HMC 80 performance during live outdoor concert

L

LanceLewis

Member
We are just coming off of a five day music festival that my company has provided video services for during the past 8 years. This year we had cameras covering three different stages. On the main stage we had the opportunity to use the HMC80 and the HMC 150 (as well as a VX2000). We mix live to two separate LED Panels (jumbotron style screens). The 80 looked great. I was really happy with the way that it performed. My camera ops loved it as well. I have to reserve judgement on the 150 because it was our mobile cam, and it was on the opposite side of the stage...so didnt' always have the best angles to work with, however it seemed to perform okay. I especially like the BNC connectors on the 80 (we used a BNC to cat5 balun which fit nicely on the back).
 
I know it doesn't get talked about all that much here, but it's a bit of a shame because the HMC80 is a really, really nice camera for the price. Glad you were happy with the results!
 
LanceLewis said:
I especially like the BNC connectors on the 80 (we used a BNC to cat5 balun which fit nicely on the back).
Click to expand...

Forgive the beginner questions: Was this analog SD video, or HD-SDI out? How long were the cable runs? What kind of switcher/mixer did you use? Just the live feed to the big screens, or was it also recorded to edit and distribute later?

- Greg
 
Barry_Green said:
I know it doesn't get talked about all that much here, but it's a bit of a shame because the HMC80 is a really, really nice camera for the price. Glad you were happy with the results!
Click to expand...

Not to hijack the thread, but the HMC80 has been my introduction to and education in both HD video and tapeless recording, and (the one obvious low-light issue aside), it has worked superbly for what I do and performed far above my expectations. I've had the HMC since last October and just this last week acquired an AF100. They complement each other perfectly -- the HMC is more at home as a handheld, the AF a bit more so on a tripod; I've got my choice of deep or narrow DOF; versatile servo zoom on the HMC, but more of a prime (or "variable prime") lens orientation on the AF; one more suitable for planned, contemplative work and the other for covering fast-moving action. But they're both very compact, the images can match well enough to use them together for two-camera coverage or studio-style shooting as well, and they share identical editing workflow, memory cards, batteries and support equipment. Seems like the best of all worlds.

Oops, back to work ... I've still got about 210 pages of "The AF100 Book" left to read!

- Greg
 
Hi Guys

Honestly I think they are brilliant!!! I shot for 18 months on HMC72's (that's the HMC70 PAL model) and in February I sold them and got the HMC82's ...the EVF is a pleasure to work with after the tunnel vision of the 70 EVF!!! As long as you respect that the camera needs light and cannot shoot a black cat at midnight it's awesome..I've already clocked over 50 hours on each camera without any issues at all... Funny, over here the HMC40 costs more!!!! I have always loved the shoulder mount style of camera but I do realise that for the vaction user it's not practical to toss in a suitcase like you can do with the 40!!! Yeah Greg, I would like an AF100 but ouch, they are nearly $5000 each here (and that's before any lenses!!!)

Love to see more posts on HMC80's and what people think of them??

Chris
 
Hi Chris, Yes I'd love to see more HMC80 posta as well. I have an 80 and a 70 as backup. Love them both, but seem to use the 80 as my prime/first cam.
Cheers
 
SteveL

Looks like the 80 came through well for the scene. It looks like there was lights both left and right in what was a pretty dark cave; how much light did you use? Was there gain applied? if so, how much?

Grant
 
Grant,
This was shot in a church that had excellent theatrical lighting. I remember having no special settings and I had the gain manually set at 15db. During rehearsal the night before, they asked me if I had enough light to film and actually let me set the levels, which I thought was pretty nice.
 
SteveL_59 said:
Grant,
This was shot in a church that had excellent theatrical lighting. I remember having no special settings and I had the gain manually set at 15db. During rehearsal the night before, they asked me if I had enough light to film and actually let me set the levels, which I thought was pretty nice.
Click to expand...

You gotta love church folk like that, got God, got lights, got good attitude!

Grant
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top