Went from DVX100B to XH-A1s and it is way more complicated.

I need somebody in the Los Angeles area (I'm in Santa Monica) that knows this camera inside out and backward to go over the manual page by page with me and show me every single feature and setting. Not a general overview, but a detailed surgical overview.

Probably take about 3 to 4 hours and pays $100.

If interested, and you really feel confident that you can explain every single aspect and not insulted by $100, please contact me by e-mail at Olsensm@aol.com.

Kelly a lot of folk found this and worked their way through it. I'm not saying don't hire someone, but before you do, suggest you get a basic knowledge of your A1, and write out your questions based on what you want to shoot.

3 or 4 intensive hours cold with the A1 could well be major overload. Hang in there ... and here :)

Cheers.

I think the idea of this community is to help each other out for free. If you don't mind taking a drive to the valley, I'd be happy to take some time and take you through using the camera in Manual mode (which is the best way to get the most out of the camera, IMO).

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes, there is a lot of great information here on this site as well as a few others and people are very generous with their information. I learned so much when I had my Panny DVX100B. But as much as I learned from Barry Green's book on the DVX, I went to a guy who spent time with me and just made me more comfortable understanding the settings and how to use them.

I have been shooting 35MM SLR for years and I have been using a Canon Optura Pi DV camera for years, as well as the DVX, and it is amazing how similar the interface of the a1 is with the Optura. But the a1 is so much more complicated with getting to the settings and such and has so many more of them. But I know about aperture, shutter speeds, depth of field, lighting, sound and the basics of photography/videography.

I have started a documentary which is completely funded by my savings and I am lucky enough to have some celebrities be willing to be in it because they love the two people who are the subjects of the doc (Marty and Elayne from the movie "Swingers".)

I'm only mentioning "celebrities" (Drew Barrymore, Keifer Sutherland, Vince Vaughn and a few more so far) not to try to impress, but to show that I can't have them sitting in a chair for free with limited time and me fumbling around with the camera.

And yes, I should have somebody else work the camera, which I want, but I still need to know the camera for the interviews with the not so "special" people who I will be more relaxed around, but I still need to be competent with the camera.

As far as me going to the Valley, that is not a problem for me at all. I have a completely flexible schedule and available anytime, any day, and I appreciate the offer. The part about money is that I don't have a ton to throw around, but I never want to take advantage of anybody and money is one way of letting somebody know you value their time.

I do things and help people a lot and don't expect anything in return. But when asking strangers, I don't want to just presume that people know I'm a great guy and it will be fun helping me (Yea, sorry, I'm a guy for anybody that got confused by the girl's name).

So, yes, I still feel I need in person help, and yes, 3 or 4 hours may be too much, but I really want to be able to go over every page of the manual so that I have a pretty good understanding of it.

There is the distinct possibility that if there is somebody around here that wants to help me out now to get me to feel comfortable with the a1, then I would ask them if they want to do the camera for the actors mentioned above when I'm interviewing them (which I would pay something) and it would just be fun and could be used for a reel if you wanted.

Thanks again, and let me know.

Kelly
310-883-4705
Olsensm@aol.com

Sent you an email.

I'm only mentioning "celebrities" (Drew Barrymore, Keifer Sutherland, Vince Vaughn and a few more so far) not to try to impress, but to show that I can't have them sitting in a chair for free with limited time and me fumbling around with the camera.

GOOD GRIEF!! Thank goodness for cheap flights, just booked one to Cal.

Cheers.