What Questions (and Answers) Should Be In An HMC40 FAQ???

Robert M Wright

Well-known member
Here we go. I'm starting this thread to ask folks what questions they have that should be included in a concise FAQ about the HMC40, and also for those who would like to offer concise answers to frequent questions (to perhaps be used in the FAQ).

Heck, if Bob would like, and this doesn't turn into an utterly awful mess, I'll volunteer to help sift through this and draft an eventual permanent FAQ. I may live to regret that though! :shocked:

Perhaps this could be made a sticky for a little while, and then "unstuck" when the FAQ is written.
 
Example (a really basic one):

Q. What is an HMC40? (Is it a plant, animal or a mineral?)

A. Mineral. The HMC40 is a "prosumer" digital video camcorder, designed and manufactured by Panasonic Corporation, that shoots and records high definition video motion picture images as well as sound, using the AVCHD recording format. The camera has a 12x zoom lens, employs three 1/4" CMOS chips for imaging, and records every common format of high definition video to SDHC flash memory cards using H264 video compression and AC3 audio compression.
 
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What is rolling shutter and why do I care?

What do the settings really do? (probably need a link to a long answer for this)

What are some recommentded settings and when/why should I use them?

Can you convert focus units to meters/feet with the fixed lens?

What are the advantages and drawbacks of 1080p24, 1080i60, 720p60 shooting?

Why get the XLR box/ use XLR mikes? Can I get by without them?

What is a good mike (XLR)? What is a good mike (1/8" jack)? What is a good mike (wireless)?

What is white balance (and warm balance cards)?

Why shouldn't I shoot full auto?

What shutter speed should I use? Why?

What is a 35mm adaptor and why would I want one?

Ok, 35mm adaptors are really cool. What works with this camera?

My footage makes the Blair Witch Project look like it was shot from a tripod. What can I do?
 
what are some workflows used with Windows/Mac?
How to import using Final Cut Pro/Avid/Vegas/Premiere
What is AVCHD
How do i "transcode" video.
what are good "transcoding" programs? (ffmpegx/Hanbrake/tmpeg)
 
145 views and 5 posts....hhmmm

only one person needs to see this, and it is the mod...

mod?! where art thou?
 
1) Where can I find an explanation of all these scene file settings? (There's a pdf for the HMC150 floating around online that goes into way more detail than the HMC40's documentation).

2) How can I convert my 720p60 footage to a SD DVD without it looking like cr*p?

3) Can I buy 3rd-party batteries? Why not?

4) Where do I find Panasonic's free transcoder software? (Or alternatively ... why does Panasonic have the least user-friendly support site in the known universe?)
 
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145 views and 5 posts....hhmmm

only one person needs to see this, and it is the mod...

mod?! where art thou?

I'm here, but now that the school semester has started, I can't do everything and work is always #1. They pay me for it too. :D

There are some great ideas, but Spring Break I go to NAB and the semester doesn't end until June 11. However, anyone who knows something can write a FAQ. :happy:


Bob Diaz
 
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