HC3 - Optical or Electronic Image Stabilization?
 

Which one does it have? Thanks.

I am shure its not optical.

My bet would be electronic. It is quite a bit smaller than HC1, and HC1 uses electronic. Optics add to weight, cost and size, none of those are compatible with a palm camcorder.

Definetely electronic.

HC3 audio
 

As it stands right now, there is no way to create an audio input jack for the HC3 using its hot shoe? Sony turns a deaf ear to that need as well?

There are several Sony hotshoe mikes you can use on the HC3. Also, a hotshoe mike adaptor for it is reportedly in the works by an independent company, but there's no certainty about it yet. Keep watching this forum for news.

HC3 at BB
 

I was in Best Buy on saturday and they had a HC3 hooked up to a monitor. What a great picture. This camcorder is the same size as my old Hi-8 or the little digital 8 I have. They even put some 24fps on it.

I will probably still hold out for a GL3, or something like a FX1. But I would love to have this camera to carry around. You can buy it online at Best Buy for $1300 something. By Christmas it will be $700!!

Much better than Best Buy...

If you're going to get an HC3, why not buy from B&H instead. They match Best Buy's price, there's no sales tax if you buy online, and most importantly, they're a DV Info Net sponsor, helping to make this site available to you. Our sponsors are not only the best dealers in the business, but they also keep DV Info Net free for everyone to enjoy. Please consider them when making your purchases. Thanks in advance,

Hc3
 

let me try again. I was at a store and they had a Sony HC3 hooked up to some kind of monitor. The picture was really, really good. I will wait and see what Canon comes out with i.e. GL3. But if I needed a good walking around camcorder this HDV/DV is awesome. The going price is around $1400. But in a few months it will be under $1,000

Just bought HC3 off of B&H for 1349.95
 

Amazon has the same price plus FREE shipping. Duh, missed that one.

I am replying because I doubt it will fall much. The dollar is still falling against the yen, the HC3 is rumored to be the hottest selling camcorder in Japan = Demand is picking up.

I need mine for a vacation trip NOW, otherwise I would have waited.

Does B&H beat Amazon prices? That would be a good one. Amazon carries so much of the inventory that B&H moves alot of, the low fruit on the tree, that has got to hurt sales. SHHHH, don't tell.

Best Buy has good deals on opened or returned items. I would insist new in box so none of the sales guys play with it before you do.

Jerry I don't blame you. The picture quality on the HC3 was great. My credit card was trying to pop out of my wallet. But I just paid for my Nikon 17-55 so I'll have to wait.

Hc3 Accessory Question
 

Hi guys, im just curious will the shades,wide angle lenses that fit hc1 and a1u fit also with the hc3?

No, the HC1 and A1U's filter size is 37mm, the HC3's filter size is 30mm.

Yes, just use a 30mm-37mm Step-Up Ring ($6.95 at B&H and probably the same or less at a million other camera supply stores) if you want to use 37mm accessories.

Thanks
 

Thanks a lot guys!

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

Were these shot in cinema mode?

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

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

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.

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

Nice pictures. Has this been realised within an NLE?

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

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?

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.

Thx Stu. Filters are OK. No vignetting.

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.

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.

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

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.

hc3 and gl2
 

Looking to purchase the hc3, have read and reread many of the posts and looking for further info.

Main reason for selecting the hc3 over the fx1 is the smaller size and lower cost. Going on the family vacation and the hc3 seems ideal for point and shoot.

After the vacation would like to use the hc3 along with the canon gl2 cameras. Currently recoding weddings with the canons in the 4x3 aspect ratio.

What would be the best way to record the hc3 video to match the canons 4x3 sd video?

Can I mix the use of the sony hdv and mini dv tapes or should I use only the hdv tapes?

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated. THANKS

Hc3 & Fcp5 sequence settings
 

So I just shot alittle with my HC3 in HD mode. I want to work with FCP and got the footage captured.... which was odd bcause it was 80% behind the realtime playback. What should my sequence settings be for editing? I used the preset for HDV1080 60 but when i drop the footage onto the timeline it needs to be rendered? Also on capture is it normal for the tape to computer to be behind like that?

Just wondering what everyone is doing as far as workflow using HC3 & FCP

Computer Specs?
 

Jake,

What type of computer (Apple) are you using. Memory/CPU etc. Would help us determine if it is slow for a reason?

Erik

Well I was messing around on my 12inch PB which is propably the problem.
It will in the end be used on my G5 Dual 4gig ram. I guess I just found it intresting to see a lag in time.

My main concern is setting up a proper sequence that does not need to be render when footage is dropped down. Any ideas?

Thanks so much for any input.

HC3 Unmanned Settings For Stage/Ballet
 

I just bought two HC3s to use unmanned in conjunction with my two manned VX2100s (so everything is shot in SD).

The plan is to set up the unmanned HC3s on each side of the stage so the cameras will be right up there with the actors and dancers.

The lights are going to change a lot and I expect a good amount of dim lighting followed by bright spotlights (typical stage lights - all over the place).

Needless to say, I don't need every shot from the HC3s since I'm multi-cam editing. I just want to get a lot of usable footage.

First of all, do I just push the EASY button on the HC3 and hope for the best or should I do a white balance and put it in spotlight mode? I didn't see anything called infinite zoom. Is the Landscape the same thing (even though I'm not shooting at a distance)?

I'm obviously trying to match the VX2100 color to make my editing life easier, but after being tortured by matching a Canon GL1 to Sony, I think I can handle most anything the HC3 throws at me.
-Scott

Raynox 220Pro Tele on HC3 Sample Included
 

I bought two Raynoxes the 220pro and the 3031pro,

Actually I just need a wide angle, but why not, the tele too.

Surpise Surprise:

It say that some vignetting may occur when in wide angle on the camera....

Thats an understatement. :) When I put the lens on the camera, I thought the aperture was stuck :)

You have to zoom half way to loose "vignetting"......

The sharpness is sort of ok, I guess. There is a lot of color abberation
in subjects with contrast however.

Here is a 10meg 720p Windows Media file:

http://www.bali3d.com/temp/raynox-220pro.wmv

(With a monpod, but still nervous)

The file above will not stay forever on the site,
so if you get "File not found" you are too late ....

Raynox 3031Pro Wide Angle on HC3 Sample Included
 

Raynox 3031Pro Wide Angle on HC3 Sample Included

I need a wide angle, because I expect to do some interior shots of houses.

I ordered the Sony, but it still hasn't arrived. My guess is that 0.7
doesn't do the trick for me anyway. I saw a Raynox 0.5 that seemed nice,
but out of stock, will get that one later, but the 3031 0.3 semi fish I
had to have too. :)

When zoomed out fully, its reasonable sharp, but distortion is heavy,
especially at the edges.

Specially when you do a pan, its a very noticable, "funny" effect.

You can zoom in about 30-40%, but any further and the lens becomes unsharp,
beginning at the edges, and unacceptable unsharp when fully zoomed in.

Nice is that you can get very very close to subjects, to allmost touching
the lens, and the depth of field is large.

Here is a 42meg 720p 56 seconds Windows Media file:

http://www.bali3d.com/temp/raynox-fish-short.wmv

The file above will not stay forever on the site,
so if you get "File not found" you are too late ....

The best thing to do is run a test during a dress rehearsal. Try different settings, go back to the office and watch them.

The settings that have worked best for me on other cameras (such as VX2000) are did not seem great with the HC3 in one test. I need to do another test, because they should work. Those settings are:

1. Set Program AE to Spotlight. (This biases the exposure to the image center)
2. Set AE Shift to -4. (This darkens the image more. It is better to pull detail out of the shadows in post than to try to retrieve an image out of blown highlights)
3. Set WB to Indoor. (This works if the stage lighting is based on 3200K)
4. Set WB Shift to +1 (red) (This helps if there are follow-spots that usually are more like daylight balance.)

Like I said, this has worked will with other cameras, but the jury is still out on the HC-3. Try these as a part of your tests. Please report your results here.

Buddy

Thanks Buddy,
I'll try one HC3 on those settings and another HC3 on "Easy".
-Scott

Hood on HC3
 

There was a question in [another website] about using a hood on HC3. Athough I did register some time ago, I am not allowed to post there. I am a "hood believer" and quite often I use a well matched (self made) hood on my HC3.
I did a number of critical tests, and my conclusion is, that as long as there is no direct sunlight falling onto the lensfront, there is no difference in contrast ratio (black level lift) or image forming glare effects, with or without a hood. This has also been verified verified by a waveform monitor.
Because the HC3 has a relatively deep laying, and partly screened off frontlens, the risk for direct sunlight getting onto the lens is small. I have my hood on, only for the situations where I have to film almost towards the sunlight. When the 30mm polar is mounted there is a bigger risk for glare effects.