OTHER: PX270 Ghost town and basic tech questions?

C

crossXcheck

Member
First post on the boards, though I've been reading here a good while.
Coming from an HMC-150 and I have a PX270 arriving tomorrow (though wondering whether I made a mistake based on the little activity here, gulp!). Been trying to do some further research but seems there's little info out there. I've checked the PASS site, downloaded the manual and searched here without much luck, so some basic questions.

1. PX270 lists the 6 basic scene files we're used to, but which (and how) of the many parameters in the manual does each scene file control? Is there a published matrix somewhere? Is it better just to stick with pre-sets so we don't burn ourselves?

1A. Does it make sense to stick with the default scene file and change individual parameters to gauge the results (since we know what the defaults are at least)? Anyone care to calculate the possible permutations of blind parameter changing????

2. Gammas are listed as: HD, SD, FILMLIKE 1,2 AND 3, FILM-REC and VIDEO-REC. Are these analogous somehow to the Gammas from the HMC, and again are they documented somewhere? Then there's Gamma Mode Sel vs. Gamma setting.....

3. Panasonic has published collections of scene files for all their other cameras, but I can't find anything on the 270. Are these around or are owners of this type system expected to roll their own at a moments notice? It's not rocket science, right? unless you're a cave man...

4. I never liked the look of DRS on the HMC. Is the implementation any better on the 270?

5. Any other tips and insights into getting the most out of this system greatly appreciated. It's not like I feel the need to know every little detail, but a basic understanding of the tech certainly comes in handy. Just a bit overwhelmed at the depth of the manual on this thing and I'm just picturing suffering through months of agony to get anything but a black screen :grin:

It seems like there should be some humongous tutorial out there that covers a lot of the technical aspects of this camera, which makes me wonder whether I'm in over my head. I know small chip cameras aren't very sexy these days, but this fits the bill for a lot of the work I do and was hoping there'd be some kindred spirits here. Anyone? Buehler? Buehler?
 
We all wish Barry could have written one of his books for this camera. It has a lot of features.

1) a lot :) The scene files have to do with image settings first and foremost.

1A, 2 & 3) Only your level of expertise can determine this. I roll my own with a color chart(s), broadcast monitor and a lot of tweaking. This way I settle on the look I want. I then use the cameras and adjust along the way.
Yes, scene files seem to be absent with this camera.

4) I use the DRS as my default. I think it looks good.

5) To me, the real strength of this camera is the amount of color controls. Spend the time to get to know all of these settings as this will transform the look of the camera from 1/3" to broadcast level. I am still learning some things. The networking functions are a mystery to me as I have yet to have a job that needs them. I really like the dual codec/proxy recording function to quick delivery to clients.

You are going to love the camera. It is like the HMC-150 on steroids with proper screens!
 
Thanks Bassman, appreciate the reply.

Point 5 really is key. What's daunting is the almost 6 pages of settings listed under the scene file menu. Is it safe to assume that the dozen or so parameters usually associated with scene files are still key to controlling the basic image look?

Glad to hear positives about the DRS, would come in handy for much of my work.
"HMC-150 on steroids with proper screens" just brings tears to my eyes!:shocked:
 
Iirc, all of the image settings are in the scene files. So if you are adjusting the color matrix, you are adjusting for that particular scene file. I do not know what you mean by a dozen parameters. The usual suspects are in there but there are a lot more for fine tuning. The biggies are gamma choice, color matrix, color correction, saturation and black levels.

I would say pick your gamma first (I like cine-gamma), then adjust the black levels etc... before moving to color. You might be fine with the color as it is from the factory, so the "look" would be the main adjustment. But it is up to you.

Here is something I shot in 1080p60 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2IFKOaqfMA&list=UU6gHtJYl3uckjDNUGfNQEAA (turn the resolution up to 1080p to see the detail) Well beyond the good old HMC-150! :)
 
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If the stock scene files are anything like Panny have used for stock files historically, you'll be needing to spend some time on this. I'd be curious about your efforts to tune this cam in and what type of looks you prefer. And if you succeeded. One of the attractive things about this cam for the intended market is to be able to bake-in the desired look during the shoot. Not everyone wants that, but for corporate and eng, it should be a very good cam. please keep us posted.
 
Thanks Bassman, that's pretty much how I've always worked, but the many many extra choices threw me. Started wondering about interactions and unforeseen effects ruining footage. Think it was mostly pre-delivery jitters. Now that I've got the beast, yeah it's very cool, just love the overall feel. Haven't had too much play time but I'm loving it so far.

Cool to see Staubach still has some zip, cool vid.

cheers
 
ggrantly said:
I'd be curious about your efforts to tune this cam in and what type of looks you prefer. And if you succeeded.
Click to expand...

It's funny, I've been a still shooter my whole career and we always had to get it exactly right in camera. Transparencies are unforgiving that way. Now the last ten years in still the look of the job is increasingly created in post. Now I'm doing video and working to get the best out of camera image possible just at the time that video is transitioning into a post production medium. Stick around long enough you get to see it all twice.
 
Cool. Report back with how you like the camera. This site is more about larger sensors so the 1/3" chip cameras are yesterday's news. But, they generate a lot of income. For me, the PX270 is a culmination of many years of development. So I am very happy to have this camera.

It was a nice day at Cowboy's Stadium. That was filmed with DRS on btw.
 
I really struggled whether to go with another small chip camera but the versatility is hard to beat. I've got Nikon D810's for shallow DOF if I really need it, so I figure I can wait another couple generations and see what develops.

Way, way OT, but assuming you live in Dallas. Any chance you know any real estate people or landlords in Dallas or surrounding? My daughter is doing an internship at the Dallas Zoo this summer and short term, furnished, habitable stuff on the south side is proving hard to find. Long shot but figured can't hurt to ask.

cheers
 
Hey,

I am in Arlington, which is more towards Fort Worth than Dallas. I have not been I Dallas as much in recent years, so I am not in the know about real estate. Does the Zoo itself have any contacts or suggestions?
 
Their only suggestion was "don't get anything too close to the zoo"!

Thanks anyway, figured it was a long shot, we'll figure something out.
 
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