Looking for good usage tips from current/past Canon ZR850 users
 

Just looking for good tips and suggestions on what worked well for different settings and situations etc.

Matte box for Canon 12x4.8
 

Hi ,

can somebody recommend a simple Matte Box for using a Canon YH12x4.8 when used in 16:9?

Thanks

ULI

new laptop Adobe premeier and Jvc dv500 problem
 

Hows it going. I just got a new laptop with Vista on it(dont think thats the issue). When I try to capture video as Im shooting it I get a prompt saying the program cant find a capture inpoint try to increase the preroll. I checked on my main computer and all the settings in both computers are the same, but I dont have that problem on my main computer. Any clues are help...? Thanks in advance

export into a flash file for the internet
 

anyone know the process for exporting from final cut pro to
a flash file?

Century 16:9 Adapters Sold Out
 

Thanks to all for taking advantage of our spectacular sale on Century 16:9 adapters for the Sony, Canon, and 58mm screw-in varieties. We have sold out of our 16:9 adapters. They are still a current product and we can manufcature more on demand but we will no longer stock or offer the lens at $99. Again, thank you for helping us clear some year end inventory. We will continue to have significant inventory reduction sales on various products.

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

media player and external monitor
 

Is there an media player (WMP, VLC, etc) that will allow me to simultaneously watch onscreen and send the image to an external broadcast monitor the way I can do in my NLE.

Digital Management
 

Greetings -

I just purchased a Canon XH-A1 and I'm trying to configure a system to meet my needs, but I've become very confused. Currently, this is what I have to work with:

1.8GHz, 17" iMac G5, 160GB HDD, 512 memory, 128MB video Card.
2.1GHz, 17" iMac G5, 160GB HDD, 512 memory, 128MB video Card
MacBook Pro, Dual Core 2.1Ghz, 2GB RAM, 256 Video Card, 15.4" glossy display.
Final Cut Express 3.5 HD
Just ordered Final Cut Studio 2
QuickTime Pro

My 2.1 Ghz iMac is being updated with a new WD Enterprise Server SATA 320GB drive (WD3200YS) with a MTBF of 1 million hours. I'll also update the RAM to 2 GB.

I perform the following tasks:

1) Edit video in SD format for editing and final output as QT movie formated for NTSC 720X480 4:3 output for TV broadcast on public access TV.

2) Edit prepared broadcast ready DVD content for broadcast on public access TV. The DVDs need to be edited because they contain 1:15 lead time of color bars and 1K tone. I edit out these leaders, and create a short (30 second) trailer with local information prepared in LiveType. These edits are made using Mac equipment at the TV station with final output in QT movie format as described above.

3) Capture raw DV footage from Panasonic SD cameras (GS-180 - a fine little camera, and others), Canon XL1s, and HDV footage from the XH-A1. The captured video is edited for later broadcast, or possible DVD output in SD format, usually 4:3, but more requests coming for 16:9 output. So far SD is fine, but will move to HD delivery by mid/late 2009.

4) Capture Time Warner cable broadcasts, both SD and HD format, through Cablevision DVR - Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD. There are two 1394 connectors, and HDMI and SATA connectors, but Time Warner claims that they have disabled anything other than the Component and standard DV out. I record programs for later viewing, but would like to capture this video in a permanent format, including burning to DVD, iPod video or other formats.

The problems:

(1) Apple hardware requirements suggest that both iMacs will not be able to handle all of the Final Cut Studio programs, limited by too little video RAM and display output.

(2) I don't know how to address (4) above, but I'd like to use all of this video for my own legal purposes.

(3) The Apple store people tell me that the MacBook Pro "may" work, but isn't powerful enough for what I want to do.

Right now I copy the VOB files onto my desktop, then transcode using FFMPEG to get a QT output which I import into FCE for editing. From there I edit out the bars, recode at QT for final output. The rendering and conversion take 6-8 hours, a long wait but OK given the limited number of times I do this and the fact that once it's done, I don't have to do it again. When I asked the Apple people how much faster the MacPro would be compared to my setup, no one had an agreed time, but suggested half the time. I don't see the need to spend $5K to save 4 hours in coding, but I would do it if it were less expensive.

I also have all of these machines networked together using Airport Express routers (2) with one a repeater. There are printers connected to the USB ports on each router, allowing full access to any printer for any computer. Finally, the MacBook Pro does double duty as a work computer and has Windows XP and other programs under windows installed. There are no OS-X compatible programs that run these programs, so I must have Windows access. I plan to upgrade the Airport express to the new Base-Station server. With that option I'd consider adding a shared HDD for all the computers to access so that I can share iTunes audio/video files. I'm not sure what iTV is a better solution.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Fast Shutter vs Slow shutter (When fast is not needed)
 

Hello folks!!
I hope everyone had a fantastic Holiday season and enjoying the Bowls like me!!

Anyway, I am wondering the impact of having a shutter set too fast. I am using an XL2 but don't think this pertains to that unit. Over the holiday in the Mountains the temp got up in the 60's and I had the opportunity to have my childeren out side. The sun was setting and the lighing was very good. I have 13 month old twinns and a 6 year year old football freak playing with his cousins.

I used this chance to tinker with some setting's. The color setting was good etc..etc.. I had the Iris open and the shutter at 1/1000 (very fast).

I was able to get very detail shots of the white stripe on the football as it rotated while being passed. However, my shots of the everything else did not seem as good as I would have expected. I know this shutter is extreme, but what I am wondering is how much does it effect the other slow moving image quality with this type of shutter?

Does anyone has any experience with this?

Just my novice experience tells me that these images will not be as crisps as there is less exposure time (at that moment).

Aiwa HV-MX100 NTSC/PAL Converter
 

I purchased this VCR back in 2000 and used it for a few months and then put it in storage.

When I took out of storage the other day, I plugged it in and it played a tape fine. But, I'm having one problem with it. When it's off and I first insert a tape, it powers on, and then immediately powers off. To play the tape, I have to push the "ON" button again and press play. I forget if there's a timer of sorts that powers the VCR off when it's not in use, but is this normal for this unit?

I've also noticed that just after I push "EJECT" and the tape comes out, the VCR powers off on its own within 3 seconds.

What gives?

Where can I find the "Hot Fuzz" script?
 

This post would go perfectly in a "script writing" forum, but seeing as there isn't one here yet, I guess here will do...

Does ANYONE know where I can find the script for the film "Hot Fuzz"?

I've been searching the Internet for hours, but I just can't seem to find it.

Where can I get a hold of it? There MUST be a way!

Thanks!

Chris!

Small, cheap HD camcorder with CCD not CMOS for car mount?
 

Hi there,

I'm looking to buy a small HD camcorder. It will spend most of its life bolted to a car (i.e. it will be vibrated a lot).

I've been advised many times that CMOS camcorders are a poor choice for car mounts because the rolling shutter found on many (all?) CMOS sensors turns images to jelly when vibrated.

So, my question is a simple one: are there such things as HD camcorders which fulfil the following requirements:

1) small (HV20-sized)
2) cheap (<£1000)
3) doesn't have a rolling shutter

Put another way: what I'm looking for is an HV20 with a CCD sensor instead of CMOS!

(Please, I don't wish to start a heated debate about rolling shutters - I just want to know if I'm correct in believing that all the currently available HD prosumer camcorders use CMOS sensors).

Glidecam cleaning?
 

Anyone know if you can take apart and clean the ball bearings in a Glidecam 2000? Just didnt want to unscrew random parts and not be able to get it back together.