[Timothy Schroeder]

Thanks Brett and Michael, PNG it is. And indeed easier than having to do the Alpha C Shuffle.

I redid my timeline as a new project, and instead of the PSD I’m now using PNG and it’s working very well. I was getting some strange glitches using the PSD, but with PNG Final Cut is back to running nice and fast with nary a hiccup.

Thanks again!

[Timothy Schroeder]

Thanks again, Jerry, I’ll take a look and may call them tomorrow for further info.

[Timothy Schroeder]

Thanks for the info, Jerry, that’s what I figured it would be. About 5 years ago I was doing some SD video spots for a local bank using an XL2, but they quit the game so I lost the gig. I now have a possible new video client, talking heads stuff, and believe that a DSLR would be fine for this, and be another tool in my still cam assortment that I could use for other stuff.

When I was doing those spots, my service bureau wanted an NTSC QT file, then they prepped it for Comcast. Now I’m not sure what that situation will be, but I’d use the same people for this new stuff if I get it so figured they’d want the same thing, only in HD. I’d also be using the files for the client’s website, etc.

My choice at this point is buy a Nikon D7000, since all my gear is Nikon, but the D7000 only shoots 24fps at 1920×1080, which is why I posted my concern. The 5D MKII can shoot at 30fps, but then I’d be stuck with buying lenses besides the camera, or use an adapter for Nikon glass on it, which I know is possible. Or, wait until Nikon comes along with a D800 or whatever, which I’m sure will have much more sophisticated video capabilities. But who knows when that will come along, and I may not be able to wait. I don’t have enough need to spend $3-4K on a “real” video cam, so I’m sorta stuck. But I do really like the idea of using my extensive Nikkor lens collection on a DSLR for video.

If I buy the D7000 and use that, what card would I need for my quad MacPro for outputting my timelines as you’ve kindly suggested? Or maybe I output at the native frame rate and let my service bureau do the final output deeds.

Overall, I’m just trying to get a feel for what the new game is since all my experience was with SD. I have Shure SM57 XLR mikes and a Marantz PMD670 digital recorder so I’m not concerned with audio as I think I have that covered if the DSLR audio is questionable, etc.

Thanks again for your expertise, sorry to be so verbose but I wanted to explain my situation!

[Timothy Schroeder]

Didn’t notice, read pretty clean to me!

[Timothy Schroeder]

Good stuff, Don, thank you for reporting your own personal experience! And your other ideas about waiting and ProRes are good, too. As in the still game, these shows do open the gate for new stuff, which is fine, I’m not in a huge rush.

Those two cameras are almost the same thing mechanically, just with different protocols. I really like the idea of DVCPro HD as a shooting format, but the much lower cost of the 150 and its features simply are too hard to ignore. I’ll see what goodies come along once the show is done.

I know, maybe there will be an HPX180 that shoots 4:4:4, Leica zoom equiv. 20mm-450 or so, 4 ND filters, all the usual trinkets and a built in 250gb SS drive chipset. And all for $3.5K. I think that’s reasonable.

Thanks again!

[Timothy Schroeder]

Thanks, Rafael, that’s what I thought but when I started reading the AVCHD stuff I was pretty confused. Still am, but I’m gonna move forward and not worry about it. There’s enough to worry about with this game!

[Timothy Schroeder]

Thanks, Zane, that option still exists even while looking at dedicated video cams. I have a ton of Nikon glass, and though they do offer some decent options right now I’m very curious, as is the rest of the world, as to what Nikon will offer in the next big round of DSLR models. D800, or whatever it’s called, may well be the ticket, so I’ll probably just wait and see what comes along. I don’t have an immediate need, so I do have the luxury of waiting, which is nice for a change!

Tim

[Timothy Schroeder]

Thank you, Jerry, for your reply. I was hoping that was the situation, but I’ve read so much about the AVCHD stuff that I just wasn’t sure, then began wondering about the other codecs. In past years I’ve shot TV commercials with a Canon XL2, and the license thing never crossed my mind, just didn’t know much about the newer regs, etc.

As for cameras, the lesser expense but decent opinions of the HMC150 may well be the deciding factor, but we do get what we pay for so I’m still chewing on it all.

Thanks again!

Tim