Request on menu settings.

J

janghos

Active member
I don't know if it's a little too early to talk about this, or someone already mentioned this before. Please forgive me if this has been discussed.

I have worked with several cameras from Sony VX-1000 to Sony CineAlta (these two just happen to be the lowest and the highest camera that I've used). Regardless the quality of a camera, I've always found it is difficult to get used to the navigation of the MENU SETTING of a camera. In my opinion, Panasonic cameras offer easier navigation than Sony's cameras do, like SDX-900/VariCam vs. CineAlta. Nevertheless, Panasonic's menu takes time and effort to get used to it, too.

I've always wondered how much of internal memory it takes to make a truly user friendly menu settings. I don't think you need a lot for that. Please let us understand and navigate the menu settings with an ease (ie, not too much of technical jargons).

What do you guys think? Any preferences from any of you people, here?

Nook
 
Just to add one more comment, I think Panasonic did a good job on their HVX-200. It is fairly easy to understand the map of the menu setting.

With a lot more formats to offer, I understand it will have to be more complicated with RED camera, but does it have to be?
 
i would prefer to not have any type of menu. Just switches, nobs, and sliders to do what i need.

I don't ever want to have to go into a menu to change something, if it could be done on the fly.
 
Well, in that case, I foresee RED camera being covered with about 100 or more switches, and I don't think we want that. :)
 
I definitely understand what you're saying about menus not making sense. It would help if they were labelled in more user-friendly terms...

i.e. in the Panasonic HDC-20, the flesh tone detail settings have settings labelled YIQ. If you don't know what YIQ is, it doesn't make sense. And if you do know what YIQ is, it still doesn't make sense.

The most important settings should be on page one, so you don't have to go digging around. For the more esoteric settings, I think an online manual / Wiki might make sense... this way people can write useful guides and what the menu settings do, and also how to use the settings to your advantage.

For example, the matrix settings would really need explaining.

2- As mentioned before, a scene file knob on the camera would be nice. Being able to lock the scene files somehow might be nice, so other people can't mess with them.
 
Jannard said:
If you like our footage, you will like our menus.

Jim
Click to expand...

I saw your footage...well, in my dreams. And I loved it, except it had
a little dreamy look to it. :)

Your comment made me believe that you guys are paying attention to details of the camera, too.
Thanks for your work.

Nook
 
Although menus kind of equal hassling through hidden options, you really don't want EVERY option to have it's own button. You wouldn't be able to pick up the camera without touching one.

Another important aspect to software menus is the ability to add features by doing a software upgrade. You might be able to download new firmware for the RED camera from their site, enabling new features.

What would be great is a way to customize parts of the menu. Lets say you have a couple of features that you need to access often. You'd be able to add them in your 'quick menu' list, and they would always be the first to come up when accessing the menu. Even the iPod does a little bit of this.

And of course you might be able to assign functions to buttons depending on your needs.

Bar3nd
 
Settings menu

Settings menu

I think it would be great to have a menu that is written in JAVA or html or having an aplication that can change the look and feel of the menu structure. This way you can have the menu you like to use and the online community can help develop improvements. It would be usefull as well if the camera has an html based menu accesible through a network connection. This way the settings can be done on a laptop instead of looking on a small tft screen and service personel could assits you with technical problems.
 
Having a Bluetooth possibility would be nice for that.

Or transmitting audio to a headset.

Or a remote. (programmable so you can have a dedicated button for push autofocus, white balance, etc.)

Transmitting LTC over Bluetooth should be possible for syncing a multicam setup.

Coming to think of it: Have you read the articel about some Viper shoot where they said almost everybody including the focus puller prefered to be behind the large on set monitor. (Was it Miami Vice?)

Maybe this *is* the best spot for getting best focus - of course with a remote.


Jochen
 
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I also saw that the DOP of Superman enjoyed working from the monitor. I think they used som kind of motion control so he didn´t have to be right next to the camera. This could be the way to go in the future. You can stand by a 30 inch display having a motioncontrol rig for the camera and seeing that nice picture on the screen.
 
Barend Onneweer said:
What would be great is a way to customize parts of the menu. Lets say you have a couple of features that you need to access often. You'd be able to add them in your 'quick menu' list, and they would always be the first to come up when accessing the menu. Even the iPod does a little bit of this.
Bar3nd
Click to expand...

I like this idea a lot, being able to customize my own menus.. sweet!

Nook
 
wthopman said:
It would be usefull as well if the camera has an html based menu accesible through a network connection. This way the settings can be done on a laptop instead of looking on a small tft screen and service personel could assits you with technical problems.
Click to expand...

Right! Just like how I use my Palm pilot connected to my computer and change all the settings. Very nice idea! I'd vote for this.

Nook
 
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