HC3 Questions

Gavin Wightman · May 28th, 2006, 11:21 AM

Only had my HC3 a few days now, still getting to grips with it. All of these shot handheld as I don't have a tripod yet....

Not 100% happy with the convert to WMV, but I've played with various settings and still can't come close to the source M2T files..... More experimentation required I think....

Probably won't stream that well, so best to download....

http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/lick.wmv

http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/sun.wmv

http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/saab.wmv

http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/smell.wmv

Tony Tibbetts · May 28th, 2006, 05:53 PM

Were these shot in cinema mode?

Gavin Wightman · May 29th, 2006, 01:49 AM

No, but it is a European HC3 - so it will be shooting at 1080i/50 if that explains the frame rate....

Danny Fye · May 29th, 2006, 06:01 PM

I know the info is out there somewhere but I seem to be having difficulty finding it.

(1) Does the HC3 have manual focus? No matter it doesn't have a focus ring I just want to make sure that once I set the focus that it will stay where I set it.

(2) Does the HC3 have manual exposure or is it strictly automatic?

Thanks in advance,

Danny Fye
www.dannyfye.com

Holger Leonhard · May 29th, 2006, 06:25 PM

You can do nearly everything manual.
Control goes over the touch screen, which is very good to operate and gives you personalized menue settings if you want.
Exception: shutter - you can turn it to manual, then it is fixed to 50 (on the PAL version), I guess 60 is standard in US. But it´s cine shutter and it is o.k.
Exposure: via Menue or Dial, Iris down from XX to 1.8 & when turning lower Gain comes up. No seperate gain control.
Bad: You can´t see Iris and gain values while taping, just on playing back. Thanks sony.
It is o.k. for doing serious work, but you can´t pull focus or iris - the dial is to small and e.g. exposure changes in steps.
The touch screen is great and sharp and also perfect in bright sunlight, when the sun shines on the screen (reflexion brightens the Image).
Viewfinder is awful.

Gavin Wightman · June 9th, 2006, 04:32 AM

Took this clip earlier in the week of the world's largest mirrorball :)

50mb, WMV-HD format, PAL 25fps

http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/mirror.wmv

Andre De Clercq · June 9th, 2006, 05:45 AM

Nice pictures. Has this been realised within an NLE?

Gavin Wightman · June 9th, 2006, 01:30 PM

It was edited using Ulead Videostudio 10.....

Andre De Clercq · June 12th, 2006, 10:39 AM

I just got my HC3 and the Sony 30mm filter kit VF-30CPKS (Polar and protector filter). The filters are specified as a fit for all 30mm Sony cams. I didn't unpack the filters because they look rather "thick" and if needed I want to send them back. Can sombody confirm there will be no vignetting?

Stu Holmes · June 12th, 2006, 01:48 PM

i'm sure that it will be fine.
- there's no way Sony would make 30mm filter-kit that would cause vignetting on one of their own cameras. If it DID vignette, it'd occur first in the stills 'memory' mode.

I'd open the pack with confidence.

Andre De Clercq · June 12th, 2006, 03:30 PM

Thx Stu. Filters are OK. No vignetting.

Scott Casper · June 16th, 2006, 12:47 AM

What about a cheap used or greymarket hc3 you can probably find on ebay as a playback deck for your more expensive Sony rigs. Also hc3 as your hdv vcr for your big HD plasma TV with HDMI connectors. These are just a couple of more uses for the cheaper hc3. HVR-M10u for about 3 grand or a thousand dollar hc3 with hdmi and even it`s own lcd screen.

Peter Ferling · June 16th, 2006, 07:46 AM

Well, it's the cheapest HDV playback device at present. However, I'm not so sure how many miles you get that way. The decks should have larger and more robust parts, which wear longer. The unit should also have heat dissapating qualities as well.

In the field, many folks may just opt to use their primary cams as temporary decks anyway.

Just remember, when trying to trim cost and cut corners, you get what you pay for.

Heath McKnight · June 18th, 2006, 09:30 AM

I agree--cameras weren't made for rewinding and fast-forwarding like a deck. Plus, the M10 and other Sony HDV deck(s) support 60i and 50i, something I'm sure the HC3 doesn't do. But the camera will make a pretty darn good B camera or behind-the-scenes camera if you do have a Z1 or FX1.

heath

Graham Mullis · June 18th, 2006, 01:08 PM

Just some footage of a garden, about 36seconds long, in HDV.

http://www.filefactory.com/?5b6f31

Sorry about the host, it is a bit annoying but i don't have the space to host this file.

May 28th, 2006, 11:21 AM	#16
Gavin Wightman New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: England, United Kingdom Posts: 5	A few HC3 clips Only had my HC3 a few days now, still getting to grips with it. All of these shot handheld as I don't have a tripod yet.... Not 100% happy with the convert to WMV, but I've played with various settings and still can't come close to the source M2T files..... More experimentation required I think.... Probably won't stream that well, so best to download.... http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/lick.wmv http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/sun.wmv http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/saab.wmv http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/smell.wmv Last edited by Gavin Wightman; May 29th, 2006 at 01:49 AM.

May 29th, 2006, 06:01 PM	#19
Danny Fye Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Independence MO. Posts: 318	HC3 Questions I know the info is out there somewhere but I seem to be having difficulty finding it. (1) Does the HC3 have manual focus? No matter it doesn't have a focus ring I just want to make sure that once I set the focus that it will stay where I set it. (2) Does the HC3 have manual exposure or is it strictly automatic? Thanks in advance, Danny Fye www.dannyfye.com

June 9th, 2006, 04:32 AM	#21
Gavin Wightman New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: England, United Kingdom Posts: 5	HC3 Clip: World's largest mirrorball Took this clip earlier in the week of the world's largest mirrorball :) 50mb, WMV-HD format, PAL 25fps http://www.bis96gw.f2s.com/video/mirror.wmv

June 12th, 2006, 10:39 AM	#24
Andre De Clercq Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 804	HC3 Filter Kit I just got my HC3 and the Sony 30mm filter kit VF-30CPKS (Polar and protector filter). The filters are specified as a fit for all 30mm Sony cams. I didn't unpack the filters because they look rather "thick" and if needed I want to send them back. Can sombody confirm there will be no vignetting?

June 16th, 2006, 12:47 AM	#27
Scott Casper New Boot Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22	HC3 as playback deck for FX1/Z1u What about a cheap used or greymarket hc3 you can probably find on ebay as a playback deck for your more expensive Sony rigs. Also hc3 as your hdv vcr for your big HD plasma TV with HDMI connectors. These are just a couple of more uses for the cheaper hc3. HVR-M10u for about 3 grand or a thousand dollar hc3 with hdmi and even it`s own lcd screen.

May 28th, 2006, 05:53 PM	#17
Tony Tibbetts Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 385	Were these shot in cinema mode?

May 29th, 2006, 01:49 AM	#18
Gavin Wightman New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: England, United Kingdom Posts: 5	No, but it is a European HC3 - so it will be shooting at 1080i/50 if that explains the frame rate....

May 29th, 2006, 06:25 PM	#20
Holger Leonhard Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 71	You can do nearly everything manual. Control goes over the touch screen, which is very good to operate and gives you personalized menue settings if you want. Exception: shutter - you can turn it to manual, then it is fixed to 50 (on the PAL version), I guess 60 is standard in US. But it´s cine shutter and it is o.k. Exposure: via Menue or Dial, Iris down from XX to 1.8 & when turning lower Gain comes up. No seperate gain control. Bad: You can´t see Iris and gain values while taping, just on playing back. Thanks sony. It is o.k. for doing serious work, but you can´t pull focus or iris - the dial is to small and e.g. exposure changes in steps. The touch screen is great and sharp and also perfect in bright sunlight, when the sun shines on the screen (reflexion brightens the Image). Viewfinder is awful.

June 9th, 2006, 05:45 AM	#22
Andre De Clercq Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 804	Nice pictures. Has this been realised within an NLE?

June 9th, 2006, 01:30 PM	#23
Gavin Wightman New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: England, United Kingdom Posts: 5	It was edited using Ulead Videostudio 10.....

June 12th, 2006, 01:48 PM	#25
Stu Holmes Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 844	i'm sure that it will be fine. - there's no way Sony would make 30mm filter-kit that would cause vignetting on one of their own cameras. If it DID vignette, it'd occur first in the stills 'memory' mode. I'd open the pack with confidence.

June 12th, 2006, 03:30 PM	#26
Andre De Clercq Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 804	Thx Stu. Filters are OK. No vignetting.

June 16th, 2006, 07:46 AM	#28
Peter Ferling Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wyomissing, PA Posts: 1,141 Images: 57	Well, it's the cheapest HDV playback device at present. However, I'm not so sure how many miles you get that way. The decks should have larger and more robust parts, which wear longer. The unit should also have heat dissapating qualities as well. In the field, many folks may just opt to use their primary cams as temporary decks anyway. Just remember, when trying to trim cost and cut corners, you get what you pay for. __________________ Pete Ferling http://ferling.net It's never a mistake if you learn something new from it. -------------------------------------------

June 18th, 2006, 09:30 AM	#29
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I agree--cameras weren't made for rewinding and fast-forwarding like a deck. Plus, the M10 and other Sony HDV deck(s) support 60i and 50i, something I'm sure the HC3 doesn't do. But the camera will make a pretty darn good B camera or behind-the-scenes camera if you do have a Z1 or FX1. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

June 18th, 2006, 01:08 PM	#30
Graham Mullis New Boot Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK Posts: 10	HC3 HDV clip Just some footage of a garden, about 36seconds long, in HDV. http://www.filefactory.com/?5b6f31 Sorry about the host, it is a bit annoying but i don't have the space to host this file. Last edited by Graham Mullis; June 18th, 2006 at 02:13 PM.