I need a little talking to

L

Lander

Member
Hi guys,

So, my dogs want to buy me a new video camera. Christmas passed without one because I couldn't make up my mind because of my situation.

The work I will be doing this coming year will be a bunch of reality based travel episodes. Mostly broadcasted over the internet, but I would like the option to offer HD DVD cuts of the episodes too, and maybe some local network play. The shooting will vary considerably from inside an RV, venus to the great outdoors, really, where ever i am. I am looking to have a versatile camera setup that will compliment the audio work I do. I am an audio engineer and I still noodle a little with writing, but I've been mostly in audio production the past 3 years.

My audio rig is PC based consisting of
P5WDH Deluxe, C2d e6600, 2gig corsair, Nvidia 7600g GS, RME hdsp aes32,
Lynx Aurora 16's, Tranzport, 2xUAD1, MCU+EXT
Focal audio monitors, Dell FPD2485W lcd monitor and about a dozen channels of boutique preamps.

I am looking to compliment the rig with a nice video setup. I have the money for an A1, or a HV20, letus extreme and a few lenses. The current camera I have that has served me well is a Panasonic PV-DV953. But listening to fidelity and seeing kind of the opposite on screen is a bit strange to me.

I used to be a photographer when I was a bit younger. Seeing the DOF the letus gives you access too and having it on video really is appealing to me. Fidelity and trueness to life is the other.

If anyone could offer some thoughts to me I would greatly appreciate it. I do realize topics like this are kind of exhausted, I've read most of the debates and watched the footage of the cameras and the comparisons but even through all the reading over the passed 3 weeks, I cannot make up my mind. I feel I am missing something that you may know.

cheers,

Tom
 
Lander said:
I am looking to compliment the rig with a nice video setup. I have the money for an A1, or a HV20, letus extreme and a few lenses.
Click to expand...

Adding the lens adapter to your setup is a very involved process (I just went through it). People tell you that you need an HD monitor, rails, FF, etc. and they are right. That can triple the cost of your camera. Plus, you'll want a tripod and some travel lights - couldn't tell if you had a wireless mic in all of that jargon.

If the lens adapter is what has you excited to get a camera, I would start out with the HV20 and an Letus (how about a Letus economy? it's the same image) or Brevis. It will in initially be more involved to control your exposure on the HV20, but at least you can get started. You can use the HV20 with or without the adapter on your travels. You will be able to fit it all in one bag. If you get really into it, you can upgrade to the A1.

Also, if you choose to upgrade you can take all of your other parts with you (lens adapter, monitor,audio, rails, etc.)

I say this because now that I have this, I realize that it a bunch of gear surrounding an image capture device. At this point, that device could have very well been an HV20 for many uses.

My 2¢
 
Hi Michael,

Thanks for the input. That's a nice setup you have! Yea, I would really like the DOF that a lens adapter and lens would give me. I never thought of a monitor for the rig. I just priced out the marshalls. Oof! lol. It makes total sense though It seems things are getting a little bit trickier in finance. I assume the HD monitor is crucial in doing accurate pulls on moving subjects? Static focus could always be done with a tape measure.

:nads: OT: The emoticons here are pretty funny.

cheers,

Tom
 
Tom,

If I'm reading your question right, it sounds like your decision is a rather personal one... personal to what you want in a camera and what you want to do with it.

Clearly you know your stuff technically and probably have a mental picture of what you want your video to look like. So, I'm going to pass along some advice that I've read more than a few times when this subject comes up, rent. Rent the cameras you're interested in and see if they do what you want them to do. I don't know where you live, but you should be able to find rental outlets in any reasonably sized cities.

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks,

That's a good point. I'm not sure if a local place would have a 35mm lens adapter. I will have to call tomorrow and check. At least, I will be able to walk through camera functions to see how setting shutter and aperture in the HV20 is and explore the DOF of a stock A1 and compare footage first hand

It's interesting re-reading and how Michael mentioned the modular setup. That's the exact route I went with the audio studio 2 years ago. I got rid of the desk and moved to all rack preamps and control surfaces.

cheers,

Tom

BTW, I'm in Philadelphia area
 
I wanted to thank you guys for the input. I just ordered everything, deciding to go with the HV20.

Here will be my first HD w/DOF lens adapter setup.

Canon HV20:

Letus35 Lens adapter

Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 AFS Lens

Nikon 50mm f1.4 Lens

It wound up being about the same as a XH-A1. Hopefully I'll not regret not getting the XHA1.
Last thing on the list is a rail system now.

cheers,

Tom
 
Thanks,

You just made me decide. I was on the fence about it which one to go with. Called and talked to Tim yesterday. He has some new products coming out very very soon specifically for the setup I am doing.

cheers,

Tom
 
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