HMC40 has arrived! at DVinfo.net

Paul Digges · February 26th, 2010, 08:41 PM

So I finally got my HMC40 and have played with it a little bit so far. I dig it, it's lightweight, which I like, although I know some people don't. It's pretty intuitive, even though a ton of the options are menu driven, it's not a terrible menu setup. I didn't like that the manual that comes with it, is a quick start guide of sorts, and that the full one is a PDF, however, I guess I'll get used to that.

As of now, I'm waiting for a new processor to come in and some more ram so I can install Win 7 and CS4 to start editing. Also I think I'll be picking up CineForm NeoScene as well.

There were mentions of free Panasonic software for converting files and such but their site didn't seem to have it under their software stuff, does anyone have a link? Also, the Eidus Neo 2 software it comes with seems to be a full version, is it a pretty nifty program? I've never even heard of it.

Other than that I'll get to reading the manual and come up with any questions it may not answer. If anyone has some quick tips or tricks tehy wanna toss out there, I'd love to hear them.

Here's a quick iPhone shot of it on the Manfrotto sticks I got as well.
http://imgur.com/2Ly7O.jpg

Just wanted to share, cheers,
Paul

Graham Hickling · February 26th, 2010, 08:54 PM

The transcoder you want is probably here: https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro...e/download.htm

You are eligible to upgrade Neo 2 to Neo 2 (v2.5) Booster Edition. Both the Booster Edition CD and the serial for it can be requested once you have registered on the PASS site: https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro...rt/cs/opkey_e/

Paul Digges · February 26th, 2010, 09:07 PM

Got it, thanks Graham! Also registered for PASS. Talk about a convoluted site however, all the auto window resizing is nuts haha.

Paul Digges · February 27th, 2010, 11:20 AM

Is there a list anywhere of what the specific scene file settings each do? Some are self explanatory, others not so much. The manual only says where to set them up at...

Graham Hickling · February 27th, 2010, 01:27 PM

This is for the HMC150 but generally applies: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/attachme...e-file-doc.pdf

Paul Digges · February 27th, 2010, 08:06 PM

Graham, you're a lifesaver, thanks tons!

Dan Moricoli · March 1st, 2010, 06:53 PM

You might also check out Xilisoft Video Converter, DVD Ripper, 3GP,PSP,iPod video converter, AVI to DVD. I find it much easier to use, cheaper and a better product than Neo Scene.

Graham Hickling · March 1st, 2010, 07:56 PM

Neoscene is at its core a high quality intermediate codec. The Xilisoft Converter is ... a converter. Apples and oranges.

Dan Carter · March 1st, 2010, 09:38 PM

Hello Paul,

Congratulations on your new HMC40. I know it'll give you many hours of quality video.

After you upgrade your PC ram and memory, you will not need to convert your AVCHD files. Neo 2 or Vegas Pro 9 will allow editing AVCHD files natively.

Paul Digges · March 3rd, 2010, 01:33 PM

Thanks guys,

PC upgrade is next on the list as I have an Mobo sitting here, a core i7 in the mail, and RAM to be ordered.

Here's a quick little pan&tilt test vid I did in my room to see exactly how CMOS looks compared to CCD. Overall I'm pretty please, however, the first shot has some separation along the horizontal axis near the bottom, is that normal, because it doesn't happen in any of the other pans? You'll definitely want to watch it in HD on their site as well. I need to upgrade to Plus now so I can enable HD embedding.

Paul Digges · March 4th, 2010, 03:26 PM

Si I read that Panasonic guide to Scene Files, and that was pretty helpful. I'll definitely be messing around with some scene file looks so I'll be sure to post them up here if I find anything that seems nice and striking.

Marc S. Brown · March 4th, 2010, 09:06 PM

Hi Paul!

I just got my HMC40 last week. Like the camera so far, just SHOCKED at how poor it seems to fare in indoor light without gain. In a room I would consider to be well lit it still looks incredibly dim.

On the Flip side, I'm SHOCKED at how well the camera will add gain with little noise! My Sony HVR-HD1000U (multi-year winner at the annual "Grainy Pictures" Awards) is horrible with noise in anything but outdoor sun.

What's your opinion?

Paul Digges · March 5th, 2010, 09:00 AM

I agree, I also don't like that you can't adjust gain and Iris independently. I think I shot that video at like +12, on an XL2 +12 is pretty nasty.

I've yet to get a chance to take it outdoors and shoot anything there. Hopefully soon though.

So far though I like pretty much everything about the camera.

Brian Tori · March 6th, 2010, 11:45 AM

Depending on your machine specs, you may not need a program like Neoscene or the Panasonic transcoder. A quad core or above should handle the .MTS files natively. If however you need to convert, I use this program with much success. It takes about a 30% load off of the processor.

NewBlue AVCHD Upshift | Batch convert your AVCHD files into standard .M2T files.

February 26th, 2010, 08:41 PM	#1
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	HMC40 has arrived! So I finally got my HMC40 and have played with it a little bit so far. I dig it, it's lightweight, which I like, although I know some people don't. It's pretty intuitive, even though a ton of the options are menu driven, it's not a terrible menu setup. I didn't like that the manual that comes with it, is a quick start guide of sorts, and that the full one is a PDF, however, I guess I'll get used to that. As of now, I'm waiting for a new processor to come in and some more ram so I can install Win 7 and CS4 to start editing. Also I think I'll be picking up CineForm NeoScene as well. There were mentions of free Panasonic software for converting files and such but their site didn't seem to have it under their software stuff, does anyone have a link? Also, the Eidus Neo 2 software it comes with seems to be a full version, is it a pretty nifty program? I've never even heard of it. Other than that I'll get to reading the manual and come up with any questions it may not answer. If anyone has some quick tips or tricks tehy wanna toss out there, I'd love to hear them. Here's a quick iPhone shot of it on the Manfrotto sticks I got as well. http://imgur.com/2Ly7O.jpg Just wanted to share, cheers, Paul

March 3rd, 2010, 01:33 PM	#10
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	Thanks guys, PC upgrade is next on the list as I have an Mobo sitting here, a core i7 in the mail, and RAM to be ordered. Here's a quick little pan&tilt test vid I did in my room to see exactly how CMOS looks compared to CCD. Overall I'm pretty please, however, the first shot has some separation along the horizontal axis near the bottom, is that normal, because it doesn't happen in any of the other pans? You'll definitely want to watch it in HD on their site as well. I need to upgrade to Plus now so I can enable HD embedding. Room...again on Vimeo

March 4th, 2010, 09:06 PM	#12
Marc S. Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Jenkinsburg,GA. Posts: 39	Low Light??? Hi Paul! I just got my HMC40 last week. Like the camera so far, just SHOCKED at how poor it seems to fare in indoor light without gain. In a room I would consider to be well lit it still looks incredibly dim. On the Flip side, I'm SHOCKED at how well the camera will add gain with little noise! My Sony HVR-HD1000U (multi-year winner at the annual "Grainy Pictures" Awards) is horrible with noise in anything but outdoor sun. What's your opinion?

February 26th, 2010, 08:54 PM	#2
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	The transcoder you want is probably here: https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro...e/download.htm You are eligible to upgrade Neo 2 to Neo 2 (v2.5) Booster Edition. Both the Booster Edition CD and the serial for it can be requested once you have registered on the PASS site: https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro...rt/cs/opkey_e/

February 26th, 2010, 09:07 PM	#3
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	Got it, thanks Graham! Also registered for PASS. Talk about a convoluted site however, all the auto window resizing is nuts haha.

February 27th, 2010, 11:20 AM	#4
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	Is there a list anywhere of what the specific scene file settings each do? Some are self explanatory, others not so much. The manual only says where to set them up at...

February 27th, 2010, 01:27 PM	#5
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	This is for the HMC150 but generally applies: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/attachme...e-file-doc.pdf

February 27th, 2010, 08:06 PM	#6
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	Graham, you're a lifesaver, thanks tons!

March 1st, 2010, 06:53 PM	#7
Dan Moricoli Tourist Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 1	You might also check out Xilisoft Video Converter, DVD Ripper, 3GP,PSP,iPod video converter, AVI to DVD. I find it much easier to use, cheaper and a better product than Neo Scene.

March 1st, 2010, 07:56 PM	#8
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	Neoscene is at its core a high quality intermediate codec. The Xilisoft Converter is ... a converter. Apples and oranges.

March 1st, 2010, 09:38 PM	#9
Dan Carter Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 366	Hello Paul, Congratulations on your new HMC40. I know it'll give you many hours of quality video. After you upgrade your PC ram and memory, you will not need to convert your AVCHD files. Neo 2 or Vegas Pro 9 will allow editing AVCHD files natively.

March 4th, 2010, 03:26 PM	#11
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	Si I read that Panasonic guide to Scene Files, and that was pretty helpful. I'll definitely be messing around with some scene file looks so I'll be sure to post them up here if I find anything that seems nice and striking.

March 5th, 2010, 09:00 AM	#13
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	I agree, I also don't like that you can't adjust gain and Iris independently. I think I shot that video at like +12, on an XL2 +12 is pretty nasty. I've yet to get a chance to take it outdoors and shoot anything there. Hopefully soon though. So far though I like pretty much everything about the camera.

March 6th, 2010, 11:45 AM	#14
Brian Tori Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 408	Depending on your machine specs, you may not need a program like Neoscene or the Panasonic transcoder. A quad core or above should handle the .MTS files natively. If however you need to convert, I use this program with much success. It takes about a 30% load off of the processor. NewBlue AVCHD Upshift \| Batch convert your AVCHD files into standard .M2T files.