Ready to lose my HVX virginity.

[GaryOldman]

I've been researching the HVX for months and am finally ready to take the plunge. Before doing so, I've got a few last minute questions. Hope you guys don't mind. And for any trolls out there, I already have sifted through other threads, so please don't tell me to bugger off and read them again. Just looking for up to date info.

1. I'm looking at the $6,899 HVX package at bandh.com. Can I trust those guys? I don't want to get involved in any grey market shenanigans.
2. I've heard that not all tripods work with the HVX. Can someone direct me to a trustworthy tripod under $1,000?
3. Will for sure be wanting to use a shotgun mic and lavaliere. What's worked well for you guys? Any suggestions on the matter?
4. And finally, perhaps the most important question of all (and also the most pathetic), exactly how do I get my footage off the P2 card and into my computer if I haven't got PCMCIA? I'm in the process of buying a workstation from Voodoo pc, should I request they build one into it, or is there another way to do it just as easily?
BONUS: Can I shoot 24PN in 1080i?

Thanks for any help you guys can offer! Much appreciated.

[HoGiHung]

Congrats on your decision to make the plunge. :)

1. B&H are just fine, not grey market. Although my camera came from Spec-Comm, I have purchased a lot of gear from B&H including all my lights so far. Let it be known though that I am very much the novice.
2. I got a Libec tripod, with H38 head - from B&H. Has served me well so far though I have had small issues with the lower support arm sticking a few times. Most likely user error. :) Was under 1k for sure.
3. Don't have lav mic, but did get a seinhesser with boom pole, etc. from B&H. I would have to dig up receipt if you want specifics.
4. I use Macs and don't have any PCMCIA ports. I downloaded the P2CMS software, free, from Panasonic. I connect the camera to my computer(s) via firewire. Put the camera in firewire mode. Copy the entire drive, as it mounts on my desktop, to a drive connected to my computer. I then preview the clips with P2CMS and import the clips I want. Finally, in FinalCut, use Log and Transfer to bring the clips in for editing.

Off topic, but I was importing and editing just fine with FinalCut until this weekend. All of a sudden it would not import any more of my P2 clips. Luckily I have an external drive with Tiger on it as I upgraded the desktop to Leopard. I'm able to bring in the clips just fine.

Hope this helps.

Ho...

[Zachdank]

Funny. I too am from Chico, Ca, and i am taking the plunge, and buying an HVX tomorrow. I am getting mine from Custom AV solutions in Sacramento.
They are an authorized Panasonic dealer, and selling the camera for $4800, and a 16 gig P2 for $830.
Stoked!

[jjraabe]

I just got that same package from B&H. I'll tell you I love it, they were great, got it to me fast, a day early even, and I didn't have any problems dealing with them at all. Solid Package.

Having just bought that package, I just needed a little shotgun mic I could use. I got a Rhode NTG-2 for $280 which I'm very happy with. My buddy and I did notice though that our iPhones (and maybe other phones) were creating some of that buzzy static you hear when you put a cell phone transmitting data near a fm radio when the phone was near the mic/xlr cable. Don't know if that's common, but just thought I'd put that out there. I like it though. just listened to the sound to day and its pretty good. Although I'm coming from a little stereo mic mounted on an old sony handycam as my baseline.

[ProfessorU]

It's pretty common to have the sound guy mandate all phones completely OFF on set. I think the freaky RF thing is primarily a Cingular issue. I used to set everything off with my phone, including PA systems, TVs, computers, car radios. You could literally hear when my phone was about to receive a message or call.

[Noel Evans]

Mostly copy and pasted from another post I responded to:

1/ BHPhoto did at one time deal with gray market HVX's - widely documented here. I think they got over it pretty quick.


2/ Any of the top brand tripods which can take the weight. I find tripod heads a very personal choice, may need to try them.

3/ For wireless I use
Sony WRT 822 (http://www.thebroadcastshop.com/sales/detail.asp?partno=SO-WRT822)
WRR 861 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/251142-REG/Sony_WRR861B66_68_WRR_861_Portable_Diversity_UHF.h tml)
Sanken Cos 11 Lav (http://www.sanken.ch/english/cos-11.htm)

For shotgun I use
AT - ATM57 only available in japan - Really like this mic in a big auditorium / convention style setting. Especially for two man crews where we can only use one mic. Cuts out enough ambience to capture the dialogue clearly but doesnt cut it to the extreme a cs3 can.
Sanken CS3e (http://www.trewaudio.com/sankencs3.htm)

For Indoor I use
Octava MK012 (can order from Sound room - good bunch) for a small dead sounding room(especially good where the environment is very controlled like with sound blankets) or with a wider brighter room I go back to my CS3.

Field Mixer

I use a protech from Japan but the sound devices 302 is pretty popular

Boom
Just got my VdB this week. Bloody long and bloody light - I was recommended this boom by a very experienced sound guy - a bit expensive.

Are these the best choices. Maybe not. But they are the choices I made. A lot of my sound choices were from the pros that grace us in the audio forum or people I work with. They work well for me. and I am NOT a sound guy.

4/ See Ho's response.

BONUS: No - PN only available on progressive mode.