Questions from a new owner

[Bill Edmunds]

I just bought the HVX200 today! So far I like it a lot (what a monster it is!), but have some questions:

- the manual/auto audio control is confusing. Every camera I've owned in the past has a simple auto/manual setting for each audio channel. This one doesn't. It seems you can't have one channel in auto and another in manual. And it also seems that auto is a relative term; that adjusting the audio "wheel" affects the audio level even when in auto.

- Is there a black stretch function? I don't see one.

- Is the peaking function adjustable?

- what detail level are you using? Just curious.

That's it for now. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I continue to use the unit!

[Barry Green]

Originally Posted by Bill Edmunds

- the manual/auto audio control is confusing.

There is no auto audio control of any type. There's only an audio limiter, not an automatic level control.

- Is there a black stretch function? I don't see one.

Not per se, but you can stretch the blacks by raising the master pedestal some. Or by choosing the low gamma.

- Is the peaking function adjustable?

Unfortunately no, it's just on/off.

- what detail level are you using? Just curious.

In high-def I'm usually pretty liberal with it, I rarely go below 0 and usually run two to three points plus. Sometimes, depending on the shot, I'll run as high as +7, but keep in mind that that's still really mild; +7 on the HVX equates to about -6 on the JVC HD100 so even at full maximum it's still rather mild. Jim Arthurs recommends -3 if shooting greenscreen for the cleanest edges.

[Bill Edmunds]

Originally Posted by Barry Green

There is no auto audio control of any type. There's only an audio limiter, not an automatic level control.

It's confusing... they call it ALC, which to me means auto level control.... which sounds like it would be the same as auto audio control.

[Scott Auerbach]

Too funny... I was just writing a response, and was going to refer one of your questions to Barry. Went to check on something for a moment, and Barry had already responded. (This is why we love ya, man!)

One issue:... I thought the peaking was adjustable from 80 to 100%??? Am I remembering wrong?

[Barry Green]

Originally Posted by Scott Auerbach

One issue:... I thought the peaking was adjustable from 80 to 100%??? Am I remembering wrong?

Zebras, not peaking. And in the zebras it's from 50% to 105%.

ALC = Audio Limiter Control. Yes it's confusing, other cameras have used those same initials to mean Automatic Level Control, but that's not how the HVX (or DVX) use it.

[Scott Auerbach]

Originally Posted by Barry Green

Zebras, not peaking. And in the zebras it's from 50% to 105%.

whoops. Too late at night. I think I was remembering the zebra options on my old Betacam.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Originally Posted by Barry Green

Jim Arthurs recommends -3 if shooting greenscreen for the cleanest edges.

Interesting... That's a good tip there - I would have thought a + value would be more logical. I haven't had the chance to try greenscreen with the HVX yet, but I'll try to remember this. :)

[Bill Edmunds]

Another question: is the zoom/record remote input the same thing as LANC control?

[Scott Auerbach]

Originally Posted by Bill Edmunds

Another question: is the zoom/record remote input the same thing as LANC control?

Same idea, yeah, though I believe the Panasonic protocol is different from Canon and Sony... there are remotes that are specific to the Panasonic. The Varizoom PZFI and the Bebob Foxi seem to be the two popular units at the moment. The Foxi gives finer control, but it's two separate units (one for focus & iris, and another for zoom). The Varizoom is cheaper and combines all three into one unit (though you can't operate all three parameters at once... the rocker is shared between focus and zoom I think, and is switched)

If you search the archives on those two units, you'll find some user reports.

[Bill Edmunds]

Originally Posted by Scott Auerbach

Same idea, yeah, though I believe the Panasonic protocol is different from Canon and Sony

So I guess I can't use my Canon LANC controller?

[Robert Lane]

Bill,

LANC is specific to Sony and Canon, Panasonic and JVC use a different electrical setup, so they're not compatible.