Ted Bragg
July 1st, 2003, 06:31 PM
I'll be working under controlled lighting and enviroments for about 90% of all shots.
Occassionally, we'll shoot locations/exteriors.
I've been eyballing the XL1s for its lens ability and its 24p mode. I've seen sample clips of this camera in action and pretty much sold on it.
Here's what I need:
1. Ability to hook up external CRT monitor: I never trust LCD or viewfinders when it comes to videocams. Can the XL1s hook up to a s-video or RCA jacked unit?
2. SMPTE timecoding: syncing up audio and video is a pain I hope to never mess with again. THe pros at the local news station tell me find a camera that supports SMPTE. I don't see much room on a miniDV tape to record that extra data. Is that a DVC Pro only deal?
Are there add-ons that can aid in syncing a/v during post for miniDV?
3. Can the XL1s, or any DV based camera for that matter, record STRAIGHT to a computer harddrive via firewire, skirting the tape drive altogether?
Newtek had a VideoFlyer once (analog based) that used a SCSI drive to store the m-jpeg footage...haven't seen one like it in a long time.
4. Much of our footage will be color tweaked in post and FX added. Is the XL1 suited for this type of application? Would another type of cam be better used for FX shots?
5. Which lens is the weapon of choice for XL1s users? I know one lens can't do everything, but for general purpose, sharp picture, which manual focus lens is rec.?
6. I've been told GREEN is the best color to use for DV cam chromakey. The newsroom uses smurf blue.
7. We'll need some type of motion tracking software. Is Commotion what people mean when they talk about MT? Combustion? After Effects?
Occassionally, we'll shoot locations/exteriors.
I've been eyballing the XL1s for its lens ability and its 24p mode. I've seen sample clips of this camera in action and pretty much sold on it.
Here's what I need:
1. Ability to hook up external CRT monitor: I never trust LCD or viewfinders when it comes to videocams. Can the XL1s hook up to a s-video or RCA jacked unit?
2. SMPTE timecoding: syncing up audio and video is a pain I hope to never mess with again. THe pros at the local news station tell me find a camera that supports SMPTE. I don't see much room on a miniDV tape to record that extra data. Is that a DVC Pro only deal?
Are there add-ons that can aid in syncing a/v during post for miniDV?
3. Can the XL1s, or any DV based camera for that matter, record STRAIGHT to a computer harddrive via firewire, skirting the tape drive altogether?
Newtek had a VideoFlyer once (analog based) that used a SCSI drive to store the m-jpeg footage...haven't seen one like it in a long time.
4. Much of our footage will be color tweaked in post and FX added. Is the XL1 suited for this type of application? Would another type of cam be better used for FX shots?
5. Which lens is the weapon of choice for XL1s users? I know one lens can't do everything, but for general purpose, sharp picture, which manual focus lens is rec.?
6. I've been told GREEN is the best color to use for DV cam chromakey. The newsroom uses smurf blue.
7. We'll need some type of motion tracking software. Is Commotion what people mean when they talk about MT? Combustion? After Effects?