New user with an HPX170P

M

Midnightsun37

Member
I managed to get a hold of a practically new HPX-170 and was directed here as the place to be for knowledge on this what appears to be a fine camera. There is a steep learning curve so far and I am slowly getting the hang of it. I am planning to shoot some weddings this coming summer and need to be familiar with it by then. luckily there is plenty of time.

So my name is Brian and I am currently living in Anchorage Alaska, Good to meet everyone.
 
Been shooting quite a bit as it would be. At first they were coming out very grainy disapointingly so, but I think I have that ironed out. The WFM made that a bit easier and the LCD screen is darker than what I would think it should be, but I think it has a lot to do with the angle at which you look at it.

Would there be any benefit to a second, larger screen for setup ?
 
You can press the "LCD" button on the side of the camera body and it will alter the brightness of the LCD. Just keep in mind that the LCD on the 170 is poor, especially if you've shot with any of the newer cameras. After dealing with a Canon DSLR, I come back and shoot on the 170 and think it looks like crap while shooting, but then in editing it looks so good.
 
If you are new to the cam, the best investment you can make is the HPX book by Barry Green. He is one of the site founders, and the book is simply the most important thing you can own.

Grant
 
I am as new as they get. I was saving for a cannon XF-300 but this deal fell into my lap so I ran with it. HPX book huh. OK will look it up. Thank you.
 
Midnightsun37 said:
Has anyone ever used the VZ-TFT7U ? I can pick one up local for a bit less than 200.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=618575&is=REG&Q=&A=details
Click to expand...

That is a decent product for framing, but not really up to the task of HD focusing. Save up for something better. A HD monitor like a SmallHD product is really nice, but there are other things I would buy first. If you fully use the focus assist features, you can get the job done.

AFWIW, the HPX is a great cam. It doesn't have quite the resolution of the latest greatest CMOS cams, but it has most every feature you could need as a pro and a very nice IQ none the less. Study about scene files to get the look you want. The scene file can drastically change the look you achieve, and the stock ones are not the best. The Barry Book will cover all this in great detail.

Grant
 
Midnight, in all seriousness, if you don't know what a scene file is, you really need to familiarize yourself with the camera before you try working with it.
 
Working is going to happen this summer, as such I have several months to learn this, also the stuff I plan to shoot is for friends and family.

This is by far the most advanced camera I have ever owned and there will be a steep learning curve.

I am currently an aircraft mechanic in Alaska and I figure if I can read through Federal Aviation Regulations without going into a comma then I am hoping to be able to pick this up. I will be placing an order for that book just in time for a christmas present to myself and I am guessing then that scene files are important. I had assumed it was a way to put notes on a group of files to keep track of them.

Now I am curious, Off to search for some more.
 
I think we have found the magic bullet for the source of the problems I have been having.

The images I have been getting have been full of noise for some of the darker colors, even when lit to the point I should not have any. Everything I have shot up till now has been on a SONY HDR-SR11 it's a consumer camcorder but for all points and purpose takes some really nice video. I will check those out tonight and get back to ya.

In the meantime here are two videos I put together using the above camera. I welcome constructive feedback.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEb_2klL3Bs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP0LuciShgY
 
I dove into the Scene file settings and sure enough there is a setting that has made the low light images appear fantastic (relatively) We have a lot of darkness this time of year so I work with that I have.

The noise went down considerably and made for a really pretty sky with the town lights against the fog.

Now for a noob question I can't seem to find in the manual. What is the difference between frame rate and shutter speed ? I was assuming since this was digital there would not be a shutter.
 
The frame rate is the number of pictures taken per second. The shutter speed is how long each picture is exposed for.
 
Why must everything be a struggle ?? I picked up that screen anyways, dude practically gave it to me so why not ? It takes a single RCA input so I put a BNC to RCA adapter and voila no signal. SIGH I have it turned on in the av in/out menu so I am not sure. I am too tired to mess with it now so we will try again tomorrow.

I hate not having anyone local to bounce questions off of.
 
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