Need Settings Advice

[Mark Williams]

New HPX170 owner here. I have read Barry's book from cover to cover familarizing myself with the cam and shot a few test scenes. I am trying to dial it in for a Waterfalls SD-DVD that I will be working on for the next year. I need some help on settings as I come from a DV format only background. I have experimented with 720/30pn in film cam mode with shutter on at 1/60 shutter speed as well as frame rate of 60 for slow-motion. Also experimented with some scene files. Does anyone have any experience with a similar project and would like to share some advice?

Thanks,

[grimrebes]

Mark,
First, welcome to the land of HD. You'll love it, the view is beautiful :)

Second, what are you looking for? For a more filmic look, I would suggest testing the 720p24pN mode.

Also, try using the shutter in degrees, so it stays constant when you change frame rates. A 180 degree shutter setting will stay constant when you change from 24 fps to 60 fps, but something like 1/60 or 1/1000 will not.

Check out the the scene setting samples on the site here (though I can't remember where exactly).

Also, play with the lens. The 170 has a beautiful lens, I really enjoy the wide side, at a 28mm equivalent, it grabs incredible angles for wide landscapes.

[BGust]

I shoot everything in 720/30pn. -mostly action sports.

i would say experimenting with the variable frame rates and developing an eye for what frame rates look best for each scenario would be very useful.

at first i was shooting everything @ 60 fps

now i mostly shoot 32fps for action

but for audio- 30fps is the only choice for 720/30pn

i almost always shoot a 1/250 shutter. unless the lighting is too low- then maybe 1/120. (mostly natural lighting)