New DVX 100b User

[KSommer]

Going be getting my new 100b this week. ANy suggestions?
I have worked in television news, but haven't used this camera before.
I also haven't edited from this camera to my mac, with the final cut express.
So what kind of pointer's can you give me, for like hooking up camera, so I don't burn anything up?
I heard there's a learning curve and I will be shooting early on, so any kind of info that you might think is helpful, please clue me in.

Anything about the fire wire I should know?
Anything about shooting right out of the gate I should know?
Down loading tapes? ECT.

I used to work with avid's but have not edited this way before. Although the final cut express 4 does seem like the same basic concepts.


Thanks.

[ryvac]

get the DVX book from Berry.

[ryvac]

if you want to shoot right away with 24pa, then you should know at least to shoot 24pa at 1/48 shutter speed and capture it with 2:3:3:2 pulldown and edite on 23.98 timeline.
I had trouble when I was first shooting 24pa, so hope that helps.

[KSommer]

First thing I will be shooting is some fast pitch softball tournaments. So sports shoots will be the first thing I'll need to focus on.

On our old television video cams you could grab one if you had too within seconds get to a place point and shoot, if you had to.

The DVX I've never used but Im sure once I get some time i can figure it out.
I just need to pick up enough to shoot the games and edit some. Nothing to fansy.

Also I have a fire wire cable 800/400 9 pin to 4 pin cable is that correct for what I'll need to hook up camera to macbook pro '15?...using the final cut express 4 offered by Apple.

Thanks.

[Paladin]

For fast action sports, it might be best to shoot in 30p or 60i for smoother motion.

If you decide to shoot in 24fps and are using Final Cut Express, shoot in 24p standard (2:3 pulldown) as FCE does not edit in 23.97 fps and everything must be edited in a 29.97 timeline.

Watch bright colors such as red, yellow or orange as they tend to smear. Go into the scene file settings and lower your CHROMA LEVEL down to about -3 or -4 to reduce the color saturation and minimize the smearing of bright colors.

ALWAYS make sure the DVX is TURNED OFF before plugging in the firewire cable. Plug the cable into the computer first and make sure the plug is inserted properly. Then plug the 4-pin end into the DVX, then turn on the camera.

However, I strongly advise that you do not use the DVX to capture footage onto the computer. Use a cheap miniDV camcorder to do all your rewinding and capturing so as to reduce the wear on the DVX's heads.

The DVX100 series camcorders have functions that allow other, cheaper camcorders to be connected as slave units which expand the DVX's possibilities.

Read here to find out about it:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=142362

[KSommer]

What about a tape machine or what is it called? I think you can buy one for $40.00. To rewind the tape and capture the video from the DVX?

Or maybe I could buy a cheap camcorder from a pawn shop for a reasonable price.

[Casalen]

Tape decks are much more expensive than cheap hand held cameras.

[Paladin]

Cheap miniDV camcorders can be purchased new for less than $200.00. Why take a chance on a second-hand one from a pawn shop that might not be any good?