Use of hot shoe FX1000
 

First posting, so: "Nice to meet you all!"
From my VX2000 I still had a Sony HVL-S3D Video Light. The 7.2V DC seems to fit, but . . .
How does the hot shoe of the FX1000 open up? Just have the camera since yesterday, but I can not move the silvery cover with the arrow. Not like the hot shoe of the VX2000.
Can anyone give me a hint?

Jo

The standard cold shoe on the FX1000 is not compatible with the hot IAS (Intelligent Accessory Shoe) on the VX.

Interestingly, there appears to be no mention of how to slide the cover off in the FX1000 manual, but it is there in detail in the Z5 manual (downloadable in this forum) on page 134.

Thanks! I will read the FM.
Uh, sorry. . .

Jo,

I had the same question. I have the same light and looking to use in on FX1000 (Buying in 1-2 weeks). I knew there was a difference between the hot/cold shoe, but I just need to know if the light will work at all.

I never used the auto setting on this light anyway (too unpredictable), so all I really need is for the light to go on when attached to FX1000. Please let us know how it works out.

This light does not work with the 1000. You have to move up to the 10/20 lamp powered by it's own battery.

Bummer. 10/20w lamps are a bit too intrusive for my taste.

Get ones that are dimmable.

This one will be good:
Litepanels | LPMICRO Micro LED on Camera Light | LP MICRO | B&H

Look at this light, some people swear by them.

Sima | SL-20LX Universal LED On Camera Light | SL-20LX | B&H

There is also a 10x that is not as bright.

So there is enough to choose from.
With the assistence of the Z5 manual I managed to remove the Stainless Steel coverplate from the base of the Cold Shoe. Funny, what is the opurpose of the coverplate? There are nothing underneath that needs protection . . . Looks like Sony dislikes the look of the 4 countersunk screws . . .

I ended up velcroing this diffuser to the 10/20.
LumiQuest | Soft Screen Diffuser | LQ051D1 | B&H Photo Video

Any idea? Because suppose I leave the coverplate on until I need to put something on the Cold Shoe, I may lack the possesion of a knife to get the coverplate off . . .

I don't understand.... There is never any reason to take the plate off. It is designed to mount any non-hot device just the way it is. Removing it does not give you "hot" capability. Why would you ever want to remove it??????

Because I tried to get something on it and it would not fit until I took the plate out.
And by the way, it was not a hot piece of gear.

Greg I don't know about your metal plate on the FX1000 but on the Z5 is loose and with a sudden movement of the camera especially up and down you get the noise created by the loose plate recorded from the microphones right below it. Try it and see, but you have to wear headphones to hear it.

Stelios

Stelios, that seems odd to me. On my Z5, the metal plate has 2 sprung metal tongues in the grooves, which hold them secure - no rattling whatsoever. Perhaps on your particular example, the springs have got flattened slightly, allowing the plate to rattle. A simple solution may be to remove the plate "re-spring" the tongues and replace it. Or just leave it off...

Steve
Thanks for your reply. That was it. Took the plates out (the front one was difficult to get it out) and "re-spring" the tongues as you have suggested and that did the trick. No more rattling.
I love these forums!!!

Stelios

Glad I managed to help with something!

Steve
I see from your profile that you have both, Sony Vegas 8.0/8.1 and Corel VideoStudio 12. I also have Corel VideoStudio 12. I (Pro X2) and I am thinking of getting Vegas, Is it really that better from VideoStudio to justify the extra cost? Did you find it it easy to learn as easy as ViseoStudio? I have downloaded Vegas 7 last year (demo) but I found it very difficult and cumbersome to operate (compared ofcourse to VideoStudio). Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Stelios

Stelios
VideoStudio is certainly simpler to use than Vegas initially but with that simplicity comes limitation. Vegas has far more potential complexity but allows much more creative control. The level of complexity is totally within your control - depending on what you want to achieve - starting with simple cuts with a single timeline, to really complex multi-track extravaganzas. That's part of the beauty of it.

Really, the only reason I got VideoStudio 12 was to have access to previous projects, as I couldn't get Movie Studio Pro to install under VISTA. Movie Studio Pro was far superior to VideoStudio but still nowhere near as versatile as Vegas.

In Linux I have also used Cinelerra but you really need to know what's going on under the hood to be able to use all it's capabilities (command line stuff in preference to graphical UI).
I did produce some good results with it but, unless you're using it on a daily basis, the learning curve is really too steep to produce really complex projects.

My main reason for switching from Cinelerra/ManDVD on Linux was for the quicker, simpler workflow of Vegas/DVDA and the greater versatility of DVDA in terms of building menus etc. I'm still finding my way round Vegas (and a slightly different method of doing things compared to Cinelerra) but it's getting there slowly and with the help of the guys on here and SCS forums.

I guess, when it comes down to it, that's what you pay the extra for.

Sony Vegas Studio Versions come with a built in tutorial that makes it pretty darn simple to use. It has a little hand that even shows you where to click on things. There is no way it could be easier to use.

Did you check out kdenlive?
 

Did you check out kdenlive? While not as powerful in terms of features as Cinelerra, kdenlive is far easier to use, and its is making good progress in being able to handle AVCHD videos. kdenlive is based on ffmpeg, and updates are coming fast and furious with both kdenlive and ffmpeg in this area. For example the Linux equivalent of nVidia's Pure Video (known as vdpau) is now being supported by ffmpeg.

One needs to install the latest svn versions of both kdenlive and ffmpeg in order to obtain the necessary behaviour/performance. Some distributions are better than others in offering compiled versions of the latest ffmpeg/kdenlive svns.

So guys what Vegas program shat I get? There are so may out there (Vegas 7, Vegas 8, Vegas 9 Vegas Studio...), Some help will be appreciated.

Stelios

P.S. Sorry if the subject changes a bit from the initial thread.

Stelios, I recommend just purchasing the newest version of Vegas Movie Studio. But you should visit the link below and post your question there, its all about Vegas and they are very helpful.

What Happens in Vegas... - The Digital Video Information Network

Shoemount
 

Does it not have a little plastic clip on? (you can use any kind even from a still camera, that will stop the noise)
Jo the metal plate is suposed to be there it is the "spring" plate to keep your acces. in place.
Ed

It's a great little light and once you've put a Lumiquist Mini Soft-box diffuser in place, it's even better. You lose some light of course, but people won't be squinting as you film them. Once diffused it covers far more wide-angle, too.

tom.

I know this is getting OT but I have a Swit LED light and it is awesome. I replaced my 10/20 with it. Uses the same batteries and you can locate the battery anywhere on the camera to balance it out. It also has a dimmer.

Is this what you use Rob?

S-2010 On Camera LED Light with S-7200F Bracket for Sony

I'd like to see pics of it mounted, do you know of any?

Jeff, that's it. Originally it was made for Varizoom but there was some kind of lawsuit with Litepanels so Vaizoom stopped selling them. If you go to the Varizoom site there is a picture but it's not great. I mount it on the top of the handle. When I used my WA lens it was nice because it balanced the camera. I used to use the 970 battery but now I use the one that came with the Z5. With the 970, I never came close to exhausting the battery. It seems like it would be flimsy but I've been using it for 1 1/2 years now. The dimmer is a must. It also has a diffuser the gives you good light coverage on the 16:9. I've recently been looking at the new Torch by Switronix. It has a built in battery so I'm assuming much lighter. We should make a separate thread on this.

VariZoom Lens Controls - Camera Controls, Stabilization Systems, Shoulder Supports, Tripods and Heads, LED Lights, Cranes, Monitors, Batteries

Switronix Product Details

light
 

That is a great little light but the price is frightening I bought a SL-20LX Sima LED light with build in batt. for $79. cnd. and have seen similar ones at US sites for $49. us.
You can clip more then one together for more light (on one shoe) or have a spare one for longer use. They are very bright and give a nice neutral light. I likely will get at least one more.
I am playing with "softening" methods and do a custom WB when in use.
Ed

I just can't imagine not having a dimmer. Even one of those Sima's is too bright to do an interview with unfortunately. A dimmer is just necessary for me. But the Sima's are a great value.

It is a little pricey but if it helps make your job easier and you use it for paying jobs, why not. I have a quick setup and I don't have to drag a big battery & cord around. I now wonder how I ever worked without it.