Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share at DVinfo.net

Alan Angel · September 28th, 2013, 03:12 PM

My HM600 arrives on Monday so I would like to ask if any of you HM600 or 650 owners have any good tips on setting it up that you wish you knew when you first acquired your camera.

I remember when I got my Sony Z5 it took me a while to get everything just right, don't get me wrong I will be doing a load of my own tests but I just thought there may be a few really handy tips that you picked up that may save me a few headaches.

Jody Arnott · October 1st, 2013, 05:55 PM

I've had my HM600 since January so I know a lot about it.. But I can't think of any "tips" off the top of my head. If you have anything specific you want to know, ask away ;)

William Hohauser · October 1st, 2013, 08:34 PM

I'm trying to think of some too but the camera is so cooperative I can't come up with any yet.

Alan Angel · October 3rd, 2013, 02:30 AM

Yeah I was just wondering what you set your temps/colours as I assume the default is a bit poor. Also what button assignments you are using.

I have not had the chance yet to do any filming am still digesting the manual when I get a hour or so free but I will be out with it this weekend and will be making adjutments to the colour temp and setting as well as setting up the buttons.

William Hohauser · October 3rd, 2013, 02:52 PM

I have been editing footage from the HM600 with delivered footage from a Sony HD camera overseas. I have found that the HM600 has better color with the defaults settings but the sharpness is less. You might experiment with uping the sharpness in camera although I have been using sharpening filters while editing and that looks good.

Alan Angel · October 4th, 2013, 12:47 PM

Yeah I read somewhere that the picture is not that sharp but I must say the footage I have seen looks great. One thing that puzzled me today was that after searching the box there is no warranty card, the seller told me that JVC don't give you a warranty card but just use the invoice date as they have a record of the sale.

Jody Arnott · October 4th, 2013, 05:53 PM

Yeah I've noticed the footage isn't overly sharp. Apparently keeping the aperture around f5.6 is the sweet spot for that lens. I tend to add a bit of sharpening in my NLE which helps a bit too.

I wonder if it's a codec issue or the lens. I'd be interested to see some samples from the camera that have been recorded uncompressed to an external recorder.

Alan Angel · October 6th, 2013, 05:28 PM

Finally got to do a couple of hours filming today and must say I love the camera, it just seems to look much better than the Z5 stuff I used to shoot, especially skin tones.

There are a couple of things like the inability to use the rocker zoom as well as the ring zoom without having to flick a switch.

I also have trouble using the LCD in daylight, I have the backlight on high but it's not very bright. I also had trouble doing a tight focus on a yellow flower, it ended up with the stalk in perfect focus and the flower slightly fuzzy, I was in manual and using the LCD so maybe it was bad filming due to the poor LCD visibility. Maybe I should try peaking.

I noticed the colour was a bit washed out so I will have to make a few adjustments, I miss the picture profiles from the Z5.

Overall though I am very impressed with the quality, it's a nice light camera, easy to hold, has an awesome lens and indoors the large LCD is brilliant.

Jody Arnott · October 6th, 2013, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Angel

Finally got to do a couple of hours filming today and must say I love the camera, it just seems to look much better than the Z5 stuff I used to shoot, especially skin tones.

There are a couple of things like the inability to use the rocker zoom as well as the ring zoom without having to flick a switch.

I also have trouble using the LCD in daylight, I have the backlight on high but it's not very bright. I also had trouble doing a tight focus on a yellow flower, it ended up with the stalk in perfect focus and the flower slightly fuzzy, I was in manual and using the LCD so maybe it was bad filming due to the poor LCD visibility. Maybe I should try peaking.

I noticed the colour was a bit washed out so I will have to make a few adjustments, I miss the picture profiles from the Z5.

Overall though I am very impressed with the quality, it's a nice light camera, easy to hold, has an awesome lens and indoors the large LCD is brilliant.

I also had issues with the LCD being hard to see in daylight, so I bought this:
Hoodman H-400 Hood H-400 B&H Photo Video

Fits perfectly, I wouldn't leave home without it now.

The viewfinder is good too, but I find it's too small to use for fine-tuning focus. Great for framing up shots though.

Alan Angel · October 23rd, 2013, 12:30 PM

Just picked a Hoodman up, £17 and worth every penny, thanks for the heads up.

I am working my way through the manual, finding the focus assist very good as the manual focus is not as easy as my Z5, or maybe I am getting old and my eyesight is not as good ;)

I am up to white balance but I can't seem to find an option that will allow me to change the white balance on the fly. What I mean is that when I had the Z5 I had a little wheel that I could manually adjust to add warmth or cold to the picture by simply turning the dial -7 to +7 I found this very useful.

September 28th, 2013, 03:12 PM	#1
Alan Angel Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Durham, UK Posts: 33	Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share My HM600 arrives on Monday so I would like to ask if any of you HM600 or 650 owners have any good tips on setting it up that you wish you knew when you first acquired your camera. I remember when I got my Sony Z5 it took me a while to get everything just right, don't get me wrong I will be doing a load of my own tests but I just thought there may be a few really handy tips that you picked up that may save me a few headaches.

October 1st, 2013, 05:55 PM	#2
Jody Arnott Major Player Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Hamilton, New Zealand Posts: 747	Re: Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share I've had my HM600 since January so I know a lot about it.. But I can't think of any "tips" off the top of my head. If you have anything specific you want to know, ask away ;)

October 1st, 2013, 08:34 PM	#3
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share I'm trying to think of some too but the camera is so cooperative I can't come up with any yet. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

October 3rd, 2013, 02:30 AM	#4
Alan Angel Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Durham, UK Posts: 33	Re: Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share Yeah I was just wondering what you set your temps/colours as I assume the default is a bit poor. Also what button assignments you are using. I have not had the chance yet to do any filming am still digesting the manual when I get a hour or so free but I will be out with it this weekend and will be making adjutments to the colour temp and setting as well as setting up the buttons.

October 3rd, 2013, 02:52 PM	#5
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share I have been editing footage from the HM600 with delivered footage from a Sony HD camera overseas. I have found that the HM600 has better color with the defaults settings but the sharpness is less. You might experiment with uping the sharpness in camera although I have been using sharpening filters while editing and that looks good. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

October 4th, 2013, 12:47 PM	#6
Alan Angel Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Durham, UK Posts: 33	Re: Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share Yeah I read somewhere that the picture is not that sharp but I must say the footage I have seen looks great. One thing that puzzled me today was that after searching the box there is no warranty card, the seller told me that JVC don't give you a warranty card but just use the invoice date as they have a record of the sale.

October 4th, 2013, 05:53 PM	#7
Jody Arnott Major Player Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Hamilton, New Zealand Posts: 747	Re: Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share Yeah I've noticed the footage isn't overly sharp. Apparently keeping the aperture around f5.6 is the sweet spot for that lens. I tend to add a bit of sharpening in my NLE which helps a bit too. I wonder if it's a codec issue or the lens. I'd be interested to see some samples from the camera that have been recorded uncompressed to an external recorder.

October 6th, 2013, 05:28 PM	#8
Alan Angel Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Durham, UK Posts: 33	Re: Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share Finally got to do a couple of hours filming today and must say I love the camera, it just seems to look much better than the Z5 stuff I used to shoot, especially skin tones. There are a couple of things like the inability to use the rocker zoom as well as the ring zoom without having to flick a switch. I also have trouble using the LCD in daylight, I have the backlight on high but it's not very bright. I also had trouble doing a tight focus on a yellow flower, it ended up with the stalk in perfect focus and the flower slightly fuzzy, I was in manual and using the LCD so maybe it was bad filming due to the poor LCD visibility. Maybe I should try peaking. I noticed the colour was a bit washed out so I will have to make a few adjustments, I miss the picture profiles from the Z5. Overall though I am very impressed with the quality, it's a nice light camera, easy to hold, has an awesome lens and indoors the large LCD is brilliant.

October 23rd, 2013, 12:30 PM	#10
Alan Angel Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Durham, UK Posts: 33	Re: Any GYHM600 Tips you would like to share Just picked a Hoodman up, £17 and worth every penny, thanks for the heads up. I am working my way through the manual, finding the focus assist very good as the manual focus is not as easy as my Z5, or maybe I am getting old and my eyesight is not as good ;) I am up to white balance but I can't seem to find an option that will allow me to change the white balance on the fly. What I mean is that when I had the Z5 I had a little wheel that I could manually adjust to add warmth or cold to the picture by simply turning the dial -7 to +7 I found this very useful.