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The HVX BootCamp DVD $59.95 The HVX BootCamp DVD is the ultimate training DVD set for the revolutionary Panasonic HVX200/HVX202 camera. Brought to you by the same people who put on the HD BootCamp training seminars (and from the author of The HVX Book and The DVX Book) the HVX BootCamp DVD is over three hours of intensive camera instruction. Hosted by Barry Green, the world’s leading authority on the HVX, you’ll learn ever… |
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SanDisk Extreme 16GB SDHC Flash Memory Card SDSDX-016G-X46,Black $14.06 HD VIDEO… |
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Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, 1080p Widescreen Video Calling and Recording (960-000764) $74.49 The Logitech 960-000764 C920 HD Pro Webcam takes video call quality to another level with its 1080p high-definition video capture. It also has a maximum resolution of 15MP to provide photos with amazing quality. This webcam has a built-in dual stereo microphone, making it ideal for video calls. With these features, video conferencing has never been as much fun; get one now…. |
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Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 $62.53 Keep everyone up to date with breathtaking Full HD 1080p video recording. Enjoy widescreen HD 720p video on most major IMs and Logitech Vid HD. You can be sure you’ll be heard – thanks to dual stereo microphone…. |
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Samsung PN58C8000 58-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV (Black) $2,799.99 Samsung’s new C8000 Series plasma flat panelHDTVs represents our best design innovations and performance found in our 2010 line of Plasma TVs. First impressions begin with an elegantly styled brushed metal gray cabinet that measures a mere 1.5″ deep. Lighter in weight, more efficient than our previous designs, our feature innovations offer a more powerful Internet@TV with customizable access to In… |
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Panasonic TC-L42U22 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV $799.95 Advanced 1080p technology for TV lovers. VIERA® U22 Series LCD HDTVs provide a hi-definition 1080p display for your favorite digital photos, movies, video games and TV shows…. |
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Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV $1,599.95 Panasonic TCP50G10 provides the incredible clarity and the best viewing experience, you can now enjoy a complete web entertainment even without your pc. Panasonic has been dedicated to bringing new picture with improved technologies, by addition of Amazon’s VOD streaming video service. The VIERA G10 Plasma series include many features like the Viera cast web menu, Viera image viewer and THX certif… |
High Definition Multi Camera
HIGH DEFINITION MULTI-CAMERA
On March 26th I directed our first HDCAM multi-camera job using six Sony HDW-F900 camcorders. It was a great experience that brought to light several things that you should consider if you do a similar job.
First, some details. We were shooting two performances by stand up comedian Omid Djalili at the London Palladium. The production company that hired us has used Procam before to shoot performances by comedian Ross Noble and other comic acts. The end use will be for a DVD release and possibly television broadcast.
We were asked to use F900s because the company wanted the best quality HDCAM images possible. And of course, shooting in HDCAM increases the opportunity for international sales. After speaking to HD expert Paul Wheeler, we opted to shoot in 50i, the interlaced setting used for television broadcast in the UK and Europe (PAL). Paul suggested this to get more of a live look than using a progressive scan setting (film look) would achieve. (A previous E-Zine covered the difference between the progressive scan and interlace settings).
Downconverters
Using the F900 meant having to put downconverters on the back of every camera. This is because the F900 only has a component HDCAM output. To effectively direct the shoot I needed to watch the images from all six cameras at a basic gallery we set up backstage. Using the camera’s component (RGB) output would require running three cables from each camera to our backstage monitoring set-up much more of a hassle and cost than running a single BNC from each downconverter using the HD SDI output. Also, the camera operators needed to use the camera’s HD component output to feed the 7-inch HD LCD monitors we mounted on their camcorder handles so they didn’t have to stare into the viewfinder for 90 minutes solid to monitor their shots.
Our engineer concluded that downconverters, particularly older models, are often not to be trusted for judging the sharpness of the focus and the exposures. You have to be very careful. We have some brand new Miranda downconverters and they were fine when you used the HD SDI output. On the engineering bench at our premises, we discovered that when using the SD (standard definition) SDI output the results are best when the camera is set to 24P. Otherwise, the image tends to be soft and the exposure you see on the monitor is not the same as that on the recorded image. The best signal came from the HD component outputs on the camera itself.
HD BNC Cables
A couple of comments here. First, if you’re using an HD SDI output and you need to run more than ten metres of cable you need to use BNC cables that are made to carry HDCAM signals. These cables are thicker and capable of carrying more information. A standard BNC cable just can’t handle carrying the signal over more than several metres and you won’t see anything on the monitoring end.
Second, one of our HDCAM cables was about ten metres shorter than we needed. We tried using a barrel to join two HD BNC cables and it didn’t do the job. So we had to use the SD (standard definition) composite video output on the downconverter which, as explained above, is not ideal. To get around the problem of looking at images that appeared to be soft and overexposed, I kept checking with the camera operator using the comms system to make sure he considered the image sharp. As for the exposures, our engineer looked at the images through an HD wave form monitor to confirm they were good.
HD LCD Monitors
In our backstage gallery we used two models of monitors discussed in an earlier E-Zine: the Panasonic BT-LH1700WE 17-inch LCD monitor and the Sony LMD-9050 LCD monitor. This was the first time I had personally worked with them. Both are HD monitors and both are excellent. Using these new monitors has eliminated previous concerns I had about LCD monitors not being able to deliver the same quality of image as CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors. The colours were true, the images sharp and the brightness and contrast were consistent no matter which angle you were viewing the monitors from. They are also light and take up less space. And let’s not forget, they’re environmentally friendlier.
Summary
To sum up, if you’re using the F900 for a multi-camera job, use the latest model of downconverter, use HD compatible BNC cable for longer runs and by all means use the new models of HD LCD monitors. And of course, watch your focus! Keep it sharp.
Paul Wheeler DVDs
We have some more DVDs available with the interview I did with Paul Wheeler on high definition in December. If you’d like a free copy just e-mail me at cal@procamtv.com.
Until next time, happy shooting.
Cal Barton,
Procam Television
www.procamtv.com
About the Author
www.procamtv.com
Panasonic Video Camera High Definition