The "zoom microphone" typically has multiple pickup elements. The zoom effect amounts to varying the mix of sound from the several elements to electronically change the net pickup pattern to make it more focused on things in front of the mic and to increase rejection of sounds from the sides and back.

I believe that they are mainly seen in the consumer market. However, I can't say how well they work, but probably not as well as the corresponding fixed pattern mic for any given 'zoom' setting.

A shotgun mic has a pickup pattern that is focused to the front and provides a greater rejection of sound from the sides and back - perhaps by a factor of 10 or more depedning on the frequency of the sound. Shotgun mics usually do this by having long pickup tubes (a bit like a shotgun barrel) with slots that provide acoustic cancellation of the sound waves from the side and back.

I don't think there is any list, at least not to my knowledge. Just
USE the camera. Put tape in it, record varying things. I did that
at least because I was curious to see what it would and would
not do.

Just do the things that makes the most sense to you and can
satisfy you!

Congratulations Jim! You're in for a real treat. It's a fine camera.

There is one anomaly, documented first in this thread, then more recently in this thread which you should check for. Please read through the first thread completely. I know it's long but it's worth the read.

Have fun, Jim!

Pentax: best filters for my XM2 (GL2) ?
 

Hi, I've heard that Pentax filters are thes best. I want to buy a polarizer and a UV filter. I 've found these 2:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh1.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist_html___41637___PEUV58___REG___CatID=0___SID=F32F2 70CEC0

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh1.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist_html___40964___PECP58___REG___CatID=0___SID=F32F2 70CEC0

(I haven't found how to enable HTML: sorry)


Do I need an adaptator for these 2 filters? (if you have a link...)

Is there any others filters that does the same good job and cheaper?

Thank in advance.

filters are a subjective thing: some say b+w, some heliopan and others swear by hoya. i went for pentax baby!!!!

i'm planning on gettng a pentax polarizer in the future. the hoya shmc filters are very good option also (cheaper). i've been told that pentax filters are made with hoya glass and rings and they apply their own patented coating. the heliopan multiple coating (uv) filters are hard to get (special order) but they have the best of both worlds: schott glass/brass rings and a pentax formula based multicoating.

in europe you might a better deal on these filters than we can. good luck in your choice.

p.s. - no filter adaptor is needed if the xm2 has the same 58mm thread as the gl2. all in all the hoya shmc is the best bang for the buck (at least here in the us)!

I have a B+W filter on my GL2. Very very nice, and pretty cheap. Great filter! You won't be disappointed.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh5.sph/...ID=F2B75AC2CA0

problems with xm2
 

Hi, I'm pretty new to this forum. I've been reading messages for a couple of months and find it very helpful.
I bought xm2 about a week ago and started noticing a strange thing. It's hard to see through a viewfinder or lcd but on a tv screen I can clearly see how images are distorted at the edges. It's like a slight fish-eye effect. I tried filming in frame and normal modes and also with and without a UV filter. The distortions are very noticeable especially when I pan accross something vertical like buldings. I tried viewing some still shots on my pc and I get the same problem. So I think it might be something with the lense.

Did anybody have anything like this? Any advice? Should I just take it back?

Thanks for your help.

That's strange. There must be something wrong with the cam. See if you can have it replaced or repaired, since it is a new cam.

A picture would help. If you have the lense at its widest setting
some distortion will occur as well (naturally).

RGB flickering in low light
 

I was doing some tests last week and one of them was zooming and focussing to a grey carpet in my room while lights were rather low.
What I saw was some red, green, blue "flickering" in the pixels ...
Could this have something to do with my UV filter? (Prinz UV filter - I'm going to update it to a B+W soon)
Or is this typical for low light conditions ... ?

Where you in interlaced or progressive/frame mode?

This was in interlaced mode (no frame mode).
If I notice this in other situations, I'll post a recording online ...

Bart

One guess would be that it has something to do with the light source-- it may be deviating slightly from the standard frequency (I believe 50hz in most of europe), thus causing a barely perceptible flicker at normal light levels-- It may be that under low light that the added gain in the camera's processing is enhancing this problem. Or what you are seeing is simply the camera noise while it trys to "re-create" the grey carpet in low light----this would typically be a mosaic of red green and blue pixels that would pulsate somewhat, but if you stand 10 feet away from the TV would look like a grey carpet.

Barry

Effects of filters on lens, GL2
 

If I put a Tiffen Uv filter between my GL2 and my 58HD wide angle lens, Will it change the focal length or any other factor in the lens while I am shooting.
Thank you
This is a great forum, I just got my GL2.
Thomas

I put a Hoya UV filter between my WD58H and the camera and shot a little bit with and without the filter...I saw no discernable difference. I might have seen a little tiny bit more barrel distortion with the UV filter on, but my eyes may have decieved me.

Technically, yes, most filters change the focal length of the lens. B + W makes a big point of designing their filters not to effect the focal length. Leica (E. Leitz) also designs their filters not to effect focal length. In practical terms, it is usually not very noticeable. The change of focal length changes the DOF and how DOF scales and charts are applied.

w/ XLR adapter: set audio on camera/adapter?
 

Hello,
I have a new GL-2 with a Sign Video XLR Pro adapter, enabling me to use a condenser lav mic. I have a question about where to manually adjust the audio levels: do I set the camera controls to maximum, and regulate the audio on the adapter, or do I set the levels on the adapter to maximum and adjust the audio levels on the camera? Does it make any difference at all? From my initial testing with headphones, I can't discern a difference. Thanks.
Chris

You should set the camera's audio levels to about 2/3 the way to max level and adjust with the xlr adapter. IF the audio isn't loud enough, then start turing up the camera's audio level. Some camera's have a slight distortion when they are cranked up all the way. That's why I say to START at 2/3 of max level. Charles

Sony ECM S959C
 

Hi folks,
i've found a dealer of the mic in subject.
I've to use it for live music recording with my personal XM1.
Do you think it's a good choise?
Thanks

i will help you listening some audio tracks recorded with those microphone.
Enjoy your listening and write me back your impressions please
Bye

www.nomasi.com/rmbl/sndtrck001.html

GL2 AV/TV Manual mode workflow???
 

Hey guys,

coming from using an XL1S and switching over to the GL2, I find myself in a small jam. I prefer the picture quality and sharpness of the GL2 but the control knobs or lack thereof are causing me some problems- let me explain;

today while shooting some vid of a hawk in a tree, the hawk moves from a light sky background and sometimes back into a shaded darker tree-limb background- the GL2 would try to expose correctly for whatever scene was being shot- going into manual mode is a bit of a pain as I have to press the Menu button then fumble through menus til i get the AV-TV M modes- because 1 button controls all these functions- my video is looking erratic as on the fly adjustements are a bit cumbersome to control smoothly. On the XL with the Iris and Shutter speeds being on different dials- you could theoretically change these settings on the fly and keep a constant video going without changing the look of the video drastically-......

...is there a workaround to having TV and AV on the same push dial? Or should I return this GL2 (only 2 days old) to B&H and get a Panasonic DVX?
(Pan has external Iris control etc)

1 dial performing both AV/TV is a bit of a drawback for my shooting style....I really hope some of you guys can explain how you shoot smoothly with your GL's in Manual mode while making changes while video is running....any words??
Thanks guys.

Hello Steve,
Unfortunately there's no shortcut for switching program modes on the GL2. I, too, would like to see the GL2's mode selection placed on an analog control rather than a menu.

Hey, last I recall weren't you shooting with a JVC Streamcorder?

Recording Dialogue on the GL2 built in mic
 

I'm curious what everyone's experience is with recording dialogue on the GL2's built in mic. Is the sensitive enough to make the dialogue sound rich and dynamic? Does it sound warm and professional, or tinny and "home-video" like? Can you shoot a scene and expect respectable audio?

I plan to purchase a shotgun mic at some point in the future, but budget won't allow it for some time. I'd like to get some idea of whether this mic can handle the quality expectations one might have for filming a short movie or commercial.

Any opinions?

Ken,

No- I was contemplating a Streamcorder and despite it's 700+ lines of resolution- it never did receive glowing reviews on- or offline.....

I did however buy a Panasonic AG DVX100 today.....and already I have 2 problems;

lack of zoom.....I think the DVX zooms around 5X or so, not good for the nature videography I like to do.....

secondly....my Firestore (which i was gonna sell) wont seem to accept commands from the DVX (DV)..I can get it to start recording, but I have to manually stop the recording process on the Firestore itself (button).not a good deal......
I've spent a ton of money on what is essentially a hobby for me ($7000 this week alone!) and I can't find the ideal setup (although the Apple 23" HD Cinema Display has been great).....if i can figure out how to get the Firestore and DVX to work erfectly (stop and start recording from the camcorder with no input to the FS unit itself) then i'd be a happy camper...as for the lack of zoom on the DVX, B&H tells me Century is working on an add-on lens to increase the zoom capabilities.....time will tell......


If Canon- put Shutter and aperature controls on the outside of the cam, the GL2 would have been perfect!!
So far the XL1S is the best for long range videography- improve the lens sharpness and it would be an all out winner.

...pluggin away with the FS and DVX til i got this stuff working right.

For TV, I don't think it's good enough. You don't need a shotgun mic to dub in voice. Get a mic for voice. I don't think they cost that much, unless you want the best.

For good, rich sound you need to have the mic close to the person speaking. No way around this. Even shotguns do best if within a few feet of the speaker. Put the GL that close to the person speakign and it will sound OK too. - but then the speaker's nose gets fat <g> in the image.

HELP! XM2 records black and white from external source
 

I was hoping to record some images from a TV show in about an hour.
I've just set up my camera and connected an S-video cable from the TV external output (through scart) and another cable for the audio.

I'm able to record the image and the sound onto DV tape but the colors are black and white, while the TV show is colored.

What could this be and what should I do in order to record in color mode???

OK, the manual shows to use an S-video cable, but I've just disconnected the S-video cable and connected the yellow cinch cable.
Now I'm using only one AV cable, the one with white, red (audio) and yellow connector.

AND .... this works. I'm recording colors now.

Does still anyone knows why the colors were black and white when using an s-video cable?
I thought this cable was the best quality option.
Also the manual says to use an s-video cable ....

Probably a bad (broken wire, bent pin) S-Video cable. I would try a different cable first. If you try a cable that is known to be good and it's still B & W then I would suspect one of the connectors is at fault. But try a different cable first and we can trouble shoot from there.

Why set up DV Control "ON"?
 

Hi folks!

I've just been re-reading the XM2 Manual.

It tells me I can set this function DV Control "ON". So far I've never done this. I use the XM2 to capture to Sonic Foundry's VideoFactory 2.0 and Vegas Video 3. Having never used this function, it appears to operate without me doing this - why should I invoke this function? What am I missing out on? - If it is there, there must be a reason - yes?

As far as I can tell and see, DV control works for Capture and Print To Tape.

However, sometimes I get a blue screen. For example 3 episodes in a 59min project. The Cammy and firewire external MAXTOR hard drive momentarily stop - 0.5 second - and then continue down the project. I have always thought this is a "feature" of my Dell Inspiron's fan/s callout to the BIOS, tripping up 1394 flow. Yes, that's correct! Mr Dell has a laptop design that allows the BIOS to be influenced by the fan/s temperature controller - GO FIGURE!

So . .. I don't think it is the XM2 "DV COntrol ON" feature. I was getting this when using an analogue Panasonic AND a relative's DV Sony. So.... I really don't think it is this function would improve this. BUT I'm open to suggestions.

Regards

Grazie

DV control is used when you are linking two devices on through
firewire and you want to control the other device (slave) from your
GL2 (master). In other words, if you hit record on your GL2 the
other machine will record the signal on its tape or harddisk (given
that this device understands DV control).

You do not need it when capturing, that is another thing and
will always work.

I hope this explains it a bit for you!

Regarding the blue screen, what OS are you using? It is not a
DELL feature that the laptop controls it CPU and fans speeds
and what not. All of almost all the laptops out there do that
so they can preserve battery power and give you longer times
to work with it!! You will not need the same CPU capacity when
you are doing word processing instead of watching a DVD.

But you can turn this off (I have done that). You can enter the
bios and change how the laptop handles the CPU etc. (be careful
not to change anything else in there!). Also you get setup windows
to not cut back on power etc. If you don't know how to change
such settings I suggest to get someone who knows how to do
it (computer expert).

Good luck!

Thanks Rob.

I had a thought that this might be the case, ie Device<>Device control.

OS WinME.

I really am interested how you changed the BIOS settings. Be rest assured, I will not do this until I've made other enquiries.

So, what you are saying is that the PTT is a CPU intensive function and that for some reason the CPU pulls in power therby "tripping-up" the 1394 flow - yes? This makes sense. Now how one goes about nullifying this would be well worth knowing. And yes I can also understand and appreciate that this type of function would be to conserve battery power. However, all my DV editing/capturing/PTTing is done with the laptop "docked" and powered by the mains. So are you saying there is something one can adjust to allow the CPU know it is getting mains voltage and doesn't need to access the fan/s using some form of power or CPU activity to redirect?

As I said, please give me a clue and I'll either email you directly and/or consult with others on this.

Thanks in advance

Grazie

WinME is definitely not the best OS for such work and could
easily explain your BSOD. Most people either use Windows 2000
Professional or Windows XP Prof. They are a lot more stable
for such things.

If you want to know what I changed in my BIOS etc. please
send me an e-mail at visuar@iname.com

Good luck.

Polarizing filters for GL2
 

I wish to get a Polarizing filter for my GL2.
Do I need any special kind??
Does any one here have any experience with this filter on a GL2?
Thank you for your help.
Tom

I'd just recommend getting the best circular polarizer you can afford. Do a Search on "polariz" and you'll turn up dozens of threads on this subject. This was a recent discussion.

Mixing Frame & Normal footage for edting
 

I will be getting Adobe Premiere next week for editing footage from my GL2.
If I have shot footage in diffrent modes , will it edit correct if it is De-interlace /Interlaced, Normal/Frame mode footage mixed ?
Thank you

VHS to DV Yea!
 

Ok So It can be done. But Do I need A vcr that has S video Cable In put? I am haveing trouble doing this. Can Some one please help me step by step if possable. Thanks.

Thomas,
Premiere will have no trouble mixing frame-mode and standard mode footage. In fact, it will have no idea which is which; they're both just NTSC (29.97 frames/sec) footage as far as the program's concerned.

Once you get your feet wet with Premiere you'll want to begin inspecting and comparing your footage closely (with a good pro monitor if possible). It may lead you to decisions concerning how to best use and/or mix these modes effectively for your work.

No, you don't need S-VHS connection. Page 103 of the GL2 (English) manual presents the essence of the process.

ME-66 Shockmount Options
 

Hi All,

I've been looking for a good shock mount for the ME-66. What do you recommend?

On the BH Photo site I've seen the Sennheiser MZS-CAM Shock mount... any experience with this model? Any other suggestions? Would love any recommendations.

Also, if anyone has any good experience with one type of boom pole or another, I'd love to hear...

Thanks!
Noka