Canon HV30 still worth getting?

Tom Hardwick · March 11th, 2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Rotter

I can photograph a bride who is 10' from me with the background all out of focus....with video.....doesn't seem like I can do that?!

Imagine you were photographing this bride onto 2¼" square film in a Hasselblad, you'd get soft fore and backgrounds, right? Now you pick up your phone and take a 5 mp still of the bride, and everything's sharp right to infinity, again - right?

What you're seeing is this: it's all about chip sizes, and therefore focal lengths. So the smaller the chips, the less likely it is that you'll get the differential focus effects you're after.

So you can't say, 'with video it can't be done'. It can be done with an EX1 (½" chips) but probably not with a PDX10 (1"/5 chips).

Your HV30 is a goodie - it has 1"/2.7 chips - bigger than in an XH, HMC, Z or FX.

tom.

Joel Peregrine · March 13th, 2009, 07:24 PM

Hi Terry,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry Lee

Thanks for the info Brian
For anyone in search for a better 35mm adapter solution for your 20/30 and soon to be 40s, there are cheaper alternatives. RNC35 and twoneils. Google these two names. I have heard good reviews about the twoneils adapters. But do your research!

Thanks for lead on twoneils. I ordered one today. Also ordered a Nikon 50 F1.4. Should be fun!

Joel Peregrine · April 14th, 2009, 02:45 AM

Just a follow-up:

I bought a twoneil adapter - no achromat so there is a little vignetting. I actually like the look - I often add a subtle vignette anyway. I sent my HV30 away for the FlipHack while I waited for the adapter to arrive as well as purchased a 50mm 1.4 off of ebay for $60. My father-in-law crafted a bracket so I can mount the camera upside-down on a tripod or monopod. Short movie of that here, using the adapter and lens a day after the adapter arrived:

~ Flip it ~

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel Peregrine

Hi Terry,

Thanks for lead on twoneils. I ordered one today. Also ordered a Nikon 50 F1.4. Should be fun!

Tom Hardwick · April 14th, 2009, 02:51 AM

Ace little film Joel. That adapter sure makes your little HV look like $15000 on screen - and that's what matters.

Joel Peregrine · April 14th, 2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Hardwick

Ace little film Joel. That adapter sure makes your little HV look like $15000 on screen - and that's what matters.

Thanks Tom! Its a fun little rig. And at 24 fps and 1/24th shutter the low-light sensitivity is pretty good. I've got to watch out for dust though. There's a piece that shows up a lot. I did order the achromat lens - will hopefully make the edge-to-edge sharpness better and lessen the vignetting at the expense of a longer lens.

Joel Peregrine · April 15th, 2009, 09:13 AM

Just a shot of the configuration:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...1&d=1239808363

Taky Cheung · April 21st, 2009, 11:53 PM

I use my XH-A1 as main cam. Then an HV30 as B-roll cam. A second HV30 mounted on Merlin steadicam. Both HV30 works well.

April 15th, 2009, 09:13 AM	#36
Joel Peregrine Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 689	Just a shot of the configuration: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...1&d=1239808363 Attached Thumbnails

April 21st, 2009, 11:53 PM	#37
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	I use my XH-A1 as main cam. Then an HV30 as B-roll cam. A second HV30 mounted on Merlin steadicam. Both HV30 works well. __________________ LA Color Pros Blog RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator

April 14th, 2009, 02:51 AM	#34
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Ace little film Joel. That adapter sure makes your little HV look like $15000 on screen - and that's what matters.