Various questions Sony HC1

Peter Ferling · July 4th, 2006, 11:46 AM

Capture highest possible rez (1080i). Edit, then downconvert in software to DV. It's better quality than letting the camera do the down convert in hardware.

Until I get HD-DVD or Blueray, I'm rendering out back to cineform M2T and running a master back to tape via Cineform HDlink.

Jason Livingston · July 27th, 2006, 10:20 AM

Hey everyone, for the first time I need to connect 2 mics to my HC1. I'm going to be doing interviews in a potentially noisy environment and I need a mic on both the interviewer and interviewee. I already bought a 2x mono L/R->stereo minijack adapter, so I can physically connect both mics no problem.

My question is what should I do about audio levels? The two mics put out very different sound levels. If I leave the HC1 in AGC, will it seperately adjust the L/R gain, or will it adjust until one of the channels is right and the other will be too low? If I use manual gain then I can't adjust the channels independantly, so I'm not sure what I should do... any advice? Thanks!

Charlie Vankirk · July 27th, 2006, 10:58 AM

Jason,

I would suggest that if you are going to use the camera for taping things other than the "home video" type that you get one of these....

A Beachtek DXA-2s

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

It works wonderfully for me when I want more than 1 mic and want to be able to control the levels individually!

Plus it gives you the great feature of having XLR inputs!!

It was worth every penny even though I don't use my camera as often as I'd like to....

There are other models from Beachtek out there that have more features but for me and my HC1!

Check out my camera here:
http://blog.helpcharliegetwell.com/

Note: (I made a cold shoe adapter for my Rode VideoMic), The Beachtek adapter is the black box on the bottom of my camera.

I hope that helps!

Charlie

Stu Holmes · July 27th, 2006, 11:26 AM

Hi Charlie

good suggestion on that Beachtek unit.

does it supply phantom power? if not then aren't you a little restricted to using XLR-connection mics that have internal battery power? Whats the equivalent Beachtek box (fairly small for fitting to something like HC1) with phantom power?

thanks

Jose Vazquez · September 27th, 2006, 06:58 AM

Hello everyone. This weekend I am going to record a drag racing event for my cousin who is racing his car. It is expected to be a bright and sunny Fall day. What settings should I use as a starting point to get the most out of my HC1?

I want to know if I should use manual white balance or the preset WB. Also, Should I change the shutter speed at all? Lastly, can I and/or should I use infinite focus so that I don't have any issues video taping from the starting line all the way to the finish line (1/4 mile)?

Anyway, thanks in advance for all the great help everyone provides on this awesome site.

-Jose

Douglas Spotted Eagle · September 27th, 2006, 07:33 AM

Were it me...
Manual white balance (always)
Autofocus off
No problem being set to infinity, particularly if you're on a sunny day.
You might consider a UV filter, and potentially a circular polarizer if it's really hot on the track.

Jose Vazquez · September 27th, 2006, 10:56 AM

Douglas,

Thank you for the prompt response. I will try your suggestions this weekend. Once I have the footage I will post a small portion of it.

Again, thank you for your timely response.

-Jose

Jung Kyu · October 14th, 2006, 03:30 AM

hc1 footage

http://www.camuser.co.kr/cam_vm/VID_...D_720p_001.wmv

Selim Abdullai · October 14th, 2006, 01:52 PM

Very nice footage.

What settings did you use? What did you do in post-production? What program did you use?

Jack D. Hubbard · November 19th, 2006, 02:41 PM

Hi All,

I am looking for an HC-1, either used or new. Anybody know any dealers who still sell it?

Regards,

Jack Hubbard

Boyd Ostroff · November 19th, 2006, 02:45 PM

Jack, the only dealers which we discuss in the DVinfo forums are our sponsors. You will find the full list here: http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors/

If someone wants to recommend a non-sponsor, please do so by sending an e-mail. Thanks for your understanding.

Rick Gnehm · November 25th, 2006, 10:44 AM

Got a HC1 about 6 months ago and it's great-except just recently the LCD screen stopped working except when the screen is rotated to just one position. I think the wire (ribbon) is bad. Any suggestions on the problem or where I can get parts?

Chris Harris · November 25th, 2006, 12:03 PM

Looks like someone else had a similar problem not too long ago.
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=78647
You might want to look into sending it in for repairs.

Rick Gnehm · November 25th, 2006, 01:43 PM

Thanks Chris Harris for showing that old post. My camera has the exact same problem. Not quite sure what to do-that is why I thought this forum might help. Whatever I do, I will post the results.

Jack D. Hubbard · November 28th, 2006, 12:23 AM

Hi Boyd,

Thanks for the info. For the most part, I have discovered the HC-1 is out of production and hard to find. No new ones anywhere. I finally got one on eBay, used. This is for a relative who is getting started in the business and who is on a budget. The HC-1 has been a great camera for me; I have used it or had other people shoot for me in DC, London, Turkey, and Guatemala. It is a great camera for a rookie, and brings back good usable video if you hold the camera still. There are no deals on the HC-1 that I can see on web sites. Broadway camera, for example says it is in stock; but when you go to the site it is out of stock and the want to sell you the HC-3. (My first choice, B & H is out of stock). But for basics, the HC-1 does better work and is more user friendly. It has headphone inputs, manual focus, etc. I originally asked the question because I could not find it through the sponsor channels.

Regards,

Jack

July 4th, 2006, 11:46 AM	#121
Peter Ferling Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wyomissing, PA Posts: 1,141 Images: 57	Capture highest possible rez (1080i). Edit, then downconvert in software to DV. It's better quality than letting the camera do the down convert in hardware. Until I get HD-DVD or Blueray, I'm rendering out back to cineform M2T and running a master back to tape via Cineform HDlink. __________________ Pete Ferling http://ferling.net It's never a mistake if you learn something new from it. -------------------------------------------

July 27th, 2006, 10:20 AM	#122
Jason Livingston Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 71	HC1 and using 2 mics Hey everyone, for the first time I need to connect 2 mics to my HC1. I'm going to be doing interviews in a potentially noisy environment and I need a mic on both the interviewer and interviewee. I already bought a 2x mono L/R->stereo minijack adapter, so I can physically connect both mics no problem. My question is what should I do about audio levels? The two mics put out very different sound levels. If I leave the HC1 in AGC, will it seperately adjust the L/R gain, or will it adjust until one of the channels is right and the other will be too low? If I use manual gain then I can't adjust the channels independantly, so I'm not sure what I should do... any advice? Thanks!

July 27th, 2006, 10:58 AM	#123
Charlie Vankirk Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Las Vegas,NV Posts: 41	Get one of these! Jason, I would suggest that if you are going to use the camera for taping things other than the "home video" type that you get one of these.... A Beachtek DXA-2s http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search It works wonderfully for me when I want more than 1 mic and want to be able to control the levels individually! Plus it gives you the great feature of having XLR inputs!! It was worth every penny even though I don't use my camera as often as I'd like to.... There are other models from Beachtek out there that have more features but for me and my HC1! Check out my camera here: http://blog.helpcharliegetwell.com/ Note: (I made a cold shoe adapter for my Rode VideoMic), The Beachtek adapter is the black box on the bottom of my camera. I hope that helps! Charlie

September 27th, 2006, 06:58 AM	#125
Jose Vazquez Tourist Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 3	HC1 setting to record drag racing Hello everyone. This weekend I am going to record a drag racing event for my cousin who is racing his car. It is expected to be a bright and sunny Fall day. What settings should I use as a starting point to get the most out of my HC1? I want to know if I should use manual white balance or the preset WB. Also, Should I change the shutter speed at all? Lastly, can I and/or should I use infinite focus so that I don't have any issues video taping from the starting line all the way to the finish line (1/4 mile)? Anyway, thanks in advance for all the great help everyone provides on this awesome site. -Jose

September 27th, 2006, 07:33 AM	#126
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Were it me... Manual white balance (always) Autofocus off No problem being set to infinity, particularly if you're on a sunny day. You might consider a UV filter, and potentially a circular polarizer if it's really hot on the track. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

July 27th, 2006, 11:26 AM	#124
Stu Holmes Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 844	Hi Charlie good suggestion on that Beachtek unit. does it supply phantom power? if not then aren't you a little restricted to using XLR-connection mics that have internal battery power? Whats the equivalent Beachtek box (fairly small for fitting to something like HC1) with phantom power? thanks

September 27th, 2006, 10:56 AM	#127
Jose Vazquez Tourist Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 3	Douglas, Thank you for the prompt response. I will try your suggestions this weekend. Once I have the footage I will post a small portion of it. Again, thank you for your timely response. -Jose

October 14th, 2006, 03:30 AM	#128
Jung Kyu Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 143	hc1 footage hc1 footage http://www.camuser.co.kr/cam_vm/VID_...D_720p_001.wmv

October 14th, 2006, 01:52 PM	#129
Selim Abdullai Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Huntley, IL Posts: 45	Very nice footage. What settings did you use? What did you do in post-production? What program did you use?

November 19th, 2006, 02:41 PM	#130
Jack D. Hubbard Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Menlo Park, CA Posts: 342	Hc-1 Hi All, I am looking for an HC-1, either used or new. Anybody know any dealers who still sell it? Regards, Jack Hubbard

November 19th, 2006, 02:45 PM	#131
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Jack, the only dealers which we discuss in the DVinfo forums are our sponsors. You will find the full list here: http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors/ If someone wants to recommend a non-sponsor, please do so by sending an e-mail. Thanks for your understanding.

November 25th, 2006, 10:44 AM	#132
Rick Gnehm Tourist Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bellevue, Washington Posts: 3	Problem with HC1 LCD. Got a HC1 about 6 months ago and it's great-except just recently the LCD screen stopped working except when the screen is rotated to just one position. I think the wire (ribbon) is bad. Any suggestions on the problem or where I can get parts?

November 25th, 2006, 12:03 PM	#133
Chris Harris Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 487	Looks like someone else had a similar problem not too long ago. http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=78647 You might want to look into sending it in for repairs.

November 25th, 2006, 01:43 PM	#134
Rick Gnehm Tourist Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bellevue, Washington Posts: 3	same exact post as a year ago Thanks Chris Harris for showing that old post. My camera has the exact same problem. Not quite sure what to do-that is why I thought this forum might help. Whatever I do, I will post the results.

November 28th, 2006, 12:23 AM	#135
Jack D. Hubbard Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Menlo Park, CA Posts: 342	Hc1 Hi Boyd, Thanks for the info. For the most part, I have discovered the HC-1 is out of production and hard to find. No new ones anywhere. I finally got one on eBay, used. This is for a relative who is getting started in the business and who is on a budget. The HC-1 has been a great camera for me; I have used it or had other people shoot for me in DC, London, Turkey, and Guatemala. It is a great camera for a rookie, and brings back good usable video if you hold the camera still. There are no deals on the HC-1 that I can see on web sites. Broadway camera, for example says it is in stock; but when you go to the site it is out of stock and the want to sell you the HC-3. (My first choice, B & H is out of stock). But for basics, the HC-1 does better work and is more user friendly. It has headphone inputs, manual focus, etc. I originally asked the question because I could not find it through the sponsor channels. Regards, Jack Last edited by Jack D. Hubbard; November 28th, 2006 at 02:43 PM.