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Author Topic: replace cameras?  (Read 7748 times)

Mike Butler (media)

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Re: replace cameras?
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2005, 11:39:51 PM »

Mike Noth wrote on Sun, 18 December 2005 21:59

...and the Client provided a Sony PD-170 that we used handheld onstage, with a 200' composite run to the video village.  For what its worth, that little camcorder held its own far better than I ever dreamed it would.  We had really good control of the light, as well as the processing and projection, but you can get really good results from these prosumer units...
That's egg-ZACK-lee what I'm talkin' about, Mike. Be it handheld or on sticks, you can get a lotta mileage out of these puppies, and turn around and use them for field production when you're not busy doing this gig. Actually, I've used them for both on the same project...hooked up for I-Mag during general session, out runnin'n'gunnin' to create a happy-face reel in the off-peak hours. Worked like a charm.
Smile
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Weogo Reed

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Re: replace cameras?
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2005, 08:32:41 PM »

Hi Mike and Mike,

"Hey Weogo, fancy running into you here."  

Digital boards and recording, video, whatever it takes.
I must confess I have yet to even lurk on the lighting board...   :-  )


"Lots of good ideas here, here's a few more. As previously mentioned, camera-only cameras are in a totally higher price range, so you'll wind up looking at some camcorders in the prosumer/entry-level-pro range. I have successfully used cams like the Canon XL1 for live projection, and the image has been excellent. Bottom line, stick with a 3-chip cam. Many of the ones in this range are impressive with low light."

Panasonic AG-DVC30, with three 1/4" CCDs, is the current first choice.  About $1500.

It appears that right now, camcorders are similar to computers in that they are rapidly improving and coming down in price.  Maybe a few years from now I'll buy a couple used Panasonic HVX200s with flash storage for a grand!



"Now, what to do with the present cams that are being retired from this duty: use them as recording decks and ditch the VHS. Despite the fact that they have inferior (1-chip) imaging systems, this portion of them will not be used, and their tape transports must conform to Mini-DV recording standards, which has twice the lines of resolution of VHS, to say nothing of significantly better color reproduction. I have been very satisfied using this as a low-budget solution, and it should work well for you until you have the funds for a DSR-11 or similar standalone DV deck."

We just got a Sony VRD-VC20 stand-alone DVD burner.

Great idea on using the old mini-cams as decks!


"Markertek is good, so is Full Compass. So is B&H."

Yep, have dealt with all three.


"I have run S-Video at lengths exceeding 50', but maybe I have gotten lucky."  

Good!


"For long runs of composite video, I like to use RG-6/U coaxial cable to minimize line loss."

How long is long?


"Here's a low-cost alternative for the D/A although I do like the BNCs on that Kramer. Definitely use a D/A whatever brand instead of daisy-chaining or Y-splitting."

I've seen the DA you posted, or very similar, on several sites.  Does it pass a quality signal?


"Like Mike said, utilitarian is the mantra."

I'm lobbying for quality, not quantity!


"Client provided a Sony PD-170 that we used handheld onstage, with a 200' composite run to the video village. For what its worth, that little camcorder held its own far better than I ever dreamed it would."

Alas, the Sony PD-170 is a bit beyond the budget.(Twice the price of the Panasonic.)  It has three 1/3" CCDs.


"hooked up for I-Mag"

Ummm, what's I-Mag?

Thanks and good health,  Weogo
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Mike Noth

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Re: replace cameras?
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2005, 11:15:44 PM »

I-Mag = Image magnification.  Live camera shot on the screen so the people in back can see.

I-Min = Image Minification.  Live camera shot on the screen that is either 1) zoomed out too wide or 2) projected on too small of a screen because someone was cheap resulting in the onscreen image to be physically smaller than the actual person onstage.  Generally considered to be in poor taste.

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Mike Butler (media)

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Re: replace cameras?
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2005, 11:36:50 PM »

Weogo Reed wrote on Mon, 19 December 2005 20:32

Digital boards and recording, video, whatever it takes.
I must confess I have yet to even lurk on the lighting board...   :-  )

Me either. The only lighting I do is camera lighting.

Weogo Reed wrote on Mon, 19 December 2005 20:32

Panasonic AG-DVC30, with three 1/4" CCDs, is the current first choice.  About $1500.
Not bad for the money, a good deal, should work.


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Mike Butler (media)

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Re: replace cameras?
« Reply #14 on: December 19, 2005, 11:49:39 PM »

Weogo Reed wrote on Mon, 19 December 2005 20:32

"For long runs of composite video, I like to use RG-6/U coaxial cable to minimize line loss."

How long is long?

>50' but your mileage may vary.

Weogo Reed wrote on Mon, 19 December 2005 20:32

I've seen the DA you posted, or very similar, on several sites.  Does it pass a quality signal?
I used the 7-out version to drive a stack of dubbing decks, quite successfully. But the fact that it is both audio and video in one box, which is important for tape duplicating and saved me from having to buy separate audio and video DAs, is not of particular value to your application. The video-only Kramer has nice BNCs and since all of the purchase price goes into video amplification with no audio circuitry, it may be better-performing.


Weogo Reed wrote on Mon, 19 December 2005 20:32

I'm lobbying for quality, not quantity!

Me too, but I'm a stickler for practicality and simplicity versus sheer glitz. That's what I mean by utilitarian.

Weogo Reed wrote on Mon, 19 December 2005 20:32

Ummm, what's I-Mag?


I guess the other Mike is a little quicker to answer. Yes, image magnification, projection of live video. Closeups of the talent up on the big screen.
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Weogo Reed

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Re: replace cameras?
« Reply #15 on: December 20, 2005, 10:29:43 AM »

Hi Mike and Mike,

"I-Mag = Image magnification. Live camera shot on the screen so the people in back can see."

Ahhh, this makes sense!


"I-Min = Image Minification. Live camera shot on the screen that is either 1) zoomed out too wide or 2) projected on too small of a screen because someone was cheap resulting in the onscreen image to be physically smaller than the actual person onstage. Generally considered to be in poor taste."

I've seen those little people before   : -  )


Thanks both of y'all for the good info!

Good health,  Weogo
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