Buying Tripod (and parts) for the AG-HVX200

From tripods to NoteBooks and resolution for P2 card reading and infield storage

From tripods to NoteBooks and resolution for P2 card reading and infield storage

Guys, I am still scratching my head over which tripod to get but leaning towards buying the lightest Libec (see link below) but through a dealer on the ground over here in Japan. Mainly because it's cheap and after I find my feet as a videographer I figure I can then invest in a better, suitable tripod kit.

http://www.addonics.com/products/host_controller/adexc34cb.asp

Most of you are suggesting a heavier tripod though the cheaper lighter ones can easily handle the HVX200 weight carrying up to 3kg or 4kg. I'm wondering why you are suggesting the far heavier ones all the time. Are they more sophisticated? Smoother?

Anyway, I have to travel in Japan to do a rapper music video shoot soon and need a cost effect way to capture the data. I have NO P2 cards now and my budget is blown already on other things. I assume shooting on tape at 480 is going to be no good for using After Effects CG and effects on later. As a stop gap measure, and maybe long term measure, for storage of P2 card data in the field I guess a (mini) notebook would be good. I've looked at a few and for around $250 I can get one with 250GB HDD and card slot the Addonics adapter can fit into (at least I think it can), but some have lower than 720p resolution which I will shoot at. This won't be a problem, right? I can still watch the footage on the notebook to check through what I've captured and stored, just it won't be displayed at it's highest resolution on the monitor, right? If anyone can post some links recommended cheap (but reliable) deals on notebooks that could handle something like what I have explained here, that would be awesome. I'm getting more unsure the more I research this topic.

I'm thinking to get either 2 x 64GB P2 cards or 2 x 32GB cards, so I can hot swap them. Price being the only deciding factor at the moment between the two sets, unless there are other considerations you could suggest? I welcome any deals on these anyone knows about (....and they need to ship to Tokyo which is not a given.)

Now, to save the shooting settings (called scene files?) so I have the same camera settings after I turn off the camera and turn it back on the resume filming, does the HVX200 store that on internal memory or do I need to purchase a small data card for that as well. If it's needed, any links to online deals appreciated.

You guys have been awesome help already and I hope I can lean on you for a bit longer so I can get geared up and ready for this first shoot August 3rd.

Thanks everyone
 
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its not so much the "heavier" ones. but the ones with a higher quality heads generally tend to be heavier.

i shot with a manfrotto 501 head for a few early years and was quite happy. but once i started using higher end heads and learning what to look for, that i really noticed it was easier to achieve the moves i wanted to. and thats kinda whats behind my feeling on the libecs. given that theyre cheaper, they often (now before anyone screams at me, remember i said OFTEN not ALWAYS) are used by the less-experienced, younger, less knowledgeable shooters. who may not know what theyre missing or what to look for. but dont let me downplay the libec option. read some reviews by established pros. as like i said, i have heard good things said about them...

as far as your p2 card issue. yeah, dont shoot 480. thats not an answer here. it has nothing to do with after effects. as we all shot 480 and used after effects for like the past 15 years ; )
i just see no reason to shoot in SD if you have an HD camera.

im not sure about the mini notebook thing. i would imagine that as long as it has the slot to accommodate the adapter, it would work. as it doesnt take horsepower to injest cards. and i seriously doubt youre going to be editing on a mini notebook (as that DOES require horsepower) so the resolution is really of no matter. and even if you were, unless youre doing higher-end finishing type of work. a 100% 1:1 HD monitor res isnt going to be a deal breaker for you anyway.

i still have an old mac 1.0 ghz 17" G4 powerbook with a dedicated pcmcia slot that i sometimes use for capture in the field. of course it isnt powerful enough to do much more thant cuts and dissolves edit, if even that. but its really just a capture and transfer device anyway.

but yeah, if you get a good enough real laptop you can capture, edit and yes even shoot directly to it. ive done that for long shoots several times. but of course that works best when youre on a tripod as opposed to run and gunning

so anyway, 64gig vs 32gig. naturally, get as much storage as you can afford. the 2 big cards will give you about two hours of 1080 recording. which will come in very handy for live event shooting. but whatever you get, youre on the right track getting a pair of whatever, that way you can be shooting on one while the other transfers.

the camera remembers its settings after power down. so no. there is no need to worry about the sd card. but you will need a small one for firmware updates (which you may need for your camera to accept the larger newer P2 cards). those things are cheap anyway, i wouldnt waste time shopping around for a deal. im sure you can find an 8gig class 4 card for like $7 or so at your local office supply store.
 
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Thanks everyone for your advice

Thanks everyone for your advice

Thanks for the advice so far. Especially WZN, who just gave me a long reply.
But if anyone else has anything else to ad, please feel free.

Finally, if you can suggest other good sites/forums that cover the HVX200, that would be great.

Thanks again :thumbup:

Wade
 
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Is version/sub-model important when buying replacement parts for HVX200 ?

Is version/sub-model important when buying replacement parts for HVX200 ?

Guys,
Continuing on with my need to buy several replacement parts for an AG-HVX200 that I bought here in Japan second-hand.
I have a mechanical parts list from the internet and I notice that multiple parts numbers are listed or several parts like the AC cord, the AC adapter, the remote controller, the DC cord etc.
Each alternate part number seems to be for a specific version of the AG-HVX200 (like hvx200E, hvx200P etc).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wolverinejacket/5969850297/in/photostream
Will any part work for any HVX version? Or so I have to get a part made especially for my sub-model of the HVX200?
And if so, how do I identify my sub-model version?
Thanks in advance,
Wade
 
Component cable? Which one?

Component cable? Which one?

As for buying a component video cable from Spec-Comm....there are 3 on there, and I'm not sure which i should buy and how they differ.
I want to show recorded footage on a TV. Do all these 3 do the same job?
If someone could explain the differences, that would be great.

Thanks,
Wade

http://www.spec-comm.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=4441

http://www.spec-comm.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=4442

[URL="http://www.spec-comm.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=4443"]http://www.spec-comm.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=4443



[/URL]
 
the first one is the actual original panasonic cable
the second two are aftermarket brands. one comes with rca to bnc adapters one doesnt.

all will work
 
Thanks again WGZN.
Could someone tell me if the P2 card drive sold on Spec-Comm is the cheapest way left at present to get P2 card data onto a Mac/PC?
http://www.spec-comm.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3684

It seems the Addonis for PC is only for old versions of Windows and the version for Mac is only for old Mac OSs, if i understand correctly.

This means I have to spring for the $350 unit here on Spec Comm at the cheapest.

This tech seems to be struggling from becoming obsolete. I am wondering how long I can use this camera for before I can't get parts and accessories for it....
 
its not the cheapest, but it IS the most simple, reliable and globally compatible
like i mentioned earlier. if you shop well, you can find an older laptop with a pcmcia (the hardware footprint of a P2 card) slot for about the same amount of money.

there are a number of discussions here on the forum. i think one is even stickied at the top of the page about laptops with pcmcia slots...

its not becoming obsolete. its just sort of a niche market. unlike dslrs, you want find anything p2 related at a bigbox or office supply store.
but ive been using hvx200/hpx170s for nearing 5 years without any problems. and barring some fundamental paradigm shift in video formats. i can see using them easily for another 3-5 years
 
Could anyone tell me if this notebook with 1290x600 resolution can play back 720p footage reasonably smoothly or not. www.tokyopc.jp/asus-eee-pc-1015t-mu17-wt-white-amd-v-series-v105-1.20ghz-10.1-wsvga-1gb-memory-250gb-hdd-netbook.htmlI plan to dump P2 card data into this notebook in the field through a P2 card drive (or an chaper card slot adapter if I can put on an older version of Windows on this notebook), and of course might want to play back and check the content and was concerned this notebook could playback 720p properly. Anyone with any experience with this situation?WadeAppreciated,Wade[/QUOTE]
 
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the resolution of the screen has nearly nothing to do with playback quality. all it means is you'll never see your HD frame at full 1:1 size. which about 70% of people here dont care about anyway.

id be careful thinking youre just gonna slap an old OS on a machine and expect all the hardware to work.
 
Hmmmm....... Yes I wondered how new computers would go with real old OSs.
Thanks for your cautions and opinion.
If anyone else has any experience trying to set up a system like this, please let me know.
I guess the $350 P2 card drive might be the more flexible and dependable alternative despite the hefty cost. I'll be buying a new 4 core Mac Pro soon and will need to connect to it as well as my notebook and an old DELL desktop PC AND Mac book Air occassionally.
As long as playback isn't jerky and can be smooth on the notebook, I'll be happy. But I don't know how to confirm this. Ask the dealer? Or post somewhere else on this forum?
 
Could anyone give me suggestions for notebook/laptops with the minimum specs to get smooth playback of transferred P2 card data files in the field?

Links to articles and also shops selling these machines would be greatly appreciated.

What does and doesn't work?

Thanks,
Wade
 
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