GL / XM assorted posts, 2003

Graham Bernard · June 1st, 2003, 02:04 AM

I'm really not wanting to continue to use my XM2 as a VCR deck. - really not a good idea, I know - I'm considering a separate piece of kit.

Any advice for my XM2 setup?

Choice piece of VCR kit? Good, Bad & Ugly considered.

Prices? Functionality?

Best regards,

Grazie

Tustin Larson · June 1st, 2003, 02:07 AM

I currently use a Sony TRV-17 for my home projects. It is a lower-end miniDV cam. I am not sure if they sell it anymore, but any miniDV cam will work... afterall... a digital signal, is a digital signal.

For my studio work I have a Panasonic AGDV2000. Works great.

Hope this helps.

Thanx,

Graham Bernard · June 1st, 2003, 02:13 AM

AH yes of course!

T just did a search for the "Panasonic AGDV2000" on Yahoo - could get any results. Just wanted to get a bview as to current prices?

Cheers for the rapid response,

Grazie

Chris Fangio · June 1st, 2003, 03:52 AM

DV In - this is normal. Take it as "DV connection active" ...

TV Screen - Menus are not only displayed on the LCD, but also on a connected TV. This can be switched on or off. In PLAY(VCR) Mode and "Tape" selected, this function is mapped to the custom key, so i recommend you simply hit that button again and the message should disappear. This can be changed in CAMERA-Mode -> Menu -> Display -> TV Screen -> off

30°C here in Germany... great.
Chris

Graham Bernard · June 1st, 2003, 04:03 AM

Thanx Chris. Cleared that up for me.

Yesterday we reached 28°C - excellent BBq weather!

Grazie

Ian Hutchinson · June 1st, 2003, 10:06 AM

I press record and then it starts a countdown 1 2 3 .... and then if it goes on recording to long the camera turns off. Its a gl2.

Ken Tanaka · June 1st, 2003, 11:00 AM

Ian,
Are you saying that your camera stops recording after a few seconds? Are you sure you're not pressing the Photo button (which records a still for 6 secs)? Are you also sure that you are not just looking at the 10 sec timer? This is a handy short-term shot timer that appears initially but then vanishes. The camera is still recording after the 10 seconds.

Please give us more to go on.

Tustin Larson · June 1st, 2003, 12:09 PM

Grazie, Yesterday it was 116F I can wait until July when it gets to be 128F. Isn't the desert great! =/

Thanx,

Ian Hutchinson · June 1st, 2003, 12:34 PM

Nevermind it just goes to 10 seconds and still records. I don't know why it turned off that one time but its fine now. Thanks anyway.

Justin Morgan · June 2nd, 2003, 05:58 AM

I have read many many posts and articles about diffusion filters and how different ones work differently with each model of camera.

From my readings, and for shooting fiction with an XM2, I seem to have reached the conclusion of:

- Tiffen Black Diffusion FX 0.5 - for shooting indoors.

- Tiffen Soft FX (not sure which grade though) - for shooting outdoors.

Is this a good conclusion?

Miles Blow · June 2nd, 2003, 06:57 AM

hi guy's
thanks for the feedback! It probably isnt worth posting any photos as you can only slightly notice the plug is a little bit wider at the bottom. We have been shooting all week using the fire wire cable so it looks like it still works ok it is just very loose. Tapeing down any cables you are useing to the tripode seems to work great.

Thanks
miles

Rob Lohman · June 2nd, 2003, 10:46 AM

What are you trying to accomplish with these filters? Are you
going to shoot in frame or interlaced/normal mode?

Justin Morgan · June 2nd, 2003, 11:00 AM

Sorry - I should have been a little more specific.

I'll be shooting in frame mode.

I'm trying to take the 'edge' off the image - to try and achive a bit of a (here comes that dreaded phrase) 'film look'.

Rob Lohman · June 2nd, 2003, 11:10 AM

Most people find that frame mode is already softening things up
quite a bit. Then there is also an extra sharpness setting on
the camera that you can turn up the other way so that it softens
the image. And there is post ofcourse.

What I'm trying to say is: make sure you really need those
filters before buying them. I don't have experience with them
but I think frame mode with a bit of post work looks nice enough.
But that is just my very humble opinion. Each has its own views
on things and if yours include the need for filters by all means
proceed.

Sorry I cannot answer your more specific questions regarding
the mentioned filters.

There is another thread on filters running here

Graham Bernard · June 3rd, 2003, 12:59 AM

Had some Retail Therapy [ RT ] due to me . . . NO! I reeeeally needed it for a PubMuso thing I did last night, y'know! Honest!

It wasn't just the ease with which I can now zoom - to get THE shot - I got fed up with climbing all over the XM2, finding the Zoom lever etc when the cammy is sitting on a tripod some 7 feet up in the air, and then nudging everything out of frame! I can now have the lcd pointing down at me, fluid head lever balanced in my right hand with the LANC just above my forefinger - neat! - Oh and the LANC Manual Focus works great too!

I must say that the lcd is a bit far away - hmmm... maybe I should be thinking of extra external lcd bolted on the tripod OR better still, clipped in front of my spectacles? - oooh... now how can I justify some more RT - ;-)

From a tad more poor . . . .

Grazie . ..

"Buddy can you spare a dime - wife 10 kids and an XM2 obsession to support"

June 1st, 2003, 02:04 AM	#361
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Dv Vcr? I'm really not wanting to continue to use my XM2 as a VCR deck. - really not a good idea, I know - I'm considering a separate piece of kit. Any advice for my XM2 setup? Choice piece of VCR kit? Good, Bad & Ugly considered. Prices? Functionality? Best regards, Grazie

June 1st, 2003, 10:06 AM	#366
Ian Hutchinson New Boot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: RI Posts: 5	How do you turn off the timer that starts when recording? I press record and then it starts a countdown 1 2 3 .... and then if it goes on recording to long the camera turns off. Its a gl2.

June 1st, 2003, 11:00 AM	#367
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Ian, Are you saying that your camera stops recording after a few seconds? Are you sure you're not pressing the Photo button (which records a still for 6 secs)? Are you also sure that you are not just looking at the 10 sec timer? This is a handy short-term shot timer that appears initially but then vanishes. The camera is still recording after the 10 seconds. Please give us more to go on. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

June 2nd, 2003, 05:58 AM	#370
Justin Morgan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 189	Diffusion final I have read many many posts and articles about diffusion filters and how different ones work differently with each model of camera. From my readings, and for shooting fiction with an XM2, I seem to have reached the conclusion of: - Tiffen Black Diffusion FX 0.5 - for shooting indoors. - Tiffen Soft FX (not sure which grade though) - for shooting outdoors. Is this a good conclusion?

June 2nd, 2003, 10:46 AM	#372
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	What are you trying to accomplish with these filters? Are you going to shoot in frame or interlaced/normal mode? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 1st, 2003, 02:07 AM	#362
Tustin Larson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Springs, CA Posts: 86	I currently use a Sony TRV-17 for my home projects. It is a lower-end miniDV cam. I am not sure if they sell it anymore, but any miniDV cam will work... afterall... a digital signal, is a digital signal. For my studio work I have a Panasonic AGDV2000. Works great. Hope this helps. Thanx,

June 1st, 2003, 02:13 AM	#363
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	AH yes of course! T just did a search for the "Panasonic AGDV2000" on Yahoo - could get any results. Just wanted to get a bview as to current prices? Cheers for the rapid response, Grazie

June 1st, 2003, 03:52 AM	#364
Chris Fangio Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Koblenz, Germany Posts: 70	DV In - this is normal. Take it as "DV connection active" ... TV Screen - Menus are not only displayed on the LCD, but also on a connected TV. This can be switched on or off. In PLAY(VCR) Mode and "Tape" selected, this function is mapped to the custom key, so i recommend you simply hit that button again and the message should disappear. This can be changed in CAMERA-Mode -> Menu -> Display -> TV Screen -> off 30°C here in Germany... great. Chris

June 1st, 2003, 04:03 AM	#365
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Thanx Chris. Cleared that up for me. Yesterday we reached 28°C - excellent BBq weather! Grazie

June 1st, 2003, 12:09 PM	#368
Tustin Larson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Springs, CA Posts: 86	Grazie, Yesterday it was 116F I can wait until July when it gets to be 128F. Isn't the desert great! =/ Thanx,

June 1st, 2003, 12:34 PM	#369
Ian Hutchinson New Boot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: RI Posts: 5	Nevermind it just goes to 10 seconds and still records. I don't know why it turned off that one time but its fine now. Thanks anyway.

June 2nd, 2003, 06:57 AM	#371
Miles Blow New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queensland Australia Posts: 7	hi guy's thanks for the feedback! It probably isnt worth posting any photos as you can only slightly notice the plug is a little bit wider at the bottom. We have been shooting all week using the fire wire cable so it looks like it still works ok it is just very loose. Tapeing down any cables you are useing to the tripode seems to work great. Thanks miles

June 2nd, 2003, 11:00 AM	#373
Justin Morgan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 189	Sorry - I should have been a little more specific. I'll be shooting in frame mode. I'm trying to take the 'edge' off the image - to try and achive a bit of a (here comes that dreaded phrase) 'film look'.

June 2nd, 2003, 11:10 AM	#374
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Most people find that frame mode is already softening things up quite a bit. Then there is also an extra sharpness setting on the camera that you can turn up the other way so that it softens the image. And there is post ofcourse. What I'm trying to say is: make sure you really need those filters before buying them. I don't have experience with them but I think frame mode with a bit of post work looks nice enough. But that is just my very humble opinion. Each has its own views on things and if yours include the need for filters by all means proceed. Sorry I cannot answer your more specific questions regarding the mentioned filters. There is another thread on filters running here __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 3rd, 2003, 12:59 AM	#375
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	ZR-1000: LANC Controller Had some Retail Therapy [ RT ] due to me . . . NO! I reeeeally needed it for a PubMuso thing I did last night, y'know! Honest! It wasn't just the ease with which I can now zoom - to get THE shot - I got fed up with climbing all over the XM2, finding the Zoom lever etc when the cammy is sitting on a tripod some 7 feet up in the air, and then nudging everything out of frame! I can now have the lcd pointing down at me, fluid head lever balanced in my right hand with the LANC just above my forefinger - neat! - Oh and the LANC Manual Focus works great too! I must say that the lcd is a bit far away - hmmm... maybe I should be thinking of extra external lcd bolted on the tripod OR better still, clipped in front of my spectacles? - oooh... now how can I justify some more RT - ;-) From a tad more poor . . . . Grazie . .. "Buddy can you spare a dime - wife 10 kids and an XM2 obsession to support"