#Topic of the week
12 messages in this thread
Hi all,
Well since I don't want this topic to die out I will go ahead and strat the
topic this week. This week I would like to do somthing on equipment reviews.
Actualy this topic could go on for a coupple of weeks. So for this week let's
take a look at what camers those of you are using in production.
I will start it off with mine. I use a Panisonic AG-455 and I am very
pleased with the quality to price ratio. Of course I could get much better
quality with a JVC X2 or a Panisonic Supper Cam, but for the price I paid for
the 455 ( $1,600 ) it has been a great aquisition tool for my company. If the
455 has any down fall it is that of collor bleed to the left under harsh
lighting conditions and the lack of a manual zoom. The addition of a VITC
generator has been a valuble asset to this camera. The VITC works gret with my
VM when I get into post. One thing to remember about the VITC though is that
there is no way to set it to a certain position. The VITC starts at 00:00:00:00
it will run everytime you record untill it reaches 24:00:00:00 it will then
reset to 00:00:00:00 . Some edit controllers ( mine included ) will have a
problem whith this if you swap tapes, record and put the first tape back in and
start recording again. By doing this you will have a jump in the timecode that
some edit controlers have a problem with.
To sum it up the 455 is a great cammera for a producer on a limited budget.
You have to keep in mind the problems with the VITC when aquiering footage, and
make sure you lighting is good.
OK thats mine lets hear about yours.
Regards,
Michael W. Towe
Falcomn Video Productions
Santee Ca.
Michael,
I have updated the "welcoming" annoncement for the new topic of the week. I
must say I enjoyed (and learned) a lot from the last one.
I am certainly the person that can learn the most from aquisition technology. I
still get in fights with customers re: well "what is it exacly that you plan to
edit". 🙂 (my problem, recognized, not theirs)
-John
I own two Panasonic AG-455's, but would a much more mixed review. The good
points are that the camera, under the right conditions, can deliver good
looking, stable video, and that the VITC does come in handy (although, as you
say, it is not resettable).
The bad news is mainly is that it, unbelievably, doesn't have a manual zoom
(crucial for focusing), and important for quick control. I find this lack so
strange, because less expensive Panasonic cameras (i.e. the S-VHS ProMovie) had
the manaul zoom.
Secondly, I find that focusing in auto to be problematic, and the focusing in
manual, without a manual zoom, but also because of specs of the lens, is ALSO
problematic. The colors are good, the picture stable, but this camera can be
wanting for an IN-FOCUS image.
I get good use out of mine, and plan to use them until they are dead, but
wouldn't buy another. I think they are mainly good for learning, and for
loaning, which is how we use them in our access TV program. For a serious
acquisition camera, even in the $2K price range, I would look into what other
vendors (i.e. JVC) have.
Just my two cents. Intersted in other opinions.
–David Welsh
Hi David.
Just a little side note here, the earier 455's had a problem with the
focus. If you contact Panisonic you can get them to fix it. Of course it might
take a little arguing with them first. When it comes to Panisonic unless you
are using MII they don't want to deal with you much.
Regards,
Michael W. Towe
Falcon Video Productions
Santee Ca.
Appreciate this info. Will look into it.
Hiya Michael –
I shoot with a Canon L2, with which I have a love/hate sado-masachistic (or
however it's spelled) relationship.
The good news:
The Canon's imaging, thanks to great optics, approaches 3-chip cameras. It
also has manual controls for everything – iris, white balance, audio levels,
and good manual focus and zoom.
The bad news:
Lack of CB presets (I would like at least 3200K and 5600K, and perhaps 5600K
w/ND). If you turn the L2 off, it comes back up in audio AGC mode (stupid).
If you change batteries, it "forgets" the WB setting (really stupid).
It is relatively difficult to hand hold versus a shoulder camera. This is
offset, if you got the bucks, by the optical image stabilizer lens, which does
an excellent job without loss of resolution. But is costs as much as the L2.
Conclusion? I still want an EVW-300, or, if I can figure out how to afford
one, a UVW-100.
Bob
Hi Bob,
>> Conclusion? I still want an EVW-300, or, if I can figure out how to afford
one, a UVW-100. <<
Well if you figure it out PLEASE let us all know how. Of course if you
figure out how to get the UVW-100 you will also have to figure out how get a
couple of 1600's to go with your 1800. Then you will need the YUV option for
the VM and……hey that UVW-100 keeps geting more expensive every minute eh??
As far as the L-2, I have heard alot of good things about them. My only
problem with them is like all Hi-8 cammeras ( EVW-300 not inclusive ) they are
so small. For some that is an advantage, for me it is a nightmare. You see I am
6' 5" and about 275Lbs. and me and small cameras just don't go together very
well. It is unfortunate since I love the little Sony VX3. I had a guy shoot
some footege of a sprint car race for me with one and the quality was out of
this world. I get one of them in my hands and it looks like I was shooting in a
8.4 earthquake :-)))
A little side note on the L-2. I was talking to Marty Bryant ( for all
lurkers Marty is a FAST user and Bob an I know him from the FAST forum ) and he
was telling me that you need to be extra carefull when you use the camera
strap. He said that it has a tendency to break off inside the camera housing,
and it is a send it to the factory fix.
Thanks for the post,
Michael W. Towe
Falcon Video Productions
Sanee Ca.
>> He said that it has a tendency to break off inside the camera housing, and
it is a send it to the factory fix.
Thanks, Michael. He seems to be right – there are two straps, one on the side
by the lens, and the other in the back. The one on the side goes into the
innard somewhere and is probably what Marty was talking about.
I use the rear strap (the left hand holds the camcorder like a 35 mm camera)
and support it with my left hand on the focus ring. This seems to be much
steadier than the side strap.
BTW it started snowing while we were on the phone!
Bob
I'm a part time videographer (more an experienced hobbiest than anything else)
so, for whats worth, I have a Sony CCD-VX3 for which I can only give praise.
The quality is more than adequate for the weddings and private requests that I
typically do. If I had to state 1 complaint it would probably be that the
camera seems to eat batteries.
I have a FAST VM (full version not the Lite) and a single Sony R5U S-VHS deck
for editing. All my editing is by neccessity RCTC based and I'm limited to A/X
role transistions but the VM handles this great. All in all, I'm at the low
end of this business but very happy and having lots of fun. Not to mention
making a few dollars on the side.
Raymond Raw
St. Agatha, ON
Ho Bob,
>> BTW it started snowing while we were on the phone! <<
Of course you went outside and started into production on the how to make
the perfect snowman SIV tape right????
Regards,
Michael W. Towe
Falcon Video Productions
Santee Ca.
>> Of course you went outside and started into production on the how to make
the perfect snowman SIV tape right????
Well yes and no. I think the topic is going to have to be the Perfect Slushman
— it turned to rain after a few hours!
Bob –
<<< BTW it started snowing while we were on the phone! >>>
Oh, sure…make me homesick! I sure do miss it.
(Well actually, I'd probably miss it for a week, and then
be cursing the slush. ;D)
BTW, I think that Marty was referring to the camera-position
strap. Could easily be wrong, as I don't have one.
db.out