I just joined the HMC150 owners' club

Jason Allen

Jason Allen

Well-known member
I just got an HMC150 last week, and I'm really digging it! It addressed most of my complaints about the HVX200:
-It has no tape deck. I have no need for MiniDV recording onboard.
-It is significantly, noticeably lighter than the HVX200
-It uses cheaper media!
-It uses a high-enough quality codec that it's still thrifty on hard drive space usage without sacrificing much (if any) quality for my style of work
-It does significantly better in low light as compared to my HVX200 (about 2x the sensitivity as far as I can tell)
-It has Waveform AND Scopes in addition to marker and user-selectable zebras for judging exposure! It's beyond me how any prosumer/professional video camera can be released without these features built in. BIG improvement over my HVX200 here.
-It left a lot of room in my budget for proper sound equipment, support gear, and lighting gear.

My only gripes so far...
-The HMC150 inherited the same low-resolution LCD and EVF of the HVX200/200A. It's OK for judging exposure, but I find it lacking for focus. I will be using a Marshall 5" for critical focus in the field. Looking forward to the AC130 and AC160 coming out this fall to bump my HMC150 to "B" camera status.
-The EVF is perpetually on (and based on my reading the manual, researching the forums, and extensively googling the topic), even with the latest firmware update there is still no option to turn this frivolous use of battery power off when using the flip-out LCD (which I will do most of the time) Please let me know if I'm just missing the setting, but this is a silly oversight!

Some questions for the HMC150 owners:
-I need an OEM on-camera microphone mount for my Sennheiser ME-66. I can't find the part (Panasonic part # VYC0936) anywhere reputable (the site I almost bought it from had a 1.2 rating on ResellerRatings.com). I'm tempted to get a cold-shoe shock mount instead if I can't find it, but I'd prefer the lower profile, smaller one. Any ideas on where I can find this piece for sale from a reliable source? Anyone selling one that they don't use often/ever? PM me please.

-I previously used the no-name non-branded eBay/Chinese HMC40 batteries recommended in another thread on here, and they should theoretically work well on the HMC150 as well, but I've heard some buddies talk of Lenmar batteries that are warrantied. Anyone have experience with those? Should I just stick with IDX and Panasonic for triple the price and lots more piece of mind?

-Anyone using the Letus35 adapters on their HMC150? If so, anyone using the Redrock MicroShoulderMount rig with an HMC150 + Letus adapter for shoulder-operated work? Is it worth its $500ish price tag?

Thanks guys!
 
This post was like a flashback to three years ago.

1: I know nothing. I've never once mounted a shotgun to the camera body.

2: I've only used the Panasonic brand batteries -- two VW-VBG6 7.2v 5800mAh batteries that, nearly three years later, work like a charm and still deliver something approaching 240 minutes of recording.

3: Yes on the Letus and I've written essays about it on this forum. Never messed with a shoulder mount rig, and any shoulder/handheld 35mm adapter is very likely going to be a disaster.

And, despite the conventional wisdom of the day and the fact that I own both a 5Dm2 and 7D, I still use the HMC150 with the Letus Ultimate on many occasions. It allows me to use full frame 35mm lenses with a full frame 35mm field of view with all the conveniences of the 150. No, it doesn't have the "low light" capabilities of a Canon HDSLR, but with two good lights positioned correctly you get outstanding results for interviews, with better "bokeh" than you'd get from an AF-100 (or FS-100 or 7D or GH2, etc.).

With a Letus Ultimate and a Zeiss or Nikkor prime, you can end up with focus so thin that someone's nose can be in focus and their eyes can be out of focus -- and if I were to build out on this point -- that's why I suspect shoulder mount would be a disaster.

Because conventional wisdom has abandoned 35mm adapters -- you can probably pick them up cheap these days. I'd also take a serious look at that newest Redrock that, on paper, has specs that compete with a Letus Ultimate but is priced less than a used HMC150.

If you go the adapter route -- it's all about the lenses. It's all about the lenses. And, if you invest well in full frame 35mm lenses with manual aperture controls (Nikkor AI, AIS, D or Zeiss primes) you can use those on whatever the next camera is -- like the FS100 or 5D Mark 3.

Enjoy it. You're holding probably the last handheld "pro" CCD camcorder. True jello-free footage!
 
Thanks for the reply, AG! Where in DC are you? We might be neighbors!

The jello-free footage was my big reason for pulling the trigger on the HMC150. I use HVX200 cams at work, so for a personal cam I wanted to have similar capabilities with as many of my concerns addressed that I could have addressed (i.e. P2 card cost, low light inflexibility, etc).

Good to hear about the Panasonic batteries lasting as long as they have! I may eventually go that route, but for now, my budget is largely tapped out and $160 batteries make me cringe when $50 batteries may prove just as reliable (perhaps minus *some* marginal performance difference).

On the adapters, the reason that adapters are so attractive to me is that:
-I've used a Letus Extreme on the HVX200 for 2 years now in a documentary interview setting and it gave me the look and feel that I love
-35mm adapters allow me to operate my camera as a cinema-style focus pulling rig in controlled settings, and then quickly (within 2-5 minutes) strip it down to a run 'n' gun camcorder configuration.
-because the AF100 and FS100 have effectively taken adapters out back and put them down like ol' Yeller, used adapter kits w/ rails are very attractively priced

I'm well aware that adapters offer razor thin focus and that lenses are important - I have a very well rounded Nikon mount and M42 mount lens collection from my photography hobby/profession (lots of f/2.8 Nikkor zooms, f/1.8 and f/1.4 primes, and some oddball M42 lenses like a Prinz/Rexatar 135mm f/2.8). With the Letus kit at work, I usually shoot stopped down to f/2.8-f/4, depending on the lens and the look of the shot, but the most complicated thing that I'm focus pulling for is a seated interview subject!

I recently shot a short film handheld and off sticks with a Sony NEX-VG10. We were able to get away with a lot of handheld work at 85mm f/2.8 (stopped down on a 1.4 lens), and 24mm f/2.8 (stopped down on an f/1.8 lens), and I think shoulder mounting would have worked better than the handheld sections... I don't plan on shooting much fictional work with the HMC150 + Letus rig, but it'd be nice to know that *if* I do decide to tackle a similar project, that I'd have adequate stability!

You said that you've never once mounted a shotgun mic to your camera body... If you're not using your HMC150 mic mount apparatus, I'd happily take it off of your hands for cash locally since we're both in the DC area!

I'm putting my HMC150 "through the paces" at a Florida nature preserve tomorrow... looking forward to it!

Anyone else care to take a moment to take a crack at these Q's? Thanks!
-I need an OEM on-camera microphone mount for my Sennheiser ME-66. I can't find the part (Panasonic part # VYC0936) anywhere reputable (the site I almost bought it from had a 1.2 rating on ResellerRatings.com). I'm tempted to get a cold-shoe shock mount instead if I can't find it, but I'd prefer the lower profile, smaller one. Any ideas on where I can find this piece for sale from a reliable source? Anyone selling one that they don't use often/ever? PM me please.

-I previously used the no-name non-branded eBay/Chinese HMC40 batteries recommended in another thread on here, and they should theoretically work well on the HMC150 as well, but I've heard some buddies talk of Lenmar batteries that are warrantied. Anyone have experience with those? Should I just stick with IDX and Panasonic for triple the price and lots more piece of mind?

-Anyone using the Letus35 adapters on their HMC150? If so, anyone using the Redrock MicroShoulderMount rig with an HMC150 + Letus adapter for shoulder-operated work? Is it worth its $500ish price tag?
Click to expand...
 
If you're in Alexandria -- we're not neighbors. I'm a former Loudoun County guy who now lives in the Shenandoah Valley. For DVXuser purposes -- that's "Washington DC."

Normally I'd offer to just give you that mic mount, but as my HMC is nearing liquidation -- I'd really rather sell the complete box.

But, from memory of nearly three years ago, I seem to remember complaints on this forum about the mic holder that came with the HMC150 being junk, and people were replacing it with some mount they bought at B&H for twenty or so dollars. This is from memory -- so a search will probably turn up something, or give B&H a call.
 
In all honesty, I would just get a shock mount for the HMC150. If you need the extra accessory shoe for a light or something, the handle has a 1/4"-20 thread that you can add an extra arm/shoe onto.
 
I actually like the HMC's built in mic. It's good for recording backround sounds, and as long as there is enough sound in the background you won't pick up the camera sound to much, nothing that the viewer will notice anyway =P.

I love the HMC for what it does, specially for that price. I use it to anything I do, either with or without my adapter on it. I've just tweaked my scenefile, that made it even better and more flexible!

Nice that you have joined the HMC club, Jason! :grin:
 
If you're in Alexandria -- we're not neighbors. I'm a former Loudoun County guy who now lives in the Shenandoah Valley. For DVXuser purposes -- that's "Washington DC."

Normally I'd offer to just give you that mic mount, but as my HMC is nearing liquidation -- I'd really rather sell the complete box.

But, from memory of nearly three years ago, I seem to remember complaints on this forum about the mic holder that came with the HMC150 being junk, and people were replacing it with some mount they bought at B&H for twenty or so dollars. This is from memory -- so a search will probably turn up something, or give B&H a call.
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Ah, gotcha... bummer that you're not closer! Thanks for the thought on the mic mount, but I understand wanting to sell it with the camera :)

I only want the on-camera mic mount for those once-in-a-while ENG situations where I'm out in a crowd, and don't have time to mic up the random person I'm interviewing. Other than that, my ME66+K6 will live on a fish pole for my sound guy friends to wield in combat, er production. :D I suppose I'll just go with a cheapie cold-shoe shock mount, but it would be nice to free up the shoe (I use the 1/4"x20 thread on the top handle for my 5" monitor when shooting w/ sticks, or as the attachment point for my Rapid "R" strap for run 'n' gun)

Over the weekend, I shot a sit-down interview with my 87 year old grandfather discussing his experiences as a B24 Radio Operator/Gunner during and after WWII in the Pacific. The camera performed a LOT better than my HVX200, and the footage looked great, considering all that I used for lighting was a 150 watt tungsten bulb aimed at a white wall! I was able to get away with 0db gain at f/4.8, 1/48sec shutter with only a smidge of post-sunset ambient light behind! The audio was MUCH cleaner, and the 1080p/24 footage looked AWESOME on my TV straight out of the camera.

Once I get some downtime after work this week, I'll post the short version of the interview in the footage section!

I also really liked the Varizoom VZrock PZFI and PZFI-Pro on the HMC150 - they both handled exactly as they do on my HVX200 bodies, and that makes me a happy camper :D

So far so good... now to put this baby to work!
 
Oh, and the EVF being perpetually on is driving me nuts. I know it's not drawing much battery power, but it just seems like a waste to me!

Dear Panasonic,
Please issue a firmware update that adds an "EVF Off" function to the user programmable LCD button!!!!
Love, Jason.

P.S.: I know that it is very unlikely that this will actually happen, but I'll love you forever if you did this one little thing for me and the other thousands of HMC150 owners!
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Why you don't have a shotgun mic for your HMC? It comes with the camera, unless if you buy it used.

I use it with my Rode NT-G2 and it's good enough.

Also, you can't turn off the view finder. It's on because you can use it while displaying the Waveform in the LCD.

Yes, it would be nice to have the option to turn it off, but it's not available.
 
I bought the HMC150 used - and the mic mount did not come with the camera (which is totally fine with me, given the price I got it for!).

I know it's good enough; it's the same part as on the HVX200 and DVX100, which I've used for literally thousands of hours of operation! :-) I just needed to find the piece. A friend with an out-of-order DVX100B hooked me up with the microphone shockmount for free the other day, so I'm good to go now!

Good call on the waveform LCD + EVF... that's a great way to use the camera! I still wish I could turn of the EVF sometimes though.
 
SPrimeau said:
Why you don't have a shotgun mic for your HMC? It comes with the camera, unless if you buy it used.
Click to expand...

I think the mic only comes with upgraded packages, such as a "shooter's package" offered by various camera shops. If you read the manual, the shotgun is listed as optional.
 
JasonAllen127 said:
I bought the HMC150 used - and the mic mount did not come with the camera (which is totally fine with me, given the price I got it for!).
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If you don't mind, how much did you pay for it? I'm really shopping for one and checking here and eBay daily for something to drop into my price range. So far, nothing :(
 
I found one on the buy/sell board here for $2350 that only had 46 hours of operating time, but only included an IDX battery (extended), the Panasonic battery charger and AC/DC power cables, and a lens cap. (Missing the HMC book, microphone shockmount, component video cable, VBG260 battery, instruction manual, etc)

There are good deals out there on the HMC150, but they might be missing parts - just keep looking!
 
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