AF100 for Legal work: getting a timestamp burn in

[filmguy123]

OK, so the AF100 doesn't burn in timestamp which is useful for legal depositions...

1.) This is stupid. Really. It's an easy software feature. It's in other cameras. Lame.

OK, next.

2.) How can I solve this? Is there an in between step that I can use before it hits an external DVD recorder to burn in a date/time stamp?


I have an HVX200 and an AF100 and I can't believe neither of these cameras do this. I don't want to have to buy yet another camera just to get this stamp...

 

[mcbob]

It's marketed as a cinema camera, not a GP video camera, and most every other camera of its ilk likewise won't do timestamping.

A used HMC150 would do the trick on the cheap with interchangeable components (cards, batts) or multiple other generation-behind small-sensor cameras. I think that'd be easier anyway since legal in no way benefits from shallow DOF.

 

[tazza]

You can use your HVX200 - the time stamp is viewable when camera is not recording so you need to go out of the camera via composite or component to a DVD burner but don't hit the record button you are only using it as a feed. I've done this for years and it has served me well. I've owned all the cameras you've mentioned, I now have an AG-AC160a - great for Depos, time stamp, great in low light etc. and you can record to SD cards for back up.

 

[Barry_Green]

tazza's right, and I was going to post that the AF100 can do the same; just leave the time/date displayed and record through composite or HDMI or whatever.

Some of their cameras have the time/date stamp feature (like the HPX170, AC130/AC160) and some don't (like the AF100 and AC90). They put it on the cameras that they think are most likely to be used for purposes where time/date stamp is a necessary thing. The AF100 isn't marketed to the legal videography deposition crowd, and it probably never occurred to them that someone would use one for that purpose.

 

[filmguy123]

Yeah, it just annoys me when something is not a hardware feature and only a software feature. IMO, it really should just be included as a software option since my understanding is the code is done and would be minimal work to add to other cameras... But, I'm over it! haha. Onto solutions...


HVX200 - to clarify, are you saying to set the HVX200 up to look at the scene with the OSD displaying only timestamp, and then feed out the audio/video and record only to the DVD player?

AF100, So I can leave the time/date displayed and send an HD signal out via HDMI to a DVD recorder? Will it send ONLY this out, and not a record lamp or other stuff? And would the positioning work for legal depos? Would this be a better solution than the HVX200, then? I'd just lock the shot down and get good focus, and perhaps benefit from the better light sensitivity?

HMC150 - So, accessories are interchangeable with the AF100? I don't use my HVX200 so much anymore; do you think it would be foolish to sell my HVX200 and 16gb + 64gb P2 cards for around same price as to buy a used HMC150? I use the HVX200 as my backup B-camera at weddings, and for live outdoor sports highlights coverage. I know I'd lose the intra codec but overall do you think the HMC150 would still serve these other uses well? And does the HMC150 provide better lowlight?



Thanks for the help, everyone.

 

[Barry_Green]

Just tested the AF100. You CAN do what you're asking, but -- frankly, it's the wrong tool for the job, so I wouldn't do it. But if you insist on trying, you have to turn off all the displays in the display setup menu, except for time & date. Then turn on video out OSD. Then, you'll only have two things on the screen -- the time & date, and the green "pause" bars, which will turn to "record" bars when you start recording. You can make that go away by taking out the memory cards.

So -- at that point, you'll have a clean feed to the external recorder. BUT -- you won't be recording onboard, you'd only be recording externally -- is that what you want? (alternately, the onboard recording wouldn't have time/date stamp so it wouldn't be legally admissible anyway, so maybe that's not a big deal). But worse, to me, you wouldn't have any information -- you wouldn't have audio level meters, you wouldn't have focus distance, you wouldn't have anything like that. That would make me concerned. But, if you set it up all first, and then it just sits there and rolls, I guess it would work. But I would much rather get a camera that's made to do the job you're needing done. You CAN make the AF100 work (and, presumably, the HVX would work using the same processes) but ... it's up to you whether you want to work that way with no onboard recording and no feedback on camera or audio status...

 

[Barry_Green]

HMC150 - So, accessories are interchangeable with the AF100?

Batteries and zoom/record/focus/iris controller would be compatible yes.

I don't use my HVX200 so much anymore; do you think it would be foolish to sell my HVX200 and 16gb + 64gb P2 cards for around same price as to buy a used HMC150?

That would only be a good move if you'd use the HMC150 more than the HVX. If you would, then -- how would that be the wrong move?

I know I'd lose the intra codec but overall do you think the HMC150 would still serve these other uses well? And does the HMC150 provide better lowlight?

The HMC150 is a little more sensitive and has a cleaner picture than the original HVX200; it has the same performance as the HVX200A, so it depends on whether you have an "A" or the original. The main thing you're really going to notice losing on the HMC150 would be the variable frame rates; other than that, if you're not using those, then I would think the HMC150 would be a drop-in replacement for your HVX.



Thanks for the help, everyone.[/QUOTE]

 

[mcbob]

HMC150 - So, accessories are interchangeable with the AF100? I don't use my HVX200 so much anymore; do you think it would be foolish to sell my HVX200 and 16gb + 64gb P2 cards for around same price as to buy a used HMC150? I use the HVX200 as my backup B-camera at weddings, and for live outdoor sports highlights coverage. I know I'd lose the intra codec but overall do you think the HMC150 would still serve these other uses well? And does the HMC150 provide better lowlight?

Well, if the HVX200 trick doesn't work for you and you otherwise rarely use your HVX, it might not be a bad idea. The AC130/160 are better cameras, but of course larger and pricier. Only you can decide what makes the most sense financially in your use case.

I was given an HMC in barter for some post work a short while back, and also own an HVX200P. The HMC uses the same batteries (and SDHC cards - but apparently not SDXC or UHS-I cards) as the AF100. It's slightly more sensitive than the P-model HVX, but identical to the 200A (same sensor block as the HPX170/HVX200A). It has one more gradation of ND than the HVX. It's lighter than the HVX. Menu system is essentially identical to the AF100. Offers HDMI-out, which works better with many modern monitors and external recorders. In-camera recording suffers as you might expect from AVCHD compression. It has no VFR capability, the viewfinder isn't very good, only records 2 audio channels, and audio level pots are in the same inconvenient location as the AF100's. Only a single card slot, so your record time is limited to what a 32GB SDHC card can hold (mine won't work with SDXC) - but that's just shy of 4 hours, so it's not a huge inconvenience.

For most of my uses, it's a better AF100 companion camera than the HVX, as the AF can handle VFR and I never have to carry gear to offload P2

All that said, I'm selling both (HMC, HVX) to put towards a PMW200

 

[filmguy123]

mcbob -> PM me. I might be interested in your HMC150, we'll see.

AF100 trick -> from my understanding, there may be no need to record to internal media on the AF100 so this might not be a problem. I would be taking 4 lav mics through an external mixer and should have audio levels there, though you're right I'd miss that monitor on the camera side, but I think I could set that with headroom and no big surprises on a depo. I would probably record live stream out to 2 DVD burners for redundancy... although I don't love the idea of not having a footage backup outside of a compressed DVD. Perhaps this is where I could look into an external recorder like the Ninja, which I may have use for outside of legal Depos anyway. Thoughts?

HMC150 -> Anyone know if a firmware update will allow SDXC cards? All I have are Class 10 64gb cards from Lexar and Sandisk and I assume they are SDXC. Is the AVCHD compression quality comparable to the AF100, or is it worse?

HMC150 -> I'd also be losing access to a MiniDV playback method which would be a bit of a bummer.... is there a dedicated/seperate MiniDV firewire playback device at a reasonable price? Variable frame rate loss is probably not a big deal, I suppose, since most of my shooting would be on the AF100. I have the original HVX200, non-A model.

AG-AC160a -> would much rather have this, sure, but budget is a major issue.

 

[mcbob]

HMC150 -> Anyone know if a firmware update will allow SDXC cards?

Nope. Not going to happen.

I'd also be losing access to a MiniDV playback method which would be a bit of a bummer.... is there a dedicated/seperate MiniDV firewire playback device at a reasonable price?

I am about to show you one of the most asinine things I have ever done to appease a client:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...recorder-for-AF100/page2&highlight=ridiculist

 

[Barry_Green]

Perhaps this is where I could look into an external recorder like the Ninja, which I may have use for outside of legal Depos anyway. Thoughts?

Would work. I'd rather have a Ninja than a Samurai, for the SDI connection if nothing else... but the Ninja would work on both the AF100 and HMC150, so that may be a consideration.

Is the AVCHD compression quality comparable to the AF100, or is it worse?

Both have PH mode, so both should technically be identical.