What kind of audio input does the Optura 300 have? I can't find this information listed anywhere. Is it 1/8", 1/4", XLR?

How does running external audio in on the 300 compare to the GL2 or the Xi?

<< What kind of audio input does the Optura 300 have? >>

Like all other camcorders in its class, the Optura 300 has a 1/8th-inch stero minijack.

<< How does running external audio in on the 300 compare to the GL2 or the Xi? >>

It's identical to the Xi except there's no Advanced Accessory Shoe, therefore you can't mount the optional DM-50 stereo mic.

On the GL2, each audio channel has its own discrete level control. On the 300 and Xi (and 500, 40 and 30) the audio channels are ganged together -- one level control affects both channels equally. Hope this helps,

That helps a lot. Thank you very much!

I could run a mixer I already have to get two discrete channels (panning hard L+R).

Thanks again.

First off let me say that i film all the time and have been for a while now. I'm really into the cameras and camcorders now and really would like to have a Gl1 or 2. but at my expensese i can only afford a optura.

I have just gotten the Optura 300 about 3 weeks ago, and yes i love it. But i feel like i want to get the Xi now... i have always used my friends GL or other bigger type cameras, so when i got the optura, sure i liked it for being small, but its almost to small to me.

i really don't like the man. focus on the 300 or how there is no acces. shoe.

Now i would really like like to sell my Optura 300 with best wide angle and biggest battery, and then go out and get the XI with the same.

But is it worth it? I have been trying to fiqure this out.

Ps. is there an handle that can be attached to the Xi? i know there is a JVC shaped the same as the XI that you can get one optional...

thanks! Pat.

Ps. my optura is FS in the FS threads

There is no such handle for the Xi. Moving from the 300 to the Xi will be a good step for you in my opinion.

I'm very pleased with my XI. My boss, who has shot beta for 20 years, is also impressed. So much so that he is sending me on a company shoot tomorrow with my XI.

If you are handy with tools and a bit imaginative, you can make some stuff for your XI when you get it. I'v emade a decent shock mount for it. You can see it at http://www.daveperry.net/xi/.

Hi,

I'm in the market for a small camcorder and it seems to me that these two models best fit my needs, but I'm wondering if anyone has any comments to differentiate between the two? I know the Optura 300 has true widescreen (which is important to me) but I'm not really able to verify if the DCR-PC109 does. Anyone know? Any other issues that I should be aware of? Thanks

mg

I know the PC105 was one of the first Sony vertical MiniDV cams to boast a high quality 16:9 mode and I'm sure this has been carried over to its replacement. If the PC109 kept the 1/4.7" 1070k CCD/pixel arrangement of the PC105 then the Optura 300 will surely have a higher resolution widescreen mode. That and the Optura 300 also has the RGB filter to get as close to 3CCD performance as you can get from a single CCD.

You can read a review of the Optura 300 and PC105 by clicking here (http://www.dvspot.com/features/)

I have had the 300 for a few weeks. I could not wait to get it. I lost another friend as soon as it arrived. I actually brought it out to experiment with and ran out of batteries after taping the antics of myself and my idiot buddies. My buddy Roy walked up after the Optura battery ran out. I took one picture of him with the Canon A-70 in still mode. I had it in my pocket. I wish I took a video clip of him. He came to my house here that night and we had a lot of fun. We gave each other the usual hug as he departed. I got a call 3 days later that he died from a brain bleed that he ignored after getting hit by a car outside of a club in Sunset Park Brooklyn three weeks earlier. I cursed that small batery on the Optura. My fault. GET A BIGGER DAMN BATTERY!!!!

http://www.geocities.com/matchload.geo/CANONA70PICS.html

I just got an Optura 300. I see that I could have gotten a 400 for a little more. Maybe only 20 bucks more. I can't seem to see a difference between the 300 and the 400/500. The 400 and 500 seem to have a manual focus ring they mention at CanonUSA. Is there anything better that people know of with the 400 and 500 over the 300?

yes- they letterbox the 16:9 image on the lcd rather than compressing it. There have been some posts here about direct to harddrive recording using the complete ccd with the 300 and another that it was impossible with the 400. I'd look into this and if that's important - keep it- if you want a correctly displayed image ,recording widescreen, then I'd see if you couldn't exchange. Since I don't personally own an optura , you might wait for more informed posts or do a search about these 2 aspects I mentioned.Hope this helps- kurth

The XI is probably the best small form cam out there right now.

By the way, I am selling mine! ;-)

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30681

I especially like shooting 16x9 with the shutter set to 15. Tre chic.

ok. im having problems with adjusting the exposure.

i press the exp on the bottom circle thing. and it blinks...

now i can only adjust it to negitive 11. and no higer then +-0.

i need to turn it up for my lower light shots but i cannot get ti to go any higher.

help is needed ! maybe a walk thru! i know i did it once befoe now i cannot do it... thanks in advance

Which program mode are you using?

Green Box, Auto, ...?

It's probably because your Optura 30 can go no higher (brighter) than what it already is doing. If you're not shooting a high motion shot, try adjusting your shutter to let more light into your lens.

-KiN

its not on the auto. and i don't ever klnow what shutters to use.

im having toruble with night/low light/fast moving objects.

I'm actually downgrading from a GL2 to an XI... mostly because I haven't seen the justification, plus I'd like to help pay for a Canon 20D SLR!


I hope I can sell the GL2 by 9/30 to take advantage of the $200 rebates on the Xi.

I've used the Xi and it's a great little cam. Rebate makes it even more of a deal.

I’ve had my Xi since June, and have been very happy with it. To have this much resolution at such a low price point is pretty amazing. I shoot everything in 16/9 for my HDTV, and there’s a surprise waiting inside when you shoot in TV30 mode: 30 fps progressive scan! You’ll believe it when you see it.

Make sure you get a Neutral Density filter for shooting in bright light. The Xi’s ccd bleaches out very badly outdoors, and everything turns an ugly shade of green. Once you find the right setting though, it can look as good as anything I see on SD broadcast TV.

I use a monopod, and carry mine around like a walking stick. It also works pretty well if you close the pod up most of the way, so it looks like you are holding some kind of cool laser pistol. Also, the optical stabilizer in this thing is awesome. The sound quality with the built in mic is also surprisingly good. Much better than my older Sony cam, and you get manual level control. Keep in mind that if you buy an external mic, it has to have a built in self powered pre-amp, or the camera won’t recognize it.

Hi,
I just bought my optura 300 (mvx10i), and I can't get my videos recorded on a SD memory card in MPEG4 format. Instead, I get it in ASF format.
What I'm doing wrong ?
Please help.

Marko

Don't worry, you're not doing anything wrong. ASF is already in the MPEG 4 format. ASF is based on Microsoft's MPEG4 v3 codec which they used as a streaming format.

Yes, I figured that out, after a few hours of internet search, but I still can't find solution for playing, or even better, converting ASF format. I can play the videos, but the sound is always missing. What softvare is awailable for converting ? I realised i need a special codec for sound, but I have trouble installing it, my XP refuse to do so. If you heve any suggestions...
Thx,
Marko

Well, ASF is another container format by Microsoft. It might be
MPEG4, but it doesn't have to be. But it appears yours is.

You can try the free www.virtualdub.org. That might
right the file and allow you to convert it to uncompressed.

Otherwise get a demo of the great editing application Vegas 5,
get it at: http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com.

It can read and edit ASF files on my system!

Thanks Rob.
Virtual dub can not handle asf files due to microsoft restriction, but i heared some older versions can.
I have vegas 4 and it too has problems playng audio stream in asf files. Still searching for a solution.

Reading posts here, I'm envious of you Xi owners. Unfortunately, the $400 price difference was the determining factor. Seems to me that for $450, the Optura 30 is a lot of camera. I've only had it for a week, but the clips I've shot just playing around sure look good in my home theater.

The Optura 30 has no zebra pattern, no TV mode. I can set the shutter to 1/60. I can shoot in night mode and I can adjust the exposure a little. But that's about it.

Most of my filming will be outdoors, so perhaps some of the tweaking the Xi allows for won't matter too much?

My only complaint so far is a slight "over sharpness." You can't see it on a TV, but my screen is roughly 4 by 7 feet & obviously the least little flaw is going to be magnified. While this sharpness isn't as bad as the edge enhancement you see in some DVDs, it sure would be nice if it wasn't there. Any sugestions on how to minimize it?

As I said, for $450, the camera is a keeper. It is so cool to pull footage into Final Cut Express in 16:9. Now to build a water proof housing & put this baby to work!

Congrats on your new camera, John. For a relatively low cost consumer camera, you’ve got something that is capable of taking fine video. To be realistic, you have to remember that you are trying to watch consumer SD resolution footage blown up to a huge size. I have a 38” HDTV at home, and believe me, even though the screen is much smaller than what you have, every edge and shortcoming of an SD video shows up with irritating detail. With a system like that, hopefully you are poised on the edge of your seat for future semi-affordable HD cams? :)

I would suggest a low to medium strength diffusion filter. The image will still look clean, but it will prevent those harsh video edges from kicking in. You may need to add some extra contrast in post after shooting in bright daylight with them. I would suggest a Cokin Diffuser 2, or a Tiffen Soft/FX3.

Also, if you are shooting outside in broad daylight, it is mandatory to use an ND filter, and watch your exposure levels carefully. Over-driven video will have all those nasty edge effects.

Thanks Kevin. I do a lot of digital still photography & I've learned to keep the highlights from washing out. You can do a lot in Photoshop with a slightly under exposed imaged. But if you let the highlights get away from you, your options are limited. I imagine it's much the same with video.

I was watching a widescreen SD broadcast on PBS the other night and I didn't think it looked any better than what I captured with the Optura. HD material blows everything else away, of course, even including well mastered DVDs. But I'll have to leave HD to the pros for now.

I drive my projector with a HD cable box and a HTPC. As I expected, I get better resullts from the Optura by capturing the video into Final Cut & then using iDVD to build an image file. Then I use my Windows based HTPC to scale the video to the projector. This produces a much better picture than a direct S video connection from the Optura to the projector.

Question: Is it better to use a ND filter or can I get away with using the EV control? Or will I need to do both. Most of my work will be on the water in (hopefully) broad daylight -- although you can get some dramatic shots during a summer thunderstorm!

Hi John, If you are shooting in open water on a sunny day, I would say it’s mandatory to use an ND filter. With that many photons roaring into the front of the lens, there is no way the cameras internal circuitry can knock it down far enough to prevent blowouts. Also, you don’t want the iris to be closed down so far that you’re not taking advantage of the lens. I’m no expert at this, but I would use a circular polarizer, and an ND 4. The polarizer will work great on the water, and give you nice deep blue skies as well.

I’ve done a lot of comparative test shots, and I’ve gotten very good results this way. The nice thing is that these filters are so cheap, but they can make it look like you used twice the camera.