[Steve Crow]

No worries. If you would like further suggestions you can read more on my blog here where I did several detailed posts with pricing, including tripods.

Intro: https://bit.ly/aaFQQp
Basic Kit Recommendations: https://bit.ly/becPat
Advanced Kit Recommendations: https://bit.ly/aoe5LI
Pro Kit Recommendations: https://bit.ly/bOApXq

[Steve Crow]

A couple of things you might also want to know:

1. The camera records the video as a H.264 which is an excellent codec for delivery of a final edited video but not so great to do actual editing with. You will want to use something like mpeg streamclip to convert it to a better codec. I use a Mac so what I use (ProRes) wouldn’t be an option for you, others can advise you better on the PC side of things

2. If you plan on shooting outside with your camera you will need:

* a loupe (see prior thread on this forum)

* ideally something like the Fader ND which will cut down the light hitting the CMOS chip and allow you to still film at wide open apertures for a shallow depth of field look without blowing out the image

Finally make sure you have a fluid head tripod and an external audio recorder to deal with the Automatic Gain Control issue I know you are aware of.

That’s all I can think of right now.

[Steve Crow]

That’s why a loupe like the Zacuto Z-Finder is worth every penny, if you can’t see the screen, you can’t effectively shoot. In the meantime, throw a towel over your head and the camera like the old time photographers and that should allow you to see the screen.

A film might work but something like the Z-Finder also magnifies the screen allowing you to focus easier. It’s $400 but there are cheaper versions out there too.

[Steve Crow]

Yes, I would expect it to be exactly the same. There are a couple of hardware work-arounds.

JuicedLink makes a BeachTek type box that defeats the AGC while allowing you to monitor the audio as it is being recorded. It also has some simple audio volume controls

There’s also a “trick” that has you connect an ipod nano or shuffle to the mic input using a splitter which allows you to connect two mini-plug style audio input into the camera, you then record a tone signal on one channel only and play it back on the ipod into the camera. The camera “hears” the tone and it turns the AGC basically off.

But everyone else just records dual sound and then uses the Plural Eyes software to automatically sync your good audio to your camera audio. I sync manually for now.

[Steve Crow]

Hey Richard, thanks for taking a listen!

[Steve Crow]

I actually did import the videofile into my NLE to check out the waveform and I DO indeed see that it is not flat during the periods I am not talking.

Hmmm, maybe I do have to re-evaluate my earlier feeling of not hearing anything but it’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be…I was expecting much worse. I do hear it more when I listen on my laptop speakers as opposed to listening with my headphones, not sure why, could be my ears…I will have to check the owners manual, ha ha!

[Steve Crow]

Here’s a link to the actual test video….

https://vimeo.com/12303332

[Steve Crow]

Well, I can tell you that sold my AG-HVX200 production kit in favor of a Canon T2i. Some of the other equipment I have is

* Canon 1.8 50mm lens (I also have the stock lens the T2i came with)
* Zoom H4n with separate wind muff
* Zacuto Z-Finder
* Fader ND
* 1 extra battery
* Two 16GB SDHC memory cards
* Rode VideoMic (already have a wireles lav kit) with “dead cat”
* Tripod (pretty crappy one really)

There are other bits and pieces too but this will give you an idea. Sorry I don’t know what this all adds up to offhand but I can tell you that I really feel this is the direction forward if you want to upgrade your video to a much more cinematic look. Yes, it is much more difficult than filming with my HVX-200 but it’s worth it! 🙂

Regards,

Steve

************************************************
Steve Crow
Executive Producer/Founder
Crow Digital Media
Palo Alto, CA
Steve@CrowDigitalMedia.com
https://www.CrowDigitalMedia.com
************************************************

[Steve Crow]

Hi Michael,

That’s actually a great point and something I will really think about, thanks for the input! 🙂
Steve

[Steve Crow]

I can’t argue with anything Richard suggested. I did a series of blog posts on this topic recently, breaking down your kit option into 3 levels: basic, advanced basic and pro. Check it out if you are interested!

start here: bit.ly/aaFQQp