Re: 5 things about the C300
 

I did say I was an *ex* JVC owner. :) I meant though that other manufacturers had not adopted the form factor due to its lack of popularity overall, not that it was what was holding the HD100 type cameras back from wide success.


Sareesh, the XL1 was not a shoulder mount camera, but instead had a brace that folded out to snug up to your shoulder for a third contact point. I liked it, though lots of people hated it. The optional XLR adapter had a shoulder pad (IIRC) and it wasn't until the XL2 that they made the shoulder pad/XLR ports a full time addition. Having said that, the shoulder mount was mostly useless as the weight was 90% over the front of the camera unless you got an AB adapter and hung bricks over the back. Anyway, even Canon now has ditched the shoulderable cameras completely.

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

Is it just me, or:

• Isn't manipulating a heavy camera on a perfectly designed fluid head+support a tactile pleasure to use?
  
• Doesn't a perfectly balanced shoulder mounted camera become an extension of your body, as opposed to a box-in-your-palm, which is actually a pain in the wrong place?

Sure there's a workout involved either way. But are we exercising the right muscles?

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

Actually I too thought it was a bold move on their part, trying to bridge the gap between both designs. It's a pity they didn't pursue it.

Just wish we had a 2K camera that didn't take that many years out of our lives, eh?

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

I'm still very surprised at 56 IRE for skin tones with standard gamma. 56 IRE is normally used as the top end of the window for a mid grey card (42-56) with standard gamma, not skin tones which are typically 60-70 IRE. Of course if it works for you, then who am I to say your wrong, just surprised.

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

Missed a bunch of stuff here as I was embroiled in a couple of busy work days. Yesterday I was finishing up a project I've been shooting that was a lot of fun, a spoof of "The Bachelor" which we shot on unadorned Sony F800's. I didn't have operators on the pickup day yesterday so I ended up with the camera on my shoulder for a scene in a limo and I noticed for the umpteenth time that the classic Betacam form factor is a darn good one. The camera is perfectly balanced on the shoulder, the weight is just enough to keep it stable but not so much as to wear one down (all day long would be another story, but not terrible). That to me is still the classic "pro" video camera form factor, which goes back roughly to the TK76 (which emerged about the same time as the SR1).

I didn't think anyone considered the PD150/XL1 cameras as being "pro"--I'm pretty sure the term "prosumer" was already in use at that time. And yes, Dylan, of course I was using that class of camera back then, why do you think I showed up on this site?! The XL1 was my first serious camcorder purchase, to be followed by the XL1s, DVX100, A1...none of which I ever enjoyed shooting handheld, always found them to be an abomination. On an extensive handheld EX3 shoot a few years ago I took pains to mount the camera on a baseplate with long rods and a brick battery to get the damn thing on my shoulder one way or another. After the emergence of the JVC HD100, which finally got the right idea, I thought that the other manufacturers would follow suit, and the HD version of the XL series would have a clamp-on back section to turn it into a shoulder mount camera--but amazingly, Canon, Sony and Panasonic still continue to turn out handheld cameras with poor ergonomics.

David: Garrett is still putting on the rig at workshops, but he retired a while ago from operating on movies. Not to say he wouldn't be physically up to the challenge (at 70, God bless him) but as he says, he got tired of riding around in passenger vans! Steadicam, while certainly a great deal of weight, does have the advantage of being well-distributed on the operator's body, while a heavy handheld rig is of course biased entirely on one side which can be far more stressful on the body even at a substantially reduced weight. I used to shoulder a dressed-up Genesis or F35 with SRW deck onboard, a good 50lbs of camera and I was not happy with the way it torqued the spine, which Steadicam never did (the film equivalents like BL's and Platinums were about the same, but generally with 400 ft loads restricting takes to 4 minutes, unlike the "keep shooting" mantra of the HD world).

And finally, back to yesterday's "Bachelor" spoof shoot ... it would be hard for me not to mention that said scene placed me in the back of a limo in the solo company of Jennifer Aniston for 15 minutes--a chance to reminisce about our last time working together (Office Space)! She was very pleasant--and cute.

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

The tens of thousands of professional videographers that make livings on them generaly consider them pro cameras. The term "prosumer" does them a disservice.

You weren't here just for me?

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

Dylan, you weren't supposed to tell anyone our little secret...

Anyway, I can see what you are saying about the prosumer badge.To me the term "professional" means one who is paid for what they do. It does get more dodgy when talking about equipment. There are some camera features that certainly feel professional, such as XLR inputs vs minijack, or removable lenses with proper servo zooms vs built in zooms with stepped servos. But of course, over the years the separation between manufacturer's divisions have blurred and an inexpensive camera can produce footage that will satisfy the requirements of the network engineers, etc.

Still, the terms professional and prosumer were used by the manufacturers to delineate their products lines especially back in the emerging days of DV, so it feels appropriate to refer to them as such. No statement intended about their users.

I just remembered how cool it was to shoot elements for "Scrubs" on my XL1 that were played back on a TV within the scene (mock news footage etc). Production loved it because it was a cheaper rental than a Betacam which was the usual way to do it, and I liked the idea of owning a camera that was good enough to pass muster for that application. When it came time to sell, I mentioned in the eBay description that the camera had been used on "Scrubs" and it sold quickly for top dollar! (along those lines, anyone want to buy my Steadicam used on "Act for Valor" and "Nocturne"?? haha).

Well, we should probably get back to the C300 now.

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

Oh yeah, the C300...!

I think I was saying, if you can handhold an EX1 you can handhold a C300 (If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball!) It's nothing new in terms of basic ergonomics (a monitor and handle around a loaf of bread) and weight.


Damn, now I'm thinking how nice it would be if every camera was made like the HD100...

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

Very well put. Unfortuntely "prosumer" has acquired a negative ring and that's a shame. It nicely describes cameras like the PD150, and if that camera gets used by somebody for payment - they are a professional.
Ah yes...... but if you can handhold either of them for x minutes, you can handhold a HD100 for twice as long! :-)

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

Just one thing to consider with the C300 is that the hand grip is towards the rear of what is a very short camera. Put a 24-70mm L series lens on it (as many will) and you cannot hold it single handed for more than a minute as all the weight is in the lens, it's really front heavy. Most handy cams have longer bodies and the grip is usually closer to the centre of gravity.

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

True: found this out this afternoon. The hand grip seems to be on the right place when you shoot without lenses ;-)
I also think it would be nice when the hand grip can be adjusted, just like an EX1R can: push button and rotate.

Re: 5 things about the C300
 

Put the 24-70 on any camera it fits on, and that camera will instantly become front heavy. :-)
(and I'm not sure why you would ever single-hand a camera of this size, configuration and weight)

FWIW, I spent my birthday week in NYC toting around the C300 with the 17-55 2.8L IS. First, it's an incredibly useful configuration, I had no problems with the weight or size, (and I'm a wimp)...Second, I was able to get tripod quality tilts and lock-downs hand-held, and thirdly...when shopping for a "travel bag" for the c300...I've never seen such curious salesman at b&h...("can I hold it?")