HD10 Questions at DVinfo.net

David Gomez · October 31st, 2003, 12:25 AM

Hello everyone, would appreciate any info on the following,

1) XLR Adapter: Can a line input, say from a sound board be used on these XLR inputs or will the signal be too hot? Is there an attenuation switch to go from mic to line as mixing board signals tend to be so hot?

2) Will recording in 16:9 HD mode allow output to be recorded for a 480i 4:3 TV without lines on top and bottom.

3) Is the digital zoom usable in SD mode? Up to what digital magnification is usable before severe picture deterioration occurs? I definitely need more than the 10X optical.

4) Is the LCG flip out screen usable? Is the HD10 flip out screen a better quality than the consumer GR-HD1 screen?

5) What Telephoto lens are available for use with this camera? Where can you buy one?

6) How much are the batteries, and where can you buy extra batteries?

7) Any real advantage in picture quality over the consumer model GR-HD1?

8) Would you recommend this camera for concert footage recordings where the stage is not always well lit and the band is a bit far? Would the auto focus work well with the different color stage lights?

Really appreciate any help on these questions. Thanks to all who posted clips, the video from this camera looks awesome.

Lisa Lee · October 31st, 2003, 01:04 AM

I'm going to try and answer your biggest question

"Would you recommend this camera for concert footage recordings where the stage is not always well lit and the band is a bit far? Would the auto focus work well with the different color stage lights? "

a big and resounding NO.

This camera functions poorly under low light, and it desperately needs perfect lighting to look good. Auto focus constant seeks as it tries to find focus....you have to use manual especially in low light. Before I got the camera I heard people comment that you must treat this as a film camera and have the ideal film situation in order to get acceptable results, now after purchasing and using the camera I understand what they meant. For low light situations such as you describe, I would go with the standard sony 150 or XL1. The extra resolution means nothing if you only get crappy out of focus footage.

But if you do decide to get the camera for other purposes I would suggest using a SD monitor in the low light to help with focus. We recently shot a corporate event in relatively low light without a monitor and didn't end up using any of the footage because we couldn't get a decent focus. Ended up using our back up XL1 footage. With HD, you really need to have good focus or you'll will definitely see it in the results. And, that LCD is not sufficient for that purpose in the low light situations.

David Gomez · November 1st, 2003, 11:36 AM

Thanks for your response.

I have downloaded some pretty amazing nightime clips from this camera. I wonder if it would be possible to lock the focus on the stage since normally I am next to the soundboard, 200 feet away?

Ken Hodson · November 1st, 2003, 03:21 PM

Lisa, why do you use auto focus?

Lisa Lee · November 2nd, 2003, 03:44 AM

We don't use auto focus...he was asking if auto focus would work and I was just telling him what would happen if he tried using it in the dark. Though sometimes we'll use it only to get focus and then switch to manual.

Ken Hodson · November 2nd, 2003, 04:05 AM

Oh, I get ya. Sorry.
Ken

Lisa Lee · November 2nd, 2003, 04:31 AM

David,

Locking focus on this camera is basically switching to manual and leaving it there. So, yes you could do that. You should really see the quality of video this camera takes under poor lighting before you buy it though if concerts are going to be your primary reason to use it.

David Gomez · November 2nd, 2003, 10:17 AM

I guess the low light quality is pretty poor? I thought I read a review here where someone suggested it was as good as the Panny DVX or better under low light. Another poster suggested that the Mpeg compression reduced the amount of grain normally seen with DV.

<<<-- Originally posted by Lisa Lee : David,

Locking focus on this camera is basically switching to manual and leaving it there. So, yes you could do that. You should really see the quality of video this camera takes under poor lighting before you buy it though if concerts are going to be your primary reason to use it. -->>>

Lisa Lee · November 2nd, 2003, 03:07 PM

We have no experience with the Panny DVX, I can say its worse than an XL1 or PD 150 in low light. If you read the posts here you'll find many others saying the same thing. I found an HD10 at my local Ritz camera store to look at before purchasing through B & H.

Les Dit · November 2nd, 2003, 08:41 PM

I have a question for those that are focusing in manual mode: What is the depth of field like, in situations where the lens is wide open?
Say in a dim location, just how much is in focus?
Can you actually see the focus state with the LCD well enough to cover your depth of field?
Do they do any extra image enhancement for LCD focus aid reasons, like som,e digital still cameras?

Also, when left on 'auto' focus, how much 'hunting' and popping do you get in focus?

Thanks
-Les

Stephen L. Minor · November 3rd, 2003, 05:29 PM

Les,

I think the lens is very good on the HD10. DOF is very goodwith the lens wide, but i like to use the wide conversion lens adapter.

Coming from a canon XL1 , which anyone who has used this cam knows auto focus hunts all over the place. I found the JVC to be a breath of fresh air,it's quick and soild. I still shoot maunal focus anyway.

-s

October 31st, 2003, 12:25 AM	#1
David Gomez Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 50	HD10 Questions Hello everyone, would appreciate any info on the following, 1) XLR Adapter: Can a line input, say from a sound board be used on these XLR inputs or will the signal be too hot? Is there an attenuation switch to go from mic to line as mixing board signals tend to be so hot? 2) Will recording in 16:9 HD mode allow output to be recorded for a 480i 4:3 TV without lines on top and bottom. 3) Is the digital zoom usable in SD mode? Up to what digital magnification is usable before severe picture deterioration occurs? I definitely need more than the 10X optical. 4) Is the LCG flip out screen usable? Is the HD10 flip out screen a better quality than the consumer GR-HD1 screen? 5) What Telephoto lens are available for use with this camera? Where can you buy one? 6) How much are the batteries, and where can you buy extra batteries? 7) Any real advantage in picture quality over the consumer model GR-HD1? 8) Would you recommend this camera for concert footage recordings where the stage is not always well lit and the band is a bit far? Would the auto focus work well with the different color stage lights? Really appreciate any help on these questions. Thanks to all who posted clips, the video from this camera looks awesome.

November 1st, 2003, 03:21 PM	#4
Ken Hodson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 1,315	Lisa, why do you use auto focus? __________________ Damnit Jim, I'm a film maker not a sysytems tech.

November 2nd, 2003, 04:05 AM	#6
Ken Hodson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 1,315	Oh, I get ya. Sorry. Ken __________________ Damnit Jim, I'm a film maker not a sysytems tech.

November 2nd, 2003, 08:41 PM	#10
Les Dit Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Southern Cal-ee-for-Ni-ya Posts: 608	depth of field? I have a question for those that are focusing in manual mode: What is the depth of field like, in situations where the lens is wide open? Say in a dim location, just how much is in focus? Can you actually see the focus state with the LCD well enough to cover your depth of field? Do they do any extra image enhancement for LCD focus aid reasons, like som,e digital still cameras? Also, when left on 'auto' focus, how much 'hunting' and popping do you get in focus? Thanks -Les

November 3rd, 2003, 05:29 PM	#11
Stephen L. Minor Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: L.A., CA Posts: 35	Les, I think the lens is very good on the HD10. DOF is very goodwith the lens wide, but i like to use the wide conversion lens adapter. Coming from a canon XL1 , which anyone who has used this cam knows auto focus hunts all over the place. I found the JVC to be a breath of fresh air,it's quick and soild. I still shoot maunal focus anyway. -s __________________ -S

October 31st, 2003, 01:04 AM	#2
Lisa Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 86	I'm going to try and answer your biggest question "Would you recommend this camera for concert footage recordings where the stage is not always well lit and the band is a bit far? Would the auto focus work well with the different color stage lights? " a big and resounding NO. This camera functions poorly under low light, and it desperately needs perfect lighting to look good. Auto focus constant seeks as it tries to find focus....you have to use manual especially in low light. Before I got the camera I heard people comment that you must treat this as a film camera and have the ideal film situation in order to get acceptable results, now after purchasing and using the camera I understand what they meant. For low light situations such as you describe, I would go with the standard sony 150 or XL1. The extra resolution means nothing if you only get crappy out of focus footage. But if you do decide to get the camera for other purposes I would suggest using a SD monitor in the low light to help with focus. We recently shot a corporate event in relatively low light without a monitor and didn't end up using any of the footage because we couldn't get a decent focus. Ended up using our back up XL1 footage. With HD, you really need to have good focus or you'll will definitely see it in the results. And, that LCD is not sufficient for that purpose in the low light situations.

November 1st, 2003, 11:36 AM	#3
David Gomez Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 50	Thanks for your response. I have downloaded some pretty amazing nightime clips from this camera. I wonder if it would be possible to lock the focus on the stage since normally I am next to the soundboard, 200 feet away?

November 2nd, 2003, 03:44 AM	#5
Lisa Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 86	We don't use auto focus...he was asking if auto focus would work and I was just telling him what would happen if he tried using it in the dark. Though sometimes we'll use it only to get focus and then switch to manual.

November 2nd, 2003, 04:31 AM	#7
Lisa Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 86	David, Locking focus on this camera is basically switching to manual and leaving it there. So, yes you could do that. You should really see the quality of video this camera takes under poor lighting before you buy it though if concerts are going to be your primary reason to use it.

November 2nd, 2003, 10:17 AM	#8
David Gomez Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 50	I guess the low light quality is pretty poor? I thought I read a review here where someone suggested it was as good as the Panny DVX or better under low light. Another poster suggested that the Mpeg compression reduced the amount of grain normally seen with DV. <<<-- Originally posted by Lisa Lee : David, Locking focus on this camera is basically switching to manual and leaving it there. So, yes you could do that. You should really see the quality of video this camera takes under poor lighting before you buy it though if concerts are going to be your primary reason to use it. -->>>

November 2nd, 2003, 03:07 PM	#9
Lisa Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 86	We have no experience with the Panny DVX, I can say its worse than an XL1 or PD 150 in low light. If you read the posts here you'll find many others saying the same thing. I found an HD10 at my local Ritz camera store to look at before purchasing through B & H.