Manual set up???

Bro. Stephen

Bro. Stephen

Active member
My brother and I have just recently purchased the AG-DVX100B. We have a website to which we publish our videos but are looking to expand professionally. My question is I would like to know if there are any manual settings I need to do to the camera to get it ready for shooting. I want to get the most out of the camera and do not really know anything about it. We have been using miniDV camcorders, but nothing with this kind of quality. With settings, I know lighting can play an important part with the setup. We will start out shooting with a three point light system if that helps with any answers to my question. We are very excited to get to work with this camera.
 
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My suggestion: Go out there and film. Play around with the settings.

In terms of a "look," it depends what you want to do. Do you want to achieve your look in camera, or in post? If it's post, then leave your camera flat. If it's your camera, then tweak around the settings.

I find my self, I can't get a lot of looks with the DVX. I usually just crush the blacks a bit, and keep my detail level at -4.

I do all my coloring and what not in the edit.

Just make sure you do the following, cause you can't fix it in post:

-Proper exposure (fixable in post, but best to do it on the field)
-Proper lighting (you get a way better image, trust me)
-Proper focus (Can't fix this in post)

Keep in mind on what frame rate you want to shoot at as well.

Good luck, and just get out there and play around.

Robbie
 
Use manual everything: white balance, exposure, zoom, focus.

Get Barry Green's DVX book, as it will explain a whole lot about setting up the DVX, as well as when/why to use the different frame rates.

Play with your scene file settings. Here's a great place to start: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=101419

Most of all, have fun with it! Use all the above to create your own "look" with the DVX.
 
Hey Robbie, thanks for the advice and great stuff on your site, especially the way you shot Guitar Tapping. I'll definitely keep everything you told me in mind.
 
Hey C2V, Thanks for the advice, I will definitely try out those settings and create my own. BIG HELP. I also love your quote at the bottom of the reply "Nobody notices audio... until it's not there." which is funny because I just bought an Alfred Hitchcock collection for technical research, plus... it's Hitchcock!! anyway, he started out in the silent era and his work is just amazing. Even though the films had music to help set the tone of the film, you don't really notice how much we rely on audio for that very same purpose. I used to have a deaf roommate so he needed the captions on the TV. Now that I am not living with him anymore, I still put the captions on and turn off the audio. I find that you get a different kind of perspective with what I am watching. I have definitely learned about how the body and facial expressions can set a tone for a film or TV show. You should try watching something with just the captions sometime, it's fun way the research.

I could only hope to be half as good as Hitchcock someday.
 
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