for authoring that I get artifacts on horizontal and vertical components of the image. This is especially evident when panning and zooming. Unfortunately with the cars traveling at over 120MPH on 1/4 or 3/8 mile track you are constantly moving to keep up with the action. Most all of my shooting is hand held. I found that a tripod or mini pod did not allow any up and down movement that is needed as the cars approach and go buy. This weekend I used a modified shoulder brace that I bought for the EX-1 and aside from a sore shoulder it was much easier to handle than the EX-1 just not as much pressure on my wrist.

Sorry to ramble on so….. I have learned so very much from all of you on the Cow forums. Please don’t be offended by my dumb stupid questions from time to time.

Keep up the good work….. and keep those suggestions and picture profiles coming. Best of luck with your video efforts in the New Year.

Ronnie Martin
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions

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[Ronnie Martin]

Thanks Simon: I am about to pull the trigger on the 197 later today from B&H. I will ask them about the trolley insert. It would make it much easier going through the airport rather than carrying the bag on my shoulder.

Take care

Ronnie
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions

[Ronnie Martin]

Thanks Michael; What I am looking for is probably not possible. I want a bag that will protect the viewfinder on the EX-3 and also be able to carry on the airlines in the US.
Some where in my search I saw the Kata 197 and I thought that it had a trolley. I have a Kata TCCT and it does not protect the view finder as I would like and is a little narrow for the EX-3. However, it does have a removable trolley so that you can roll the bag rather than carry it. I looked on http://www.bhphotovideo.com an there was not mention of the Trolley.

Thanks
Ronnie Martin
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions

[Ronnie Martin]

Thanks I found the Transend 16 gig cards for $27

https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Class-Flash-Memory-TS16GSDHC6/dp/B0015AOK1O/ref=pd_cp_e_2?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0010Z28XG&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=196YWVT7DBKZTPD4B3Y3

Ronnie

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions

[Ronnie Martin]

I ordered two of the adapters and now need to order a couple of cards.
Which 16gig card would you recommend? SXS or Transend?

I have noticed that Trandsend now has a 32 gig card.

Thanks

Ronnie Martin
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions

[Ronnie Martin]

Thanks Bob: I will compare the outside dimentions to those of the TSA specs. I have decided on a local transport hard case but still looking for an air line travel case that will fit in the overhead bin or under the seat.

Thanks again

Ronnie Martin
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions

[Ronnie Martin]

Hello Bob… that case does look good… Will it fit in the overhead or ouder the seat on the plane?

Thanks

Ronnie

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions

[Ronnie Martin]

Thanks Steve…. Does the porta brace you use for airline travel protect the view finder on the EX 3? It is a shame that the view finder does not come off. My HRV 270 had the same problem

Thanks

Ronnie

Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions