Comments on: DV Dilettante Buyer's Guide http://tleaves.com/2005/02/02/dv-dilettante-buyers-guide/ Creativity x Technology Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:09:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Meredyth http://tleaves.com/2005/02/02/dv-dilettante-buyers-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-933 Meredyth Thu, 10 Feb 2005 02:56:19 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=298#comment-933 Hi Peter, One of the things I've noticed when looking at other people's DV is the serious non-use of polarizing filters. Yes, I know it is Pittsburgh, and the sun does not shine all that often, but a filter is still a handy thing to use when filming outside. I've noticed that a polarizing filter plus cleaning the lens before use and using a tripod does wonders to make video look better. Hi Peter,

One of the things I’ve noticed when looking at other people’s DV is the serious non-use of polarizing filters. Yes, I know it is Pittsburgh, and the sun does not shine all that often, but a filter is still a handy thing to use when filming outside. I’ve noticed that a polarizing filter plus cleaning the lens before use and using a tripod does wonders to make video look better.

]]> By: peterb http://tleaves.com/2005/02/02/dv-dilettante-buyers-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-932 peterb Fri, 04 Feb 2005 12:58:43 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=298#comment-932 You shouldn't have corrected yourself -- I thought you were being witty. And thanks for the comments and advice! You shouldn’t have corrected yourself — I thought you were being witty.

And thanks for the comments and advice!

]]> By: Chetan http://tleaves.com/2005/02/02/dv-dilettante-buyers-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-931 Chetan Fri, 04 Feb 2005 06:08:24 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=298#comment-931 "sceptimism" ! WTF ? Well... you all know what I meant there. “sceptimism” ! WTF ? Well… you all know what I meant there.

]]> By: Chetan http://tleaves.com/2005/02/02/dv-dilettante-buyers-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-930 Chetan Thu, 03 Feb 2005 22:46:22 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=298#comment-930 I can vouch for the emphasis on audio quality vs. video quality. That is sound (har har) advice. A word of caution though, while an external mic makes getting better audio _possible_ , it doesn't make it _easier_. You have to be even more careful of your environment when the mic that's picking up the sound for you is a few (or perhaps many) feet away from your ears. In other words, you *must* monitor the sound you're capturing through a good pair of headphones connected to the camera's phono output. (but since you saved so much money buying the cheaper camera in the first place.... ) One thing that I completely disagree with is Peter's sceptimism about the "prosumer" cameras. There's a definite jump in _useful_ features from the consumer to the prosumer quality cameras. The problem is, if you don't already know about those features, you'd probably never hear about them in consumer oriented magazine advertising, reviews etc. I'm talking about features like: XLR inputs, useful manual white balance, zebra stripes, manual zoom ring (instead of the abominable rocker switch), manual audio gain control, manual exposure control, higher quality lenses and yes, a better on-camera microphone (set far enough away from the body of the camera to actually reduce motor noise... this, combined with manual audio gain control, can get you pretty decent sound for everyday purposes). Another problem with aforementioned prosumer cameras, you can't buy cameras with features that I mentioned above in the US $1000 range. But you *can* buy some of those features in ~ $2000 range dvcams. A couple of random examples: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=246041&is=REG http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=255811&is=REG http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=303956&is=REG You can find relative bargains if you hunt around for the next to latest models on these lines (e.g canon GL-1 or Sony VX2000 or VX1000) which are still far far superior to latest model consumer cameras when it comes to capturing good clean video and audio. I can vouch for the emphasis on audio quality vs. video quality. That is sound (har har) advice. A word of caution though, while an external mic makes getting better audio _possible_ , it doesn’t make it _easier_. You have to be even more careful of your environment when the mic that’s picking up the sound for you is a few (or perhaps many) feet away from your ears. In other words, you *must* monitor the sound you’re capturing through a good pair of headphones connected to the camera’s phono output. (but since you saved so much money buying the cheaper camera in the first place…. )

One thing that I completely disagree with is Peter’s sceptimism about the “prosumer” cameras. There’s a definite jump in _useful_ features from the consumer to the prosumer quality cameras. The problem is, if you don’t already know about those features, you’d probably never hear about them in consumer oriented magazine advertising, reviews etc. I’m talking about features like: XLR inputs, useful manual white balance, zebra stripes, manual zoom ring (instead of the abominable rocker switch), manual audio gain control, manual exposure control, higher quality lenses and yes, a better on-camera microphone (set far enough away from the body of the camera to actually reduce motor noise… this, combined with manual audio gain control, can get you pretty decent sound for everyday purposes).

Another problem with aforementioned prosumer cameras, you can’t buy cameras with features that I mentioned above in the US $1000 range. But you *can* buy some of those features in ~ $2000 range dvcams. A couple of random examples:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=246041&is=REG
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=255811&is=REG
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=303956&is=REG

You can find relative bargains if you hunt around for the next to latest models on these lines (e.g canon GL-1 or Sony VX2000 or VX1000) which are still far far superior to latest model consumer cameras when it comes to capturing good clean video and audio.

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