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Posted: 2003-03-02 10:25pm
by Dalton
phongn wrote:They are good, my dad has a C-3040Z and it takes great pictures (though obviously not up to par with something like a Canon EOS-10D)
Incidentally, Ali said that a friend of his is selling a Canon XL1S digital video camera (Pretty sure it's DVC-PRO...) with some accessories for 4 grand.
Posted: 2003-03-02 10:28pm
by phongn
Dalton wrote:phongn wrote:They are good, my dad has a C-3040Z and it takes great pictures (though obviously not up to par with something like a Canon EOS-10D)
Incidentally, Ali said that a friend of his is selling a Canon XL1S digital video camera (Pretty sure it's DVC-PRO...) with some accessories for 4 grand.
XL1S is straight miniDV. But an XL1S + accessories (and presumable a lens) for only $4000? That's a damn good deal!
Posted: 2003-03-02 10:30pm
by Dalton
phongn wrote:XL1S is straight miniDV. But an XL1S + accessories (and presumable a lens) for only $4000? That's a damn good deal!
*digs through log*
-Canon XL-1S with original box, all original manuals and cables.
-3 Hour Canon Battery
-MA-100 Adapter (for 3 pin audio connections)
-Custom case designed specifically to house the camera, unlike a generic camera case.
Posted: 2003-03-02 10:36pm
by phongn
Dalton wrote:phongn wrote:XL1S is straight miniDV. But an XL1S + accessories (and presumable a lens) for only $4000? That's a damn good deal!
*digs through log*
-Canon XL-1S with original box, all original manuals and cables.
-3 Hour Canon Battery
-MA-100 Adapter (for 3 pin audio connections)
-Custom case designed specifically to house the camera, unlike a generic camera case.
Nice. I still wonder why Canon doesn't just make the XLR input standard, though. I never had the chance to play with either the XL1 or XL1S, but I've seen them at the Florida Scholastic Press Assocation conference (my high school used to do it until the head guy went in for heart surgery). They looked quite good (especially on a Steadicam
)
My experience with shoulder-mount cameras is more or less limited to the Panasonic AG-456 (evil...and I saw them around USF and actually shuddered) and the Sony DSR-200 (quite nice, even if they suck tons of pwoer).
Posted: 2003-03-02 10:48pm
by Dalton
phongn wrote:Nice. I still wonder why Canon doesn't just make the XLR input standard, though. I never had the chance to play with either the XL1 or XL1S, but I've seen them at the Florida Scholastic Press Assocation conference (my high school used to do it until the head guy went in for heart surgery). They looked quite good (especially on a Steadicam
)
The XLR isn't standard on a Canon?
phongn wrote:My experience with shoulder-mount cameras is more or less limited to the Panasonic AG-456 (evil...and I saw them around USF and actually shuddered) and the Sony DSR-200 (quite nice, even if they suck tons of pwoer).
456?! Agh! Evil!!!! I've had to wrestle with both 456s and 460s. One of the better Panasonic SVHS cams I've used was the Supercam. I've also used their DVC-PRO cams (not sure of the model numbers).
I've heard of DSRs but never actually used them. What format are they?
Posted: 2003-03-02 11:45pm
by phongn
Dalton wrote:phongn wrote:Nice. I still wonder why Canon doesn't just make the XLR input standard, though. I never had the chance to play with either the XL1 or XL1S, but I've seen them at the Florida Scholastic Press Assocation conference (my high school used to do it until the head guy went in for heart surgery). They looked quite good (especially on a Steadicam
)
The XLR isn't standard on a Canon?
Alas, no. That's what the MA-100 and MA-200 (the latter has four XLR connections) are for.
phongn wrote:My experience with shoulder-mount cameras is more or less limited to the Panasonic AG-456 (evil...and I saw them around USF and actually shuddered) and the Sony DSR-200 (quite nice, even if they suck tons of pwoer).
456?! Agh! Evil!!!! I've had to wrestle with both 456s and 460s. One of the better Panasonic SVHS cams I've used was the Supercam. I've also used their DVC-PRO cams (not sure of the model numbers).
Our AG-456s were the models without XLR, so we had to use an adapter cable for our mics. Those stupid minijack connectors always failed after a few months and we'd have to play with the camera to get it to work. (The less experienced who didn't check levels would sometimes come back with no audio(!)) Their built-in mic wind atennuator would fall off (out comes the gaff tape), the white balancing sucked...ugh.
Actually, the worse thing I had to see was at USF; some people were being interviewed but the camera crew was doing it in a massively-shaded area (open-walk area between four buildings with on over-roof). No lighting at all! I was shocked at that.
I've heard of DSRs but never actually used them. What format are they?
DVCAM. Similar to Panasonic's DVCPRO (locked audio and all that goodness).
Posted: 2003-03-02 11:54pm
by Dalton
phongn wrote:Dalton wrote:The XLR isn't standard on a Canon?
Alas, no. That's what the MA-100 and MA-200 (the latter has four XLR connections) are for.
How annoying...
phongn wrote:Our AG-456s were the models without XLR, so we had to use an adapter cable for our mics. Those stupid minijack connectors always failed after a few months and we'd have to play with the camera to get it to work. (The less experienced who didn't check levels would sometimes come back with no audio(!)) Their built-in mic wind atennuator would fall off (out comes the gaff tape), the white balancing sucked...ugh.
I share your pain. We had the same exact cameras
phongn wrote:Actually, the worse thing I had to see was at USF; some people were being interviewed but the camera crew was doing it in a massively-shaded area (open-walk area between four buildings with on over-roof). No lighting at all! I was shocked at that.
No lighting?! Ouch!
phongn wrote:DVCAM. Similar to Panasonic's DVCPRO (locked audio and all that goodness).
Oh yes, DVCAM. I've heard of that format. DVC-PRO decks can play those tapes as well as MiniDV (with an adapter).
Posted: 2003-03-03 12:11am
by phongn
Dalton wrote:phongn wrote:Dalton wrote:The XLR isn't standard on a Canon?
Alas, no. That's what the MA-100 and MA-200 (the latter has four XLR connections) are for.
How annoying...
Very. Apparently the stock case can't hold the camera with it attatched, either, since it juts out too far. A useful device, true, but it really should be built-in, considering it's target market.
phongn wrote:Our AG-456s were the models without XLR, so we had to use an adapter cable for our mics. Those stupid minijack connectors always failed after a few months and we'd have to play with the camera to get it to work. (The less experienced who didn't check levels would sometimes come back with no audio(!)) Their built-in mic wind atennuator would fall off (out comes the gaff tape), the white balancing sucked...ugh.
I share your pain. We had the same exact cameras
Luckily we ditched them for the far-superior DSR-PD150 (and never used manual audio gain, so we didn't fall prey to the infamous "the noise levels are hideous" flaw). OTOH, the lack of a shoulder mount was troublesome, hand-cameras (especially one that large) being inherently less stable.
We had a single Steadicam Jr., but that required quite a bit of training to use right.
phongn wrote:Actually, the worse thing I had to see was at USF; some people were being interviewed but the camera crew was doing it in a massively-shaded area (open-walk area between four buildings with on over-roof). No lighting at all! I was shocked at that.
No lighting?! Ouch!
Well, the bit of natural light that reflected in from outdoors...I hope they got chewed out for that. We were often screamed at in CATCOM for doing something similar.
phongn wrote:DVCAM. Similar to Panasonic's DVCPRO (locked audio and all that goodness).
Oh yes, DVCAM. I've heard of that format. DVC-PRO decks can play those tapes as well as MiniDV (with an adapter).
[/quote]
Yeah. They're close enough to each other; we mostly used DVCAM (though sometimes I'd use my dad's 1CCD camera with miniDV).
Posted: 2003-03-03 12:16am
by Dalton
phongn wrote:Very. Apparently the stock case can't hold the camera with it attatched, either, since it juts out too far. A useful device, true, but it really should be built-in, considering it's target market.
Yeah, tell me about it. Though the XL1S does break down into separate components, IIRC.
phongn wrote:Luckily we ditched them for the far-superior DSR-PD150 (and never used manual audio gain, so we didn't fall prey to the infamous "the noise levels are hideous" flaw). OTOH, the lack of a shoulder mount was troublesome, hand-cameras (especially one that large) being inherently less stable.
No shoulder mount on that? I hope you at least had sticks.
phongn wrote:We had a single Steadicam Jr., but that required quite a bit of training to use right.
Wish we had one of those mofos.
phongn wrote:Well, the bit of natural light that reflected in from outdoors...I hope they got chewed out for that. We were often screamed at in CATCOM for doing something similar.
And with good reason! I hope you didn't shoot under fluorescent lights too much either.
phongn wrote:Yeah. They're close enough to each other; we mostly used DVCAM (though sometimes I'd use my dad's 1CCD camera with miniDV).
Ew, 1CCD?
Posted: 2003-03-03 12:27am
by phongn
Dalton wrote:Yeah, tell me about it. Though the XL1S does break down into separate components, IIRC.
Yeah, but that's a PITA. Taking off the shoulder extension, the lens...
No sahhoulder mount on that? I hope you at least had sticks.
Alas, no
Wish we had one of those mofos.
IIRC, we didn't have one, but there are high schools in Florida that have the full steadicam (not the little handheld one).
And with good reason! I hope you didn't shoot under fluorescent lights too much either.
We had little choice in the matter; it was done quite often (esp. for interviews)
phongn wrote:Yeah. They're close enough to each other; we mostly used DVCAM (though sometimes I'd use my dad's 1CCD camera with miniDV).
Ew, 1CCD?
We mostly used that camera in outdoor areas, so the lackage of CCDs was not so much of an issue. Indoors, yes, the picture is very grainy (especially in low-light situations like when my dad films christmas...he finally got annoyed and got some cheap Home Depot halogen light sets)
Posted: 2003-03-03 12:49am
by Coyote
Heehee!
Look everyone! Technobabble!
Posted: 2003-03-03 12:59am
by Dalton
phongn wrote:Yeah, but that's a PITA. Taking off the shoulder extension, the lens...
True, true.
phongn wrote:Dalton wrote:No sahhoulder mount on that? I hope you at least had sticks.
Alas, no
*wince* Sounds painful. How heavy were they?
phongn wrote:IIRC, we didn't have one, but there are high schools in Florida that have the full steadicam (not the little handheld one).
I envy them. We have a good studio setup, but not that much field equipment.
phongn wrote:Dalton wrote:And with good reason! I hope you didn't shoot under fluorescent lights too much either.
We had little choice in the matter; it was done quite often (esp. for interviews)
I hope you had at least a sungun. Shooting interviews under flories is a pain in the balls.
phongn wrote:Dalton wrote:Ew, 1CCD?
We mostly used that camera in outdoor areas, so the lackage of CCDs was not so much of an issue. Indoors, yes, the picture is very grainy (especially in low-light situations like when my dad films christmas...he finally got annoyed and got some cheap Home Depot halogen light sets)
LOL!
How much were they?
Posted: 2003-03-03 01:00am
by phongn
Coyote wrote:Heehee!
Look everyone! Technobabble!
Bah, it makes perfect sense!
Posted: 2003-03-03 01:02am
by Dalton
Coyote wrote:Heehee!
Look everyone! Technobabble!
You do not know the power of the video side.
Posted: 2003-03-03 01:03am
by phongn
*wince* Sounds painful.
Wasn't painful...just hard to stabilize.
I hope you had at least a sungun.
Not even that
Posted: 2003-03-03 01:06am
by Dalton
phongn wrote:Wasn't painful...just hard to stabilize.
Jeez! Sucks.
How did you manage?
phongn wrote:Not even that
I'm so sorry
Posted: 2003-03-03 07:13pm
by phongn
Dalton wrote:phongn wrote:Wasn't painful...just hard to stabilize.
Jeez! Sucks.
How did you manage?
On way to do it was to attatch it to the tripods (ours were decently weighted) and use inertia to stabilize. A PITA, but it worked.
phongn wrote:Not even that
I'm so sorry
We got around it by careful white balancing and post-processing, though (though when we were still using the P166 MJPEG+Premiere boxes that was a coin-toss about whether it'd crash or not)
Posted: 2003-03-03 07:14pm
by Pablo Sanchez
May God have mercy on you sinners.
Posted: 2003-03-03 07:29pm
by phongn
Pablo Sanchez wrote:May God have mercy on you sinners.
::points a camera at God's face with bright lights while Dalton interviews God and assorted angels for a Man On The Street package::
Posted: 2003-03-03 08:13pm
by Dalton
phongn wrote:On way to do it was to attatch it to the tripods (ours were decently weighted) and use inertia to stabilize. A PITA, but it worked.
As long as you got stable shots.
phongn wrote:We got around it by careful white balancing and post-processing, though (though when we were still using the P166 MJPEG+Premiere boxes that was a coin-toss about whether it'd crash or not)
I remember those painful days
How far we've come!
Posted: 2003-03-03 08:14pm
by HemlockGrey
This would be the dark art of cinematograhpy, ne?
Where would I learn?
Posted: 2003-03-03 08:21pm
by Dalton
HemlockGrey wrote:This would be the dark art of cinematograhpy, ne?
Where would I learn?
Not cinematography. That's for the artsy fartsy film kids. This is VIDEO!
Posted: 2003-03-03 08:31pm
by HemlockGrey
Well, hell, I have an interest in film of all sorts. Direct me to the nearest resource, oh TV god.
Posted: 2003-03-03 08:51pm
by phongn
Dalton wrote:phongn wrote:On way to do it was to attatch it to the tripods (ours were decently weighted) and use inertia to stabilize. A PITA, but it worked.
As long as you got stable shots.
'Tis all that mattered. Though once when we were shooting elsewhere I had to use my dad's friction-head tripod (very light, though) and, well, the results weren't too pretty when we panned.
phongn wrote:We got around it by careful white balancing and post-processing, though (though when we were still using the P166 MJPEG+Premiere boxes that was a coin-toss about whether it'd crash or not)
I remember those painful days
How far we've come!
Yes. When the Avid boxes came in there was much rejoicing. And when the SCSI drives began failing they was much screaming (it happened here and there for some reason; I fear what happened to CNN since our order was tagged on to it).
Posted: 2003-03-03 08:52pm
by phongn
Dalton wrote:HemlockGrey wrote:This would be the dark art of cinematograhpy, ne?
Where would I learn?
Not cinematography. That's for the artsy fartsy film kids. This is VIDEO!
Well, film
does have a better light-capture range than video, but the latter is so much easier to work with. And Lucas's custom 24P HD cameras look decent.