I searched the forum but couldn't find specific help...

I just picked up the H1 and will have no NLE for a week or 2, and no HD monitor for a couple of days or so to review footage. So I will likely shoot several hours of footage before getting a chance to review it and reshoot if necessary.

I want to go shoot some footage over the next few days in a forest that is slated to be cut down and am looking for help on best settings/frame rate. Eventual output would be to DVD or possibly local TV.

Setting is outdoor, filtered light through canopy. Lots of mosses, exposed wetland area. I will aim for evenings/mornings for best lighting and wildlife ops (bear, deer, owls).

Any help would be appreciated.

Ken

Hi Ken,

Whatever you do, I really recommend using the 60i frame rate for now. The primary reason being that a tape recorded in 60i HDV with the XL H1 can be played back in one of the Sony HDV decks (HVR-M10U, etc.). If you select the 24F or 30F frame rates, then you'll have no choice but to use the XL H1 to play it back (and so will anyone else you send the tape to).

Regarding camera settings, you might want to experiment with the "Disjecta" preset created by Steven Dempsey. See our Custom Preset library (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=66776) for the .CPF file download. Steven has shot a lot of outdoor material (see his work in our XL H1 Sample Clips subforum). I've been testing out this preset outdoors and really like the look. The more I use it, the more I find myself becoming really fond of it. I prefer this preset over the stock XL H1 image but it's mostly a personal preference. Try it out yourself and see what you think. Be sure to check out Luis de la Cerda's "Terra" preset as well. Hope this helps,

Chris,

I don't know if anyone's told you this, but...

"you da' man!"

Thanks!

Ken