[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

you may want to consider a polarizer filter...

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

A GOOD camera arm. Period.

A GOOD audio set up.. without one you will hate the sound you may get.

Justin is really the dude to talk to about this stuff.. but there's a remote controller that we use that mounts on the camera arm. It is single finger controlled and operates everything from zoom to record and even manual and auto focus.. but I forget who makes ours. It is FANTASTIC.. you won't want to film without it.

(and with that the "shotgunning a beer" avatar is back.)

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

A high quality shotgun mic and wind filter. Sound can make the difference between an okay video and a great video.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

it just seems the most natural... ha ha ha! dubbyas bad ways have rubbed off on me...except for the whole dip thing...I find it sexy for him to do it...but I won't TOUCH IT! ;)

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Nice.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Good lord your into hunting, drinking AND you thinkin dippin is sexy!!?? do you have a sister by any chance??


oh and since you have the actual video quality down, the audio is the next thing. I use to be really into videography..i wish i could remember more from what i had learned so i could help yah out on picking a nice audio set up

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Yeah she's a real B....uh....witch ......just ask her hubby! ;)

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Your inbox is full DT

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Wow, i just typed out a long response and lost it...im kinda ticked! [:@]

Let me summarize and you can PM me if you have any questions...

Hopefuly you didnt spend all your money on the camera, cause the accessoriescan bealmost as expenisve!

Tree Arm
-HB Sniper Pro (top of the line arm, but not thecheapest)
-Hunter Cam Cradle (should be ok for your camera, but i have heard they can be a pain as well...)

Audio
- Boom mic: definately get a good set of mics for your camera. Sennheiser makes some awesome stuff. Definately check them out at B&H Photo & Video
- Wireless Mic: Samson Airline series - they are compact, great quality and run on a single AAA battery...
- Headphones: Get a nice set of on ear, or over the ear headphone for monitoring the audio while on stand.

Lighting
- Definately pic yourself up a nice camera light for shooting recoveries in the dark

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

HB Sniper Pro ($775)


Samsun Airline (I think they run about $250)



Bescor KLX-624D ($94.95)

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

If you want to shoot quality footage the best advice you can get is to learn to use all of the manual functions of your camera,you cannot rely on the cameras auto functions while shooting video in the outdoors,there are too many variables to contend with, and the best equipment in the world will not cover a camera operators inability to use his cameras setting correctly.

That being said always use some sort of stabilizer, whether it be a tree arm, or a tripod make sure to match the weight of the camera to the support device and always use a fluid head(also matched to the cameras weight). Audio is just as important as stated earlier, A quality shotgun mic. is a must pick one that uses a good suspension system and you won't have any motor noise or handling noise problems. Varizoom makes a quality rocker remote control that plugs into the LANC port and controls zoom and focus functions to keep handling of the camera to a minimum, but I would not say it is a must have.

Again the biggest thing is to intamately learn all your camera functions...........the XH A1 is not a beginners camera and will take some time to learn.

Good luck!

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

That is gospel right there. Learn how to use your manual focus, iris, all that stuff. It will dramatically improve your quality. Practice extensively before hitting the woods because in the moment of truth, everyone gets rattled. I find myself almost more nervous behind the camera than behind the bow. Buttons are tough to find when you are really jacked up. Definitely practice, especially on moving targets to maintain crisp focus.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Sorry, i am having problems with my internet connection at home and its makin me angry! haha


Studio 1 makes some good zoom controllers. You can check them out at http://www.studio1productions.com/zoom-controller-menu.htm

I use the ProZoom 2 ($199.95)

It allows you to zoom, focus, turn the camera on and off, start and stop recording, switch between auto and manual focus, as well as turn the screen display on and off.

They make one that is a little less expensive, but it has less features.




Also, check out the Manfroto 501 fluid head and legs...great set up, runs about $270

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

One of the guys I film with has the Manfroto head and tripod and it is awesome. The bolts on the head are very responsive (if that makes sense) meaning that you can tweak the tightness and move your camera very smoothly and not just have it flop around or be super tight, with nothing in between.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

So...am I reading right in that you have no experience videoing, but you have this new high end camera, and already have some company(s) that you are contracted with?

1. IMO, that camera is not one to be learning with. Unless your video is going to make it to a HD network, I would video in SD. I see a lot of guys picking up HD cams...but, again, IMO, HD is still a step into the future. Certainly, HD inserts a whole set of complications in editing. HD video does nothing if not broadcast in HD and viewed on an HD monitor.

2.Listen to the advice about the manual controls. There is no place in outdoors video for auto focus.

3. Even if you go with wireless mics, you are still going to want to use the onboard mic (or shotgun mic) for a separate audio channel. Wireless mics alone are not going to give you good ambient sounds.

4. Make sure you run a head cleaner often. Do not wait for the camera to give you the error message that says heads are dirty. Trust me on this...loose a whole day of great video and you learn your lesson.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Robin and others who are experienced,

I am in a similar boat as DropTine, but haven't bought any gear yet. What do you recommend as a good camera and accessoriesto start out with that will provide production quality for a budget conscious person.

I know I will have to drop some dough, but don't want to sell the bakery if you know what I mean.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Definately run both mics. Youwont have a problem easily doing that with your camera.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

I would recoment a Sony PD-170.

A lot of guys are getting Canon GL2s, but in my opinion, to get a GL2 set up for quality footage you are going to end up spending as much if not more than the cost of the PD170 (Audio adapters, etc.)

Also, the quality is definately noticable between the two.

The only down side to the PD170 is the 12X zoom as opposed to the canon's 20X

They are both good cameras to get started with!

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

PD170 is definitely a good one to start with, good call Mike. I completely agree about the GL2. They are attractive because of price at the start, but you need alot of accessories to get up to snuff with one.

As for the mics, you will definitely run both out in the woods. Ambient mic for nature sounds, lavs for voice. I usually have the ambient mic in my ear, and the lav mic earphone just hanging until interviews, cut-aways etc. With both in all the time, really hard to tell where the sounds are coming from (grunting, leaves crunching) Sounds liek they are coming from the center of your brain with both ear phones in!

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Agree with that. A GL-2 is going to get you going...we did two video's and quite a bit of our tv with one, and still have it. A used cam like a GL-2, an XL-1S, or Sony PD-170 or vx-2100 would be the ones I would look at. The Sony's def have a leg up on the low light capabilities. We just picked up an XL-1S used for a decent price used and are very happy with it. That is what the hog clip I posted up in this section was filmed with.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Haha, no kidding!

Also, try turning on a GL2 with a deer right below you [X(](rreeeaaaaarrr reeeeahhh!) The only thing youll be getting footage of is a white tail! [:-]

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

I may be able to get a local deal on the Canon XL-1S fully rigged for shooting hunts. The only thing I think I would need is the wireless mics. I'm also going to check out the Sonys.

Thanks for the help. Any other suggestions for me or Drop are greatly appreciated.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

LMAO! I laughed out loud when i read that. Thats what me and a friend are filming off and on with and it definitely is one noisy camera to start up. I also did some filming with the XL1 or maybe it was an XL2. I liked it better if one was going to be actually holding the camera. Downside was it doesnt have a LCD screen, which is no good in my book. I was humbled after our feeble attempts at filming this year. I dont see how you guys consistently do it right. It is a LOT harder maybe 3x or 4x harder than just bowhunting, as if thats not challenging enough.

Most people who dont do it or are just starting are fooled into thinking its as easy as just hanging an extra treestand on your setups and getting a decent camera. I know from experience it isnt. Good thing was my friend was the one who actually bought the GL2[X(]. We do still plan on filming turkey hunts. Filming on the ground is much much easier than in a treestand. So long as we stay hidden or use ground blinds, we should fair well on the turkey.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

We have never spooked an animal turning our GL2 on but it is noisy. IMO, you are going to do a better job with a cam if you don't try to use the lcd screen. Stick with the view finder.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Haha, it really isnt that bad, but it is noisy. I was just makin a funny! hah :D

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

If you ever plan on going solo into the woods an LCD screen is a must and the bigger the better...............Also in my opinion shoulder mount cameras like the XL1s are not good to learn with, they are bulky and need heavy duty camera arms/tripods to support thier weight, also i don't believe the XL1s gives any better video quality than the PD170 (I think the pd is just as good and kicks the XL1s butt in lowlight). If I were just starting out I would stick with a smaller pro-sumer with a large LCD screen and XLR inputs for great audio.

I shoot the Panasonic DVX100p and you cannot beat the picture quality, manual controls are easy to use and it has a big LCD (3.5") the only downside is the optical zoom (10x) but for bowhunting it works just fine.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

I agree completely. Using a tree arm it is 10X better to have a LCD screen. 95% of the time you are videoing with the camera nowhere close to your head/eye. The quality of the Canon cameras just cant compare the the Sonys in my opinion. Plus, the HD cameras are getting more and more affordable every day. Have you seen the LCD on the Sony V1U? Its huge and crystal clear! I think you can pick on up for around 4...

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

I hear what you guys are saying, but the used Panasonics and Sonys are over $1000 more than the used Canons with fewer accessories. HD isn't even a consideration since it is so new and not a necessity for what I'm looking to do.

The point you bring up about the self hunt/video and LCD monitor makes sense, especially when using a camera arm because you can't exactly lean out over the tree to keep your eye in the eye piece and not get busted. Would this be an option for the XL1?



That would be something you could add on for self hunts.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Not sure what that is, but i do know that you can purchase external LCD screens for the XLs. I think they are pricy though...

Trust me, go with the PD-170 ;)

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

Mike, I really like the Sonys, my mini-cam is a Sony and it's great, but the lowest priced used ones are all $2400 and up. I can't swing that and get accessories for it if I hope to stay married. ;)

Check this out:

http://lcd4video.com/index.html

7" screen for under $200. It would be nice for reviewing footage in the field too.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

I actually considered that before I bought my last camera.............A buddy had an XL1s for sale and I figured with an external monitor I could make it work..........the more i thought on it the worse the idea became. First off if it is raining you have no way to cover themonitor and still use it, second it's bulky how will you transport it back and forth from the tree without scratching it up or possibly breaking it, third, if you are going to add any shoe mount accesories where will you put the monitor?

The new Panasonic DVX100b models have come down in price and can be purchased for $2350 at reputable places, on ebay they should be going for far less, if they are not people are paying too much for them..........the DVX100p used to retail for $3500, but since the discontinuation of the DVc30 Panasonic slashed the price of the camera.That is another model to look for ,the DVC30, it uses 1/4" 3ccd has a 16x optical zoom and has manual controls similiar to the DVX100..........the only problem is they are no longer made, but if you can find one with low hours on it you should be able to get it for less than$1500 and it would be a great starter camera.;)

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

I see what you guys mean about the screens for tree arms, to a degree anyways. We don't use tree arms ourselves, but use shoulder mounts, so I don't have that experience.

I think lungbuster gave the good advice...starting out pick up a smaller pro-sumer and go with it. A GL-2, Sony VX2000 or 2100, or similar. Those you can pick up for say 12-1500 used with a warantee from B&H Photo and will be more than fine. All the talk about upgrading, best audio, etc is all great technical talk, but certainly not necessary. Just look at the tv shows out there and you will see that many of those shows are not paying much attention to top quality on the video and audio, LOL. Like Mr. Primos says...it ain't Hollywood.

We stay with those type cams for our bowfishing because they give us the needed mobility and light weight for filming out of the boat all day/night, and we have spit out some outstanding video (if I do say so myself...).

BTW, we will have a GL-2 for sale in a month or so.

RE: Any CAMERMEN..Need advice...please.
 

lungbuster, thanks for the input. I'll look around for that model too. From what you've said the Panasonics are WAAAYYY overpriced on Ebay. DVX100As and Bs for well over $2000 used.

I thought about what you had said with the monitor as well, and sinceI would mainly be using it for self-hunts it shouldn't be too much of a problem if I go that route, because I likely won't use it in the rain, and some of the smaller ones I found come with a nice padded case that would fit in the bag.

I should have an idea of what I'm going to decide to do in a few days because I want to get a camera soon to practice with for turkey season, which will be practice for archery season.

Keep hitting me with the ideas, I'm like a sponge soaking in all this good information. Thanks!