Getting Started! Need your input at DVinfo.net

Dan Lahav · October 22nd, 2003, 08:41 PM

I plan on getting started in the DV realm and want to make sure I have all the *basic* purchases covered before I start:

1. Camera - dvx100
2. External Mic - Senheisser ME66
3. Tripod - Bogen 3011BN legs and a 3433 (501)
4. Lighting kit (probably going to rent this one)
5. Firewire/USB expansion card (my computer has no firewire port...not sure which one to get though)
6. NLE - I have access to vegas, avid, premiere and after effects
7. DVD burner

This list does not include minor accessories I will aquire later on such as a case, tapes, filters, etc. These are only the very basic items i believe i need to get started without burning through too much cash. Please give me any input on anything else I might need to get started, or if something on the list can be better. Thanks!

Gints Klimanis · October 22nd, 2003, 08:45 PM

Get an extra disk drive and an additional battery, since those included with cameras are often kinda small. You may want a lapel mic and possibly a wireless microphone kit.

Glenn Chan · October 22nd, 2003, 09:19 PM

Get a firewire card- USB is no good for capturing video. A FW card is $30 or less from newegg.com. If you want to go cheaper then check prices on pricewatch.com.

Dan Lahav · October 22nd, 2003, 10:13 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Glenn Chan : Get a firewire card- USB is no good for capturing video. A FW card is $30 or less from newegg.com. If you want to go cheaper then check prices on pricewatch.com. -->>>

Hey Glen- Actually it's a 2xUSB/ 2x Firewire card in one. I need the extra USB slots as well :)

PS> do you think an AMD 1.4ghz Athlon w/ 512 RAM will hold up ok for now as far as video editing?

Dan Lahav · October 22nd, 2003, 10:55 PM

I plan on getting started in the DV realm and want to make sure I have all the *basic* purchases covered before I start:

1. Camera - DVX100
2. External Mic - Senheisser ME66
3. Tripod - Bogen 3011BN legs and a 3433 (501)
4. Lighting kit (probably going to rent this one)
5. Firewire+USB expansion card-in-one (my computer has no firewire ports...not sure which one to get though)
6. NLE - I have access to vegas, avid, premiere and after effects
7. DVD burner
8. possible upgrade from my AMD 1.4ghz Athlon w/ 512 RAM to P4 3GHZ w/ 1Gig RAM (id prefer not to do this unless you guys think it's *really* necessary)

This list does not include minor accessories I will aquire later on such as a case, tapes, filters, etc. These are only the very basic items i believe i need to get started without burning through too much cash. Please give me any input on anything else I might need (ie anything I shouldnt live without) to get started, or if something on the list can be better. Thanks!

Glenn Chan · October 22nd, 2003, 11:46 PM

Which Athlon is that? Not the Opteron right?

The processor might be a little slow depending on what you do and which NLE you use. Try it out for a bit and see if you need to upgrade. I see you have lots of "backups" of software... testing wouldn't be a problem I guess.

Dylan Couper · October 23rd, 2003, 01:49 AM

You'll need something to mount your ME66 on the camera, or a boom setup. Plus a windscreen for it. Add a few hundred bucks, minimum, either way.
However, microphones are a great thing to rent, since you may not always use it, depending on what you are doing.
Renting the light kit is smart too.

Dan Lahav · October 23rd, 2003, 10:15 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Dylan Couper : You'll need something to mount your ME66 on the camera, or a boom setup. Plus a windscreen for it. Add a few hundred bucks, minimum, either way.
However, microphones are a great thing to rent, since you may not always use it, depending on what you are doing.
Renting the light kit is smart too. -->>>

what part(s) are these specifically?

Sean R Allen · October 23rd, 2003, 10:30 AM

I would absolutely recommend you buy a UV filter either before or at the same time as your camera so you can put it on the second you take the camera out of the box.

Dylan Couper · October 23rd, 2003, 02:23 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Dan Lahav : <<<-- Originally posted by Dylan Couper : You'll need something to mount your ME66 on the camera, or a boom setup. Plus a windscreen for it. Add a few hundred bucks, minimum, either way.
However, microphones are a great thing to rent, since you may not always use it, depending on what you are doing.
Renting the light kit is smart too. -->>>

what part(s) are these specifically? -->>>

Check out this link.
Zotzs Digital's Lightwave section
Lighwave makes good equipment, and will cover the basics of what you need from on camera mounts to booms. Zotz Digital is a very trustworthy seller, and one of the forum's sponsors as well.

October 22nd, 2003, 08:41 PM	#1
Dan Lahav Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: CA Posts: 172	Getting Started! Need your input I plan on getting started in the DV realm and want to make sure I have all the basic purchases covered before I start: 1. Camera - dvx100 2. External Mic - Senheisser ME66 3. Tripod - Bogen 3011BN legs and a 3433 (501) 4. Lighting kit (probably going to rent this one) 5. Firewire/USB expansion card (my computer has no firewire port...not sure which one to get though) 6. NLE - I have access to vegas, avid, premiere and after effects 7. DVD burner This list does not include minor accessories I will aquire later on such as a case, tapes, filters, etc. These are only the very basic items i believe i need to get started without burning through too much cash. Please give me any input on anything else I might need to get started, or if something on the list can be better. Thanks!

October 22nd, 2003, 10:55 PM	#5
Dan Lahav Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: CA Posts: 172	Getting Started! Need your input I plan on getting started in the DV realm and want to make sure I have all the basic purchases covered before I start: 1. Camera - DVX100 2. External Mic - Senheisser ME66 3. Tripod - Bogen 3011BN legs and a 3433 (501) 4. Lighting kit (probably going to rent this one) 5. Firewire+USB expansion card-in-one (my computer has no firewire ports...not sure which one to get though) 6. NLE - I have access to vegas, avid, premiere and after effects 7. DVD burner 8. possible upgrade from my AMD 1.4ghz Athlon w/ 512 RAM to P4 3GHZ w/ 1Gig RAM (id prefer not to do this unless you guys think it's really necessary) This list does not include minor accessories I will aquire later on such as a case, tapes, filters, etc. These are only the very basic items i believe i need to get started without burning through too much cash. Please give me any input on anything else I might need (ie anything I shouldnt live without) to get started, or if something on the list can be better. Thanks!

October 23rd, 2003, 01:49 AM	#7
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	You'll need something to mount your ME66 on the camera, or a boom setup. Plus a windscreen for it. Add a few hundred bucks, minimum, either way. However, microphones are a great thing to rent, since you may not always use it, depending on what you are doing. Renting the light kit is smart too. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

October 23rd, 2003, 02:23 PM	#10
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	<<<-- Originally posted by Dan Lahav : <<<-- Originally posted by Dylan Couper : You'll need something to mount your ME66 on the camera, or a boom setup. Plus a windscreen for it. Add a few hundred bucks, minimum, either way. However, microphones are a great thing to rent, since you may not always use it, depending on what you are doing. Renting the light kit is smart too. -->>> what part(s) are these specifically? -->>> Check out this link. Zotzs Digital's Lightwave section Lighwave makes good equipment, and will cover the basics of what you need from on camera mounts to booms. Zotz Digital is a very trustworthy seller, and one of the forum's sponsors as well. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

October 22nd, 2003, 08:45 PM	#2
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Get an extra disk drive and an additional battery, since those included with cameras are often kinda small. You may want a lapel mic and possibly a wireless microphone kit.

October 22nd, 2003, 09:19 PM	#3
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Get a firewire card- USB is no good for capturing video. A FW card is $30 or less from newegg.com. If you want to go cheaper then check prices on pricewatch.com.

October 22nd, 2003, 10:13 PM	#4
Dan Lahav Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: CA Posts: 172	<<<-- Originally posted by Glenn Chan : Get a firewire card- USB is no good for capturing video. A FW card is $30 or less from newegg.com. If you want to go cheaper then check prices on pricewatch.com. -->>> Hey Glen- Actually it's a 2xUSB/ 2x Firewire card in one. I need the extra USB slots as well :) PS> do you think an AMD 1.4ghz Athlon w/ 512 RAM will hold up ok for now as far as video editing?

October 22nd, 2003, 11:46 PM	#6
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Which Athlon is that? Not the Opteron right? The processor might be a little slow depending on what you do and which NLE you use. Try it out for a bit and see if you need to upgrade. I see you have lots of "backups" of software... testing wouldn't be a problem I guess.

October 23rd, 2003, 10:15 AM	#8
Dan Lahav Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: CA Posts: 172	<<<-- Originally posted by Dylan Couper : You'll need something to mount your ME66 on the camera, or a boom setup. Plus a windscreen for it. Add a few hundred bucks, minimum, either way. However, microphones are a great thing to rent, since you may not always use it, depending on what you are doing. Renting the light kit is smart too. -->>> what part(s) are these specifically?

October 23rd, 2003, 10:30 AM	#9
Sean R Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: RTP, NC Posts: 66	I would absolutely recommend you buy a UV filter either before or at the same time as your camera so you can put it on the second you take the camera out of the box.