leave on. turn off? at DVinfo.net

Leslie Wand · March 9th, 2010, 11:37 PM

just wondering which is better....

my current assignment requires me shooting for 5>6 minutes, then waiting say 2>5 minutes before needing to record again.

is it better to leave the camera on for the 'down' time, or switch it off?

my only previous experience with this sort of scenario was way back with my sp rig - and turning it off was definitely the way to go if i wanted my batteries to last!

leslie

Jo Ouwejan · March 10th, 2010, 03:06 AM

I always switch the cam off under those circumstances. I would only leave it on, if I could expect any occurance that would happen unexpectedly and when it could not be repeated.

Leslie Wand · March 10th, 2010, 05:26 AM

thanks jo,

that's what i was thinking / doing. but with all this new technology i was wondering if, like fluoro lights, they're best left on rather than straining their ballasts, or whatever, if anything, a modern camcorder can strain ;-)

leslie

Bill Ackerman · March 10th, 2010, 07:26 AM

I tend to leave the camera on. The F970 battery has never pooped out on me during the session. I use shot transition quite a bit and the A/B settings are cleared when the Z5 is powered off.

Mark Hendren · March 10th, 2010, 11:36 AM

I would leave it on, but hit the record button a few seconds before the event starts happening. When it goes into standby mode, it takes a second or two to crank back up.

Mark Wheelan · March 10th, 2010, 02:05 PM

As Bill noted about the transition settings, they reset when you power down. There are a few other setting that do the same although I can't remember them off hand. I keep the cam on most of the 4-5 hour day. If a shot takes ~2h'rs I'll swap battery as I set up for the next shot. Only once have accessed 3 batteries in 1 day. (I roll tape and CF in studio)

I keep 4x F970 and 2x F770 on hand as practice. I'm not rich by any means but batteries are expendable and acceptable to drive into the ground as needed to maintain continuity of the job.

About Batteries: My experience with consumer video cameras is that Sony batteries are more reliable in both length of time and reporting of power levels. Too many times have I had cameras with other brands of battery's go from 1/2 charged to dead in a matter of minutes. The more expensive Sony's tend to be accurate and gives me one less thing to worry about when shooting.

March 9th, 2010, 11:37 PM	#1
Leslie Wand Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: upper hunter, australia Posts: 1,410	leave on. turn off? just wondering which is better.... my current assignment requires me shooting for 5>6 minutes, then waiting say 2>5 minutes before needing to record again. is it better to leave the camera on for the 'down' time, or switch it off? my only previous experience with this sort of scenario was way back with my sp rig - and turning it off was definitely the way to go if i wanted my batteries to last! leslie

March 10th, 2010, 11:36 AM	#5
Mark Hendren Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 70	I would leave it on, but hit the record button a few seconds before the event starts happening. When it goes into standby mode, it takes a second or two to crank back up. __________________ Mark Hendren, Mark Five Productions www.markfiveproductions.com

March 10th, 2010, 03:06 AM	#2
Jo Ouwejan Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Veenendaal, Holland Posts: 225	I always switch the cam off under those circumstances. I would only leave it on, if I could expect any occurance that would happen unexpectedly and when it could not be repeated.

March 10th, 2010, 05:26 AM	#3
Leslie Wand Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: upper hunter, australia Posts: 1,410	thanks jo, that's what i was thinking / doing. but with all this new technology i was wondering if, like fluoro lights, they're best left on rather than straining their ballasts, or whatever, if anything, a modern camcorder can strain ;-) leslie

March 10th, 2010, 07:26 AM	#4
Bill Ackerman Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rio Chango, Brazil Posts: 112	I tend to leave the camera on. The F970 battery has never pooped out on me during the session. I use shot transition quite a bit and the A/B settings are cleared when the Z5 is powered off.

March 10th, 2010, 02:05 PM	#6
Mark Wheelan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kern County, Calif Posts: 53	As Bill noted about the transition settings, they reset when you power down. There are a few other setting that do the same although I can't remember them off hand. I keep the cam on most of the 4-5 hour day. If a shot takes ~2h'rs I'll swap battery as I set up for the next shot. Only once have accessed 3 batteries in 1 day. (I roll tape and CF in studio) I keep 4x F970 and 2x F770 on hand as practice. I'm not rich by any means but batteries are expendable and acceptable to drive into the ground as needed to maintain continuity of the job. About Batteries: My experience with consumer video cameras is that Sony batteries are more reliable in both length of time and reporting of power levels. Too many times have I had cameras with other brands of battery's go from 1/2 charged to dead in a matter of minutes. The more expensive Sony's tend to be accurate and gives me one less thing to worry about when shooting.