A few questions from a NOOB

Londude

Londude

Carbonite Member
Hope you dont mind me asking these following questions, I've just got my new AG DVC 180b/DVX100b:

1. What tapes should I use?

2. Should I take off the UV filter I use before putting the lens cap back on?

3. Where can I download the manual for the PAL version of the DVX100b?

4. What type of lens cleaning kit do you recommend?


Thanks. I actually have the Panasonic AG DVC 180b which is the Asian version of the DVX100b right but exactly the same camera?

The manual that came with it is in Chinese so its no help to me.

Any help would be very much appreciated and thanks for your time.
 
Londude,

1.Starting with a new cam, you can use whatever tapes you want, just don't switch. The lubes used in different tapes don't play well together. Panny + Sony = $ for cleaning at your repair station and maybe lost data.

2. Shouldn't matter. Different users feel different about filters, mine stay on all the time.

3. There are frame rate differences between the two cams, otherwise they are pretty much the same. Panny USA website has downloads in pdf, though I'm not sure if they have PAL versions. Panny Europe or NZ would for sure.

Also, especially if you are new, order up Barry Greens "DVX User" Book. It will be the most important read for you to realize the potential of the cam. Believe it. The book can be found on this sight.

4. Combo air-brush is basic for dust. Lens tissue and cleaner for smudges. Less tissue = better

Read the stickies on this site. Read the archives from this site. They are the motherload of info.

Grant
 
If you can afford it, you should buy some sort of external video recorder so that you dont have to use the DVX's internal tape recorder to record your footage.
 
Pacheco,

If you think that, it deserves some explanation.

There are lots of things that come before external audio and the baggage that comes with it....like a couple of microphones, mixer, pole, headphones, lights, tripod etc. No doubt, audio is very important, and the DVX is very capable of recording good audio without going external.

Grant
 
ggrantly said:
Pacheco,

If you think that, it deserves some explanation.

There are lots of things that come before external audio and the baggage that comes with it....like a couple of microphones, mixer, pole, headphones, lights, tripod etc. No doubt, audio is very important, and the DVX is very capable of recording good audio without going external.

Grant
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure he meant a DTE recorder, so you could record .mov files direct from the Firewire port.

Personally, I prefer tape because even though its a pain in the ass to log and capture, there are times when I need to copy or use footage I shot over a year ago. But the DVX records 16 bit uncompressed audio, what gets better than that in this price range?
 
What are you guys talking about?


Using the DVX's tape drive to record footage is what it is designed for. Don't be afraid to use it. What you may want to think about is getting a cheap basic DV to capture already shot footage into your computer to save extra wear on your heads (especially if you are shuttling around a lot) but even that isn't necessary. Don't make it more complicated then it needs to be.
 
Yeah, the idea of "saving wear on the heads" has really been blown way out of proportion. The heads won't wear out. Dragging around some kind external of recorder, or a slave camera, is about 10,000 more of a pain the keester than it's worth.
 
My bad for not understanding the statement better.

However, I stand by my suggestion even if he meant a DTE. Although it might save some time in capture, a grand spent for that would be better spent on all the other stuff I mentioned.

Grant
 
Hey guys thanks very much for your replies, very much appreciated. I too have been paranoid I would wear the tape heads more if I didnt have a cheap mini dv camera to use to rewind my tapes etc, so its really not an issue?
 
ggrantly said:
Londude,

1.Starting with a new cam, you can use whatever tapes you want, just don't switch. The lubes used in different tapes don't play well together. Panny + Sony = $ for cleaning at your repair station and maybe lost data.

2. Shouldn't matter. Different users feel different about filters, mine stay on all the time.

3. There are frame rate differences between the two cams, otherwise they are pretty much the same. Panny USA website has downloads in pdf, though I'm not sure if they have PAL versions. Panny Europe or NZ would for sure.

Also, especially if you are new, order up Barry Greens "DVX User" Book. It will be the most important read for you to realize the potential of the cam. Believe it. The book can be found on this sight.

4. Combo air-brush is basic for dust. Lens tissue and cleaner for smudges. Less tissue = better

Read the stickies on this site. Read the archives from this site. They are the motherload of info.

Grant
Click to expand...

Thankyou Grant. Is there a certain type of Panasonic tape I should buy?
 
Londude,

I don't keep up with the part numbers, but every manufacturer has tapes from cheapo on up. Better ones will be labeled professional which are usually very good, and the best will be labeled master, which you will pay extra for.

Unless you are starting out on a high profile project, it won't matter much, just don't change brands.

You can record on tapes more than once, though I usually don't. I wouldn't want to on anything that mattered, as you might get drop outs on the gators eating Aunt Milley clip. Oops, sorry, crocs down in your part of the world.

Grant
 
David Jimerson said:
Yeah, the idea of "saving wear on the heads" has really been blown way out of proportion. The heads won't wear out. Dragging around some kind external of recorder, or a slave camera, is about 10,000 more of a pain the keester than it's worth.
Click to expand...


There are devices such as the Firestore to take direct Firewire input, and record the stream to the Firestore disk.

I've thought about this, but now that there's something like the HMC150 which goes direct to SD devices, I've put off buying something for the DVX, and just put the money for the 'next generation' device... whatever it may be when I have the 'next generation' money...

Then again... an SD flash device writer on the Firewire cable wouldn't be a bad idea...
 
Make movies, be happy. Keep your eye on the goal. The DVX was made to record to tape and tape still gets it done. Concentrate on what's important, camera operation, lighting, audio, quality content.

Grant
 
I use the Panasonic Professional tapes - under $4 a pop, buy a case & save a little more. Same tape that came new with my DVX. No coatings that can gunk up heads, or so they claim. Dry lube for the moving parts.

Model is Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ

Available at B&H, etc.
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
There are devices such as the Firestore to take direct Firewire input, and record the stream to the Firestore disk.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but it's still something external you have to drag around, tethered to the camera -- and in the case of (most) Firestores, it's easy to pull the cable accidentally; there's a noisy fan; you have to worry about another battery, etc.

Everyone's mileage may vary, but if the only reason you do this is to "save wear on the heads," you're doing yourself a big disservice. The heads can take it. It's what they're built for.
 
David Jimerson said:
Yeah, but it's still something external you have to drag around, tethered to the camera -- and in the case of (most) Firestores, it's easy to pull the cable accidentally; there's a noisy fan; you have to worry about another battery, etc.

Everyone's mileage may vary, but if the only reason you do this is to "save wear on the heads," you're doing yourself a big disservice. The heads can take it. It's what they're built for.
Click to expand...

When I was thinking about this option, it was not so much about 'wear on heads', but in conditions where opening up for tape was either a hassel, or because of the location conditions, potential for dust (like major dust...) to get in the works. So a contaned recording package seemed to be more 'hardened'.

I am predisposed to hate tape... but at the price of the Firestore like devices, I found I could 'live with it'...
 
Yes I did mean a DTE recorder. You can even use a laptop with a long enough firewire which is what I use. Why?

1. I dont have to worry about running out of tape which has happened to me.
2. I can view my image on a larger screen.
3. I can play back my footage much quicker.
4. So I dont put any wear on the heads so when I sell my DVX (which is what Im doing now) I can say that tapes have never been used.
 
Michael Carter said:
I use the Panasonic Professional tapes - under $4 a pop, buy a case & save a little more. Same tape that came new with my DVX. No coatings that can gunk up heads, or so they claim. Dry lube for the moving parts.

Model is Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ

Available at B&H, etc.
Click to expand...

Thanks Michael. So I should be safe with the Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ tapes?
 
I've used PQ tapes for the past four years and have had no more problems with them then I would expect from any tape brand. I continue to buy them .
 
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