I want to speak in tongues
 

I am so delighted I want to yowl and scream and speak in tongues. I want to share all my new found joy with all you nice people. Early this afternoon I received my new professional Panasonic PV-DV953 camcorder. It came in a box to the women's shoe store I manage. It took the box to the back and played with it all afternoon after I charged my battery. Then I took it home and played with it all evening. Holy smokes! Look at the time! I'm only posting now to share this with you all. So much stuff in the box! So much to go through in the manual. I am going to keep all of you nice people informed with my progress. This is truly a professional camcorder.

2 of my old girlfriends could "speak in tongues." Neither of them owned cams, though, let alone the fabulous Panasonic PV-DV953 3-chip hand-held (Heaven forbid). Nowadays, anyone can own this great cam, and many have taken the leap of faith. Just look at the good book---er, site, here: http://www.panasonic.com or the Canuck site: http://www.panasonic.ca

welcome to the 953 club

a video camera in a shoe store...

sounds like a short film to me.. LOL

Check out the other thread about the hard case from our Washington State member. I've seen Pelican cases before, but just the cheap stuff (real ugly, looked like tool cases). This one's a real beaut, though. (Sorry Fred. I couldn't help myself. It's a way past my bed time.) Enjoy your new cam!

I had difficulty sleeping and thought I would pop in to see what is up. I think I will stay up, make myself a hot chocolate, do my exercises and go to work early. It has been busy at the store lately. I have a girlfriend and we are thinking of marriage sometime next summer or fall. The store has been in business for a long time and my uncle spends long hours there. So he keeps an eye open for any funny stuff. It sure has been cool here. I hope my new professional Panasonic PV-DV953 camcorder won't get frostbite. I look at that case. It is nice. I like my Lowepro case better because it is small and it is easy to carry it around with me where ever I go. Wish me luck in figuring this out. Frank, you are correct. I am twenty years old. My girlfriend is six months older than me. I was only joshin about talking in tongues. Everyone have a great day!

And in Calgary no less. Snow shoes, feltpacks and cowboy boots. - 40 one minute and + 40 a few hours later.

Where did you buy the camera?

Congrats on the cam!

I'm a new 953 owner as well, and have had mine in my hands for a little over a week now. This thing amazes me everytime I use it -- I still can't get over the vibrant colors and sharpness of the footage!

I hope to be shooting an R/C Oval race this weekend (rained out last Saturday). The brightly colored bodies on the cars should be a great test for the 953's color abilities. I'm also wondering how it will handle the speed of the cars. I'll post some footage if all goes well.

Enjoy your 953 -- I'm sure enjoying mine! :)

When I flick the tape lever of my PV-DV953, I hear some noises. It does take a little time for it to pop open. Is this normal?. Thanks. Bryan, I bought it from B+H because I read it is a good place to by camcorders and camcorder stuff.

Just set your shutter speed higher---at least double it from 1/60th.

Fred, that's normal.

Holy smokes! I just finished familiarizing myself with the non-black professional Panasonic PV-DV953 3 CCD camcorder. Here are my conclusions.

(1) The non-black professional Panasonic PV-DV953 is extremely easy to operate. All you have to do is clip in a charged battery, flip open the LCD screen, turn the dial in the correct position, point, and press the record button. Yes, it is that easy.

(2) If you want to stop recording with the professional Panasonic PV-DV953, you press the record button again, turn the dial to the off position, snap the LCD closed, and remove the battery.

(3) If you want to shoot again, repeat number (1) and so forth.

I do believe I am now a professional film maker with a professional camcorder. I hope these instructions help those who do not know about camcorders like me. Have a great evening!

Wow! That's brilliant. Yes, you are now well on your way to being a "film-maker." However, what about learning how to use your cam's other, 101 features? Like those manual controls. Them's always a bugger. :-)

I'm sorry. Something about this thread is really humorous--I can't help but laugh. Am I the only one? :- )))

Film making is a serious business and it may be humorous or sad. Film making is not just a skill but an art. That is why I was smart to buy a professional Panasonic PV-DV953 camcorder. You do not need to go to film school to become a film maker. You just need to buy a professional camcorder preferably a black one and study the manual like I did. It is not that difficult. It only took me one weekend to learn how to use it professionally. I understand my silver PV-DV953 can do many things like making pictures but why would you want to use the manual mode when it is an automatic camcorder? You do not try to drive a car in with manual if the gears are automatic! Why then use an automatic professional camcorder in manual? This makes sense. Why would you want to transfer your film making video to film when you can watch it on television? This also makes sense.

Fred, you're jokng. Right? Right?

How am I joking I believe I spoke the truth how I see it. Film making is both an art and a skill but you do not need to go to film school to become a film maker. You only need a professional camcorder and study the manual. It is not difficult. Maybe a little. Anyone can do it. Trust me I did it. It only took me this past week end (two days).

By golly, you could be on to something there, Fred. I believe you; and I especially liked your car/cam analogy. That was with a professional car/s right?. It makes sense. :-)

<<<-- Originally posted by Fred Garhart : Film making is a serious business and it may be humorous or sad. Film making is not just a skill but an art. That is why I was smart to buy a professional Panasonic PV-DV953 camcorder. You do not need to go to film school to become a film maker. You just need to buy a professional camcorder preferably a black one and study the manual like I did. It is not that difficult. It only took me one weekend to learn how to use it professionally. I understand my silver PV-DV953 can do many things like making pictures but why would you want to use the manual mode when it is an automatic camcorder? You do not try to drive a car in with manual if the gears are automatic! Why then use an automatic professional camcorder in manual? This makes sense. Why would you want to transfer your film making video to film when you can watch it on television? This also makes sense. -->>>

well for what you are doing automatic might be fine for now, But should you ever come across a situation where auto wont cut it you need to be able to recognize the deficiency and correct for the cameras deficencies.

Like myself, I deal with tough lighting conditions like snow and overcast days, for these automatic simply does not work period. In auto the bright snow will look grey. I overexpose the image to give it a realistic (non)effect.

or dark wooded areas with bright glints of sun projecting from under the leaves, It depends on your desired effect, like "do I want just the bright streams of light to overexpose" for a dreamy effect or do you want the shadows of the leaves with minimal light coming thu the edges so you can capture just the tree.

I do enjoy your zeal but I think your camera color selection is a bit mis-guided, black, silver, green or whatever color the camera is its the insides of the machine what counts not the color of the plastic case it comes in.

The manual will only take you so far, its up to you to do research on film styles and little tricks of the trade to better yourself and ultimately better your ability to tell the story of the movie.

I really understand what you are saying but professional camcorders are darker in colour than nonprofessional camcorders. Just look at those black professional Sony camcorders and the MX7000 on the super video pages. Regarding filming in dark wooded areas Calgary doesn't have many trees because the ground water is very deep to keep tree's roots from reaching that deep. What I'm saying is that if the camcorder is automatic than there is no need to try and figure out all those manual controls because it is automatic. I am sure you agree with this.

Sounds good to me. :-)

i dont knwo if im swaying here, but i find the MX500 is good in auto IF the lighting is STABLE...

I HATE the way the MX adjsuts its auto white balance, try moving teh shot around from a dark area to a lighter area and you wil know what im mean.. also the camera adjsuts White Balance according to the light on screen, NOT whats in focus (Like the DVX), which sux as red and blue washes over teh screen if someone decides to walk in fornt of the shot...
also for artsy fartsy shots, its terrible...

apart from that, manual functions are perfect :)

Body color = professional
 

Dave, you're not the only one. I'm still picking myself up off the floor too. I think Fred has a case of that new camera smell. I think we all get that in the beginning when receiving a new toy, some more than others. He just needs a little time to come down off that dose of dopamine. Let him say all of this in the company of some other "professionals" and he'll come around when they put him in his place. I don't get the emphasis on the body color of the camera necessarily representing a professional camera. I believe that true high end pro gear is of the dark ABS because it shows less scratches and doesn't stand out on sets or in the field. All of this silver and white bodies is pure marketing to stand out from the crowd. Fred is a marketing agency's dream if he is sold on cosmetics so strongly. It doesn't matter if the camera body has pink polka dots as long as the package inside is worthy. I was told by a 2nd AC that Panavision did all kinds of tests to come up with that tan color for their film camera bodies and mags. Apparently it is a very neutral color and does not bring attention to the camera to distract talent. I certainly agree with Fred about the fact that you don't necessarily have to go to film school to make it, but it sure does help. Hands on, intensive workshops are the best short cut in my opinion if long term school is not an option. I use XL-1 systems and get positive and negative comments all the time. I know the limitations of these cameras and that they are NOT professional broadcast cameras at least out of the box (without help from accessories). This on top of the fact that XL-1 systems kick the DV 950's ass. Nothing against Fred personally, but this type of thinking is what gives DV owners/shooters an annoying reputation to the true broadcast professional veterans.

Thank you James, for making the most intelligent response this thread has. Much appreciated,

When I came back from Roscor with a new in the box DVC200 I opened it and your not going to believe this it sat there for about a week I would look at it and I must admit I did not want to break it or even pick it up as the harm I might do to it as it was mine. I do not worship or anything like that it’s just that it was the most expensive tool (Not Toy) I have ever invested at one time.

I guess that is what he is feeling the new camera smell…..

Toys!
 

Now Tom. Please be aware that I was not literal about the word toy. I hope you didn't take it out of context. Just another word for expensive stuff. I sure know that feeling of having something new, especially electronics and not wanting that fresh from Japan packaging smell to escape or to damage it in any way.

James, Tom wrote, "Not Toy" because it's not a consumer cam but an AG-DVC200; which is a Panasonic Pro 3 chip, the chips being 1/2" in size. A while back, Bruce Johnson wrote a DV Mag. review about it and mentioned "Flex-o-matic" would be a good name for it, as I recall.

Is the professional Panasonic AG-DVC200 camcorder black? I would thing she is how much did it cost?

Pro Line
 

Thanks Frank. I'm all too aware of that camera's value and specs. I wish I could have that level of gear but with multiple units. I was just making sure that he knew I wasn't being harsh.

I just saw that you didn't understand Tom's toy comment. He basically saying that he owns a pro cam...something that I have no need for nor that I can't really afford. But then I don't shoot the kind of things Tom does for $$$.

I was just saying that to me this one was not a toy. I was in construction for 17 years. The toys I bought where great and to me they where toys to play with and to make things that would you believe this they paid me to make things that I enjoyed to do.


“The difference between men’s toys and wom**’s toys is that a man’s cost more.”

Or another saying “He who dies with the most toys wins”


As to the cost of the DVC200 with a lens, battery pack, wide angle adaptor, and tripod was over 8,000.

Not with some of the women I know. My wife has expensive tastes.

Have Mercy!
 

Fred Wrote Again!: Is the professional Panasonic AG-DVC200 camcorder black? I would thing she is how much did it cost?


I write: I GIVE UP!!

James, it's his 1st cam, or so he says. At least he's hitting the books. The shoe store must not be that busy. (Just wait for the pre-X-mas rush.) :-)

Answer the most important question, would you: Is it black? No need to be ashamed. If it's non-black *and* you make money with it, it's still "professional"--as long as you've read the manual. You know, one weekend with the manual and you, too, can be a professional film-maker. Ask Fred. He did it. Go to a hobby shop and get some black model paint and a small brush.
Note to Fred: You may want to do this yourself. And for the icing on the cake, go get a cheap photographers matte box/bellows.
Now you can start charging!

DVC200 is black and a couple of the parts are grey.

So it's not 100% black? Worth keeping in mind when considering a new purchase.

Question is I have to ask what would black have to do with what the camera does if you don't mind me asking?

Quite interesting thread!

I am now really thinking of painting the red parts of my XL1 in Black! This should give me some extra lines of resolution and a shallow depth of field!!!!!!

Professional is color blind
 

You guys are just kill'n me. I love it!!

My cell phone is black, but it still drops calls.

I feel like I'm talking to Forrest Gump but I like his drive!

Check out this thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=17637