Any advice for a new camera owner?

B

Blanket_Statement

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I am a film student at the University Of Colorado In Boulder, and I just picked up a new dvx today. I am relatively new to the whole dvx thing, and have only worked with the camera once. I was drawn to the camera due to its 24p setting, and its cine-gamma; but am still a little in the dark on both. I am very eager to learn some new tricks, but I am also overwhelmed by the cameras abilities. Dose anyone have any cool tips for a beginner? I am looking for anything here, so any information is welcome. Thanks.
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

I always subscribe to the following...

Exposure, exposure, exposure.

No one can 'tell' you how to achieve AMAZING results. That will come with practice and honing the craft of cinematography (5 C's anyone?). I would worry about exposure if I were you.
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

[quote author=Blanket_Statement link=board=Events;num=1084318269;start=0#0 date=05/11/04 at 16:31:09]Dose anyone have any cool tips for a beginner? [/quote]

You mean, beyond the 34,000+ posts laid out before you, neatly organized into forums and threads, all fully searchable?

;)
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

Yeah, here's a tip...

Choke up on the bat. Hit the ball. Run to first.

That's how the game is played.  ;)
--------------------------------------------
Sorry, I'm such a wise-ass. ::) (rolling eyes at self)

I believe the suggestions others have given here are great and sound like an excellent place to start.
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

Talking Baseball I might as well run with the topic.. a good way to learn camera movement is to tie a baseball to the roof on a string and slap it around, full wide and zoom in as you get it. Might seem useless untill the day the Director yells at you to Follow the Puck during a Stunt Scene or some other action shot.
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

Hook your camera directly to your television and go through each of the scene file and other menu settings to see what each do in real time. As long as you don't save your settings, you won't mess anything up. Then go out and follow the bouncing ball. Actually another way to get some practice is to go to a dog park and shoot one very active dog running around with your camera at the long end of the lens. Plus you might pick up some business making dog videos. 8)
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

Yet another way is to mimic 'shot for shot' simple scenes from your favorite movies. Pick a 2 to 3 minute scene that 'inspires or moves' you, storyboard it out (stick figures are fine for non drawer types) and go out and MIMIC the shots.

Youll be surprised at what you learn.

Hey, it has helped me! Damn it.
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

Hey!! And I thought I was the only one doing that. Though not shot for shot (because I believe developing creativity is essential to also developing technique...), the idea is my 4 year old playing his favorite game of stratego ala the old man playing chess short from Bug's Life.

This talent doesn't seem as well trained in acting as that old man. Must be his years of experience... "That Barney Rubble sure is a good actor!"

Here's my tip from a newbie too... shoot, shoot, shoot! Tape's cheap.

Have a blast, I am!

CaptM
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

Thanks everyone. Hooking the camera up to the TV is a good idea, I didn't think of that. Well, I'm off to test it out. Thanks again
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

hey, I'm in Boulder and will be getting a DVX100A shortly. Maybe we can get together to figure things out. Let me know.

-TuffGong
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

one other thing....

the lcd on this cam is very nice...though a little small.

for getting best results through the lcd....i.e. when u cannot connect it to tv, try to menatlly link up the details and quality of the image on ur tv with that on ur lcd. For instance, I was surprised that the noise or grain visible on the tv is 'as much' visible on the lcd as on a tv, if...IF....u have trained ur eyes to look for it. It is exactly the same but proportionately less visibile in the lcd due to its smaller size. This practically apples to every other thing such a focusing, color etc.

So better get ur mind trained on this...by linking the images on the tv and on the screen...so that u are able to 'exactly' determine the quality of shots even on ur lcd.

hope i made myself clear....
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

[quote author=Aejaz link=board=Events;num=1084318269;start=0#11 date=05/27/04 at 03:59:04] For instance, I was surprised that the noise or grain visible on the tv is 'as much' visible on the lcd as on a tv, if...IF....u have trained ur eyes to look for it. It is exactly the same but proportionately less visibile in the lcd due to its smaller size. This practically apples to every other thing such a focusing, color etc.[/quote]

Actually on the DVX100A, if you enable peaking, the noise on the LCD looks ways worse than on a television. I guess because it makes it appear sharper.
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

I've had my DVX for a week now. In my spare time I go out and shoot video at various settings then come home and hook up to a tv to see the results. I keep mental note of the settings. I'm constantly referencing the manual, Steve's .pdf, and the DVX menu .pdf for information. I'm slowly learning and can't wait to get another month or two under my belt...I'll be an expert by then :D! One thing I've learned...the DVX is more then a point and shot camera..you have to put some thought into each shot.
 
Re: Any advice for a new camera owner?

dat true that.

though it is true of any good videography.. ;D
 
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