i am new to this board and I've read up on some topics. I've searched a bit, but I also find that if you reintroduce an old topic, there may be new opionions and new ideas that come up.

I recently purchased a GL2 from abesofmaine.com and bought the warranty, and tele and wide angle lenses from them along with some other accessories. Are these Sakar crap? http://abesofmaine.com/viewproduct.asp?id=lensspecial3

will I need to get something else?

I plan on filming a project that I'll want to look like film-like. I have adobe premiere pro 1.5 on the PC (windows) with some plug-ins.

The predominant scene are two people in an office conversing. I know lighting and sound is very important and the mic on the GL2 is not adequate. I was planning on buying the AT 4073 mic

I would strategically place it hidden on the desk between the two people while they converse. I wanted to avoid the LAV mics since they may catch some ruffling of the clothes when they move, etc. not to mention the shotgun mic would be handy for other projects.

I know with film, one uses a light meter and the ISO on a film to determine f stop settings. What do ya'll use to determine which f stop to use on your GL2 once you've lit the room? Also, which setting should I set the camera in...... 16:9 or 4:3? I'm not sure how the 16:9 or 4:3 works with the GL2. and the 1/60 is what everyone recommends....is that the setting I should use to make it more filmlike and convert to DVD later. And then Frame mode versus normal mode for movie mode? can someone explain?


I know these are lot of questions, and thanks in advance.....

With registration, via e-mail, for your Premiere Pro 1.5 you get a free plug in called Magic Bullet, it is a"look like film" plug in. I tried it and it is not too bad.
Check it out.

Joe, the 4073a is a great mic, but not designed for the way you want to use it. It's a directional mic designed to pick up sound in front of it and reject sound from the side and rear.

Also, It's not clear whether you realize that you need a separate phantom power supply to operate that mic, and an adaptor cable to enable plugging it in to your 1/8" mic jack (unless you also bought an XLR adaptor and didn't mention it).

One more thing about the 4073 is that it can easily overload the GL2's input. It puts out a particulary strong signal.

You would do better with a lav or other omnidirectional mic hidden on the desk.

It's Frame Mode that tends to make the video more film-like, not the 1/60 of a second shutter speed. 1/60 is what to use in all but unusual circumstances.