Again, thank you. Does the transcoding software come with the camera? If so then its not really a big issue. If its an extra cost then thats another matter.
@sunderlandoful - well, I use Final Cut Pro 7 that has a built-in "Log and Transfer" function that does the transcoding for you. I know iMovie has a similar function. You won't need to buy anything extra with either of those two software programs. Final Cut Pro X has even better support for file-based media.
By The way, I finally wanted to ask you about stabalisation. Are you using any rigs whilst filming the footage around 2:55 onwards as it looks very steady without any wabble at all.
@sunderlandoful - Yes, I have a Steadicam Merlin that I use with the AG-HMC40. This video demonstrates my first attempt at using it with this camera. It takes lots of practice but eventually ends up being a great tool.
Thank you very much. I do like the HMC41. Its a toss up between that and the Sony NX70. Does the footage from the HMC40 import directly into imovie or does it need to be converted first?
@sunderlandoful - I don't use iMove much so I can't speak with authority on import issues. I can say that transcoding the footage before editing is not near the big deal many make it out to be. It's basically like copying the clips from your media card to your hard drive. Not quite as fast but it also gets the footage to a much more edit-frienly format anyway. If skipping transcoding is important to you, then certainly research that. For me, it's not an issue that would make me change cameras.
All those thoughts have recently gone through my mind and I have been going back and forth from what to plunge into. I cant afford to make a mistake with this. I was also leaning towards a Sony NX70 but I hear they have import compatibility problems with imovie.
Im pretty much stuck in the mud here and I need to make a decision soon. There seems to be just too much choice for a budding wedding videographer.
@sunderlandoful - well, you're not alone in your difficulty to make a decision. You don't want to make a wrong choice and waste hard-earned money. I'd caution against the DSLR route for just that reason...as they aren't true video cameras, you'll end up having to purchase add-ons to get it to do what you need and the constant work-arounds can get old quick, especially in a run-and-gun situation. I host a Facebook Group for Panasonic AG-HMC40 Users that you might find useful. Search for it on FB.
Thank you very much. The only thing that is putting me off getting a DSLR is the stabalization issues that I have seen. I will be mostly handheld filming weddings etc and the footage of the DSLR Cameras look really unsteady (without tripod). Im also looking for something with a professional videographer look to it as this is important to unknowledgeable clients who may be turned off by the sight of a camera that takes video footage.
@sunderlandoful - those are valid concerns. Several different companies manufacture hand-held stabilization rigs for DSLRs that provide better grip and balance capabilities for the smaller cameras. You can also buy rod support systems, matte boxes, follow focus units, etc. for your DSLR that make them look more substantial and "cinematic." I personally prefer the video camera route but the advantage of the DSLR route is inexpensive access to the larger chip and better, interchangeable lenses.
@sunderlandoful - if low-light performance is the number one goal, you might look at going the DSLR-that-shoots-video route. These cameras have larger chips and faster lenses that will perform better in low light. You give up a whole lot of other "video camera" features but many are willing to do so at that price range. To be honest, if you learn work-arounds to the general low-light limitations of small-chip cameras, you really shouldn't have much of a problem. I rarely do. Good luck!
@BluemelsGardenCenter - Absolutely! Just be aware of its few limitations. The small chips won't give you a shallow depth of field unless you open up the aperture and zoom in. Also, the low light performance is limited unless you're able to slow down the shutter speed to allow more light to saturate the chips. Other than that, the camera produces beautiful, 1080i or 720p (or 1080p) images without any upscaling or artifacting. Good luck!
@photoimely - oh, yeah, you have fully manual controls with this camera. Focus, iris and shutter speed are all fully manual (when in manual mode) and there are several white balance and maximum gain settings. The only thing missing is a manual ND filter control. And there are many custom image setting controls in the menu system. Pretty "professional" camera for such a small package and small price. It does have very small chips, though, so don't expect stellar low-light performance at first.
@photoimely - thanks for the feedback. I used a polarizing filter in many of the shots during shooting to help make the colors pop. I added a bit of saturation in some of the shots during post to help match shots will less color to the remaining shots. All camera settings as their default "zero" settings. What you see is pretty true to what the camera records.
@CocoIsEvil - that's a manual rack focus. Shooting with an open iris and zoomed in will give you a shallower depth of field, even with this small-chip camera.
Can u tell me what computer system you are downloading to and what editing program. I have an IBM with Vista and seems to be to weak for this camera. I was thinking about buying an I-Mac. I heard it is easy to download and convert with this camera and a Mac. So, basically I have an expensive paper weight in the form of a camera that I love but cant use. Please help-thanks,
@wowbropro - I responded to your comment via a personal message so that I could include more information than allowed here.
As an overview, though, I use a Mac Pro with Final Cut Pro 7. The Log and Transfer process that imports the clips and transcodes them to ProRes works quite well.
Any of the current line of iMacs will work fine as long as you're not doing lots of multi-layer compositing and heavy color correction; you'll need a desktop machine that can connect to a RAID array for that.
@Reubennss - I don't think you'll be disappointed as long as the specs and features meet your requirements. I just purchased a matte box and rails system for mine and am anxious to see how they perform. Good luck!
@MikeNicholsonVideos - Thanks for the kind words. I'm not familiar with an HMC410 model. Mine is the AG-HMC40 which, to my understanding, is simply the U.S. version of the AG-HNC41.
I have bee looking at this camera, and I have been looking on youtube for some good test footage with this camera, and I would have to say that yours is the best. Do you think this is a good camera to purchase?
@CodyKidMac - Thanks for the kind words. In choosing a camera, you really have to evaluate your needs as a shooter and compare that with what each camera offers. If this camera includes the features you need and is compatible with the rest of your equipment and software, then I can definitely advise that this camera is a great value. The image quality and feature list this camera offers is quite impressive, especially for the price. Let me know if you have specific questions about it.
I just purchased this camera however I have not shot any video. Your video shots are very nice. What resolution were you shooting at and did you get the depth of field shots from the camera? The reason I ask about the depth of field is because I don't see any ND settings on the camera.
@MrKjsdata - Thanks for the kind words. This camera features an automatic ND filter that kicks in at f/2.8 as you close the iris. After absorbing 2.5 stops of light, the iris then continues to close again. Kind of weird. For better control, I use screw-on ND filters. To maximize the DoF, shoot with an open aperture (iris) and a long focal length (zoomed in). Adding an ND filter will allow for a more open aperture and decreasing shutter speed can help, too. Open up, back up and zoom in.
@dmsflorida I actually did have a couple questions. My first question is, how much is the xlr microphone that you can buy for it? Because I noticed that it doesn't come with it, but you can buy one for it. And would you suggest that I get an external microphone, or just use the one that comes with it?
@CodyKidMac - The Panasonic XLR microphone adapter (AG-MYA30G) retails for $325 and provides dual XLR inputs for use with any line/mic source. It's very useful. You can then purchase Panasonic's AG-MC200G (retail $400) or any microphone system that mounts on an accessory shoe. Alternatively, you can use a handheld or stand mic and plug an XLR cable into the adapter. I use a Rode VideoMic with my setup; it can attach to the camera or be mounted on a boom. For quality audio, use an external mic.
@dmsflorida except whats matrix, Knee and detail coring, the rest pretty much know. Isnt matrix the 4:2:2 but that doesnt really give you much options just 4:2:2 and 4:2:1 or whatever but effects colors slightly right?
@BBrtqB - @BBrtqB - probably the best way to answer this (because of the limited space available in the comments section) is to suggest you go download the camera user guide from the Panasonic Website.
A brief overview is as follows: Matrix has to do with how the camera reproduces colors in different lighting conditions. Knee adjusts how the camera represents light levels at the brightest end of the exposure. Detail coring adjustments attempt to reduce video noise.
I have been looking for a professional camera that fits my price range. I have been looking for a video on youtube and I have to say yours is the best and I LOVE to see my hometown in a very clear video. What format did you use to encode?
@blueraycrazy2006 - Thanks for the feedback! I shot the footage in the camera's highest quality PH mode, encoded the video as a QuickTime movie at around 8,000 kbps and then uploaded to YouTube where it gets re-encoded.
can anyone help me? im using a windows based computer and connect my SDHC card into the slot at the top, but cannot import the cpi file or mts file into adobe premiere pro! how is everyone getting it onto the computer without quality loss? Thanks
I just got my camcorder today but I'm having a problem connecting Sennheiser ME64 and K6 to the mic jack on ag-hmc40. The cable I used was Pearstone LMT100. I consulted the audio specialist at B&H and was told this pearstone LMT100 will do its work to connect ME64 to ag-hmc40. Do you have any idea what's going on?
Wow, you know, I purchased that same pearstone cable adapter years ago (I still have it) and it didn't work when I got it. So I opened it up and I realized I needed to sauder ('weld') a cable that was disconnected, problem fixed and it was all good. That's my two cents, take a look inside I'm pretty sure it's that.
I looked into the cable, bought brand new battery for the mic, still nothing worked. If I unplug the cable, I have sound from the built-in mic and the mic levels are clearly seen on the LCD screen. The minute this pearstone LMT100 is plugged in, No Sound at all. The mic level on the LCD showed nothing. Have you also used other cables, StuartHaight? This cable destroyed my joyfulness of receiving this new camcorder and I'm frustrated for its now spring break everywhere is closed..
-the microphone has no battery which means that it requires phantom +48 Volts
-the mic itself is bad
I just realized that's a $500 mic 0_0, are you sure that is a 'shotgun' microphone capable for these kinds of applications for directional or uni-directional capture?
If you can, upload a video of your setup with a separate camera showing the issue. Otherwise I'd say that the microphone itself is bad.
StuartHaight, thanks for being so helpful. My other camcorder uses tape so I'm unable to upload the setting up video. But I've done quite a lot of tests:
1. I connected Sennheiser ME64 and K6 to Sony PD170, using XLR adapter and XLR female to male cable, it worked on that camcorder, and I think this means that ME64 and K6 are workable;
2. I connected Zoom H4 to the mini stereo mic jack on Panasonic ag-hmc40, using a XLR female to stereo mini male, it worked on ag-hmc 40, this means the mini mic jack is working;
3. I detached the external mic and used the built-in mic in ag-hmc40, the audio is working perfectly fine.
That's good that the source of the error is just a cheep cable. Since it does an XLR signal to phono signal, there is actually a transformer in the xlr end of the adapter cable, so one of those wires might be disconnected, just get a replacement one.
Hopefully this just ends up being a cable issue and you get it worked out. The best solution I was able to come up with is to purchase the Panasonic AG-MYA30G Microphone adapter and the Rode VXLR Mini-to-XLR adapter. I just keep the Panasonic device attached at all times; it's always ready to go for when I need to plug in a mic with an XLR cable and when I need to plug in a mic with a mini jack cable, I just pop on the Rode adapter and go that way.
I went ahead and purchased 2 Panasonic VW-VBG6PPK (7.2V, 5800mAh) batteries. They're about $150 each from B&H. They last a good 6 hours or so depending on your shooting style.
thank u so much dmsflorida. I like the coloring and the framing of your shots so much. would you think the Manfrotto 585 ModoSteady 3-in-1 Camera/Camcorder Stabilizer and Support System will also do the work that your Steadicam Merlin does? I'll be shooting outdoor, mountains and heavy wind. A tripod is too heavy for me..
The Manfrotto 585 will definitely allow you to achieve more stable shots as compared with handheld shooting while standing still, at least. As far as walking shots, you might have an issue with bounce since the device is being supported by your body instead of being supported without direct contact with your person. I've not used the device, though, so I couldn't say for sure. For $100 though, I'd think it's worth giving it a try.
Yes, I use a Mac Pro 3.0 GHz Quad Core with 8 GB of memory and Final Cut Studio 3. Works like a charm. Also important is using fast external hard drives for your video files. I've been using the G-Technology G-Speed eS drives for about 16 months and they've been great. A big investment, for sure, but will last you a while if you take care of everything.
Hi again: ) Just placed my order. I ordered the Manfrotto 585. Another question for you ( more to come if you won't say no): what SDHC card do you use? I'm thinking about the Transcend SDHC 16GB. There will be no stable electricity in the place where I'd be shooting so I'm looking for SDHC cards (2 to 3 pieces) that will accommodate 2-3 batteries (one 2640 plus two 5400 I guess). Do you have any suggestions? Thanks for your previous helpful answers and I'm very appreciate of that.
Congratulations! I think you'll enjoy the camera quite a bit. It's a great piece of equipment and a great value.
This is the first device I've owned that uses SDHC cards so I'm a bit of a novice here. I originally purchased two inexpensive Delkin Devices 16GB cards and, while they recorded and transferred just fine, the build quality was questionable. So I purchased two Panasonic 16GB Class 10 cards. Probably overkill but I didn't want to be burned again. I'm sure most name brands are fine.
Hey very nice steady cam shots. How did you make those? I just bought this camera. May I ask, if you know, if you shoot say an hour worth of video, without stopping, how many files does it make on the card and have you had any problem stitching them together in editing? This is a FAT32 hard drive and only makes about a 4.2gb file as I recall. Can you comment? thanks,
The Steadicam shots were captured using a Steadicam Merlin. It's a handheld stabilizer for small, lightweight cameras. The shots in this video were the first ones I attempted with the HMC40 so I'm sure they'll improve as I get more practice. I'm more used to my HVX200.
I've not shot any clips that create files larger than 4GB so I can't say for sure what the process for combining them is. I'm fairly certain it just creates clips that you can edit together back to back.
Yeah, I was fairly certain about that too with the JVC Everio that i bought a year ago. But, as I found out, the sound drops off right before the end of the clip. When I called tech support, they basically said tuff. Its a Youtube camera. What????? LOL. Anyway, it might just be that JVC so I went ahead and bought one of these last week and am just crossing my fingers.
Not quite sure what you're asking. The nature of HD video makes the shots very clear as long as focus, white balance and exposure are set properly. These settings can be automatic or manual. I usually like to set everything manually unless I'm in a hurry.
If you can provide a little more explanation as to what you're asking, I'd be glad to provide a more detailed response.
Beautiful pictures. I own the same camera but I didn't have the chance to make these beautiful shots yet. In some scenes there seems to be a bit of vignetting, were you using a wide angle lens ? Thanks...
Thanks for the feedback. It helps that I live near sunny, tropical weather!
Yes, I used a wide-angle lens on top of a protective filter in some of the shots. That's the cause of the vignetting. If you just use the wide angle lens without an additional filter, vignetting is a very minimal problem, if at all.
Yes, as a matter of fact I've shot a lot of footage in 24p. It works very well! As with any 24 fps system, you have to be aware of your camera movements such as pans, tilts, etc. so you don't end up with a stuttering effect. The camera's data rate is actually at its best in 24p as the bits can be allocated over the fewest amount of frames and pixels. Also, you have the option of shooting at 30p and 60p (in 720p mode) to create some nice slow motion effects. Great camera for the price!
Thanks for posting this. I just put this camera on my Amazon wish list last night, and after seeing your footage, I'm looking forward to getting it even more. It's astounding to me that you can get such an amazing camera nowadays for less than $2,000.
wow, I was kind of on the fence about this camera, but seeing your footage is definitely making me lean to making that purchase....I have his bigger brother the hmc150 and it looks like they would really compliment each other in the field and on the set.
I haven't tested low-light performance too much but, so far, I'd say it's a little better than expected from 1/4" chips, a small aperture and tiny 1920x1080 pixels. Slowing the shutter, keeping movement to a minimum and using a little gain has been beneficial.
I plan on posting more tests and will definitely shoot some low-light footage.
This video HD is lightweight, does not stop, good color, you could share that editor did you use and what are the specifications? thanks in advance, sorry for my poor English, greetings.
I edited the video myself; since it was just demo footage the editing didn't need to be too fancy. The footage was actually a mix of 1080 and 720 footage at 24p and 30p. I normally don't recommend mixing formats but as this was a test, I shot with a variety of settings.
I'd be glad to answer specific specification questions if you have them.
I have an HVX200 as well and love it. Once you get it tune to its strengths and weaknesses, you can really capture some fine images with it. The variable frame rate works great and DVCPRO HD codec is rock solid.
Truly awesome camera. I thought the sony 520ve was good but this much closer to broadcast quality. It probably would be broadcast quality if it werent for the compression on youtube.
Stunning scapes! Thank you for the movie and sharing your experience.
Though I noticed some jerkiness of the movement: for example boat is floating a little bit uneven (1:28, 1:37) - is it on my system only or what might cause the effect?
Fantastic shots! Really love Florida (I was there a month before your shooting :) and your movie does bring back the flavour of the place.
The jerkiness you're seeing is simply due to 24p clips being edited into a 30p timeline and encoded for YouTube at 30p. Generally I'd advise against mixing frame rates; this footage was shot for testing purposes so I did quite a bit of mixing of capture settings.
Well, with the limited low-light testing I've done thus far, the HMC40 performs a little better than one might expect by just looking at its specs. The chips are only 1/4" and the lens aperture is only 43mm so not much light illuminates the 1920x1080 pixels. With a slower shutter, a little gain and some experimentation with the picture settings, I think you can get some very usable low-light images. I've seen some samples online that look pretty good. I'll do more testing and post the results.
I'll preface my response by stating that almost any camera is good for making short films if you have a good story to tell. From a technical standpoint, though, this camera shoots 1080/24p and has pretty good manual control over images including menu settings that let you tailor the image to your liking. However, the CMOS chips are small, the lens is small and there are limited camera accessories thus far. On the whole, I have not doubt some wonderful short films will be shot with the AG-HMC40.
Well, it really depends on your budget. Don't underestimate the benefits of using a quality tripod. It's one of those items that might be hard to spend a lot of money on because it seems like such a simple product. But a quality tripod will sometimes be the piece of equipment that makes or breaks your shot. I'd take a look at Manfrotto and Sachtler kits in the $350 - $850 range; do a search on B&H for products that are compatible with your camera and buy the best one you feel you can afford.
I did use a polarizer on many of the shots. I obviously chose to shoot imagery with appealing visuals including shots with vivid colors. The great thing about living in Tampa is that we have nice shooting weather year-round!
Wow! Great footage, awesome soundtrack. This has persuaded us to buy this camera over a couple others we were considering. We're not professionals, just want a good camera. Out of curiosity, how much raw footage was shot to produce this piece? It's incredible! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words. I think you'll be quite satisfied should you decide to purchase this camera.
I shot around 6 hours of footage over the course of three days to put together this video. The shooting was very run-and-gun hopping from location to location with just the camera and a tripod.
I don't think you'll be disappointed with this camera as long as it meets your requirements. The feature set and image quality at this price is hard to beat.
I haven't noticed any rolling shutter issues unless I'm deliberately whip panning wildly back and forth to try to force the effect. I think the Panasonic 3MOS (3 separate CMOS sensors) system helps out a great deal over a single, large CMOS sensor found on many still and some video cameras.
The file uploaded to YouTube was a QuickTime movie exported from Compressor using the H.264 video codec at 3,000 kbps (30 fps) multi-pass VBR. The audio was AAC at 128 kbps (44.1 kHz). YouTube re-encoded to an MP4 using H.264 at about 2,000 kbps.
I'm curious to see how the upcoming 1080p YouTube footage will look.
The two places I found it was as "Auto Neutral Density" in the overview on the HMC40 website.
Also, listed in the brochure at the same site as ND Filter: Auto On/Off by IRIS. Seems as the IRIS is closed, the ND filters automatically slide into place.
Well, I did a bit of research on this. Apparently, when automatically or manually closing the iris, once an f/2.8 aperture setting is reached, the auto ND will kick in to absorb light as the f/stop is increased. Once the ND has absorbed the equivalent of 2.5 stops, the iris will then begin to actually close again until fully shut. This is a nice piece of technology but, unless I'm missing something, doesn't allow for using an ND filter for the purpose of shooting with a more open aperture.
Most professional and many prosumer cameras have a built-in neutral density filter used to cut down the amount of light entering the lens. This is useful when shooting outdoors on a bright day or when you want to shoot with a more open aperture. This camera doesn't have a built-in ND filter so, to have that functionality, you'd have to purchase a screw-on type filter that attaches to the end of the lens. They're fairly inexpensive.
I have no idea. I don't use PCs so I can't offer any advice. It obviously handles AVCHD footage from the AG-HMC40 camera, though, so at least you know you can do something with the footage.
No problems at all. I'm actually pretty impressed with the image quality and feature set at this price. There are a couple of "need-to-knows" though...
The white balance function is a little quirky, requiring a menu selection to set up. There's no built-in neutral density filter so you'll have to buy a lens add-on. There's no 1/48 shutter speed selection when using 24p; there is a 1/50, though. Final Cut Pro doesn't support the 720p60 format of AVCHD yet.
The 720p60 issue has been resolved with the Mac OS X 10.6.2 software update. 720p60 footage can now be imported into FCP and conformed with Cinema Tools.
The Synchro Scan feature will allow you to manually select a 1/48 shutter speed; in fact, you can manually select any shutter speed in 1/n.1 increments from 1/24 to 1/250.
Again, thank you. Does the transcoding software come with the camera? If so then its not really a big issue. If its an extra cost then thats another matter.
sunderlandoful 1 month ago
@sunderlandoful - well, I use Final Cut Pro 7 that has a built-in "Log and Transfer" function that does the transcoding for you. I know iMovie has a similar function. You won't need to buy anything extra with either of those two software programs. Final Cut Pro X has even better support for file-based media.
dmsflorida 1 month ago
By The way, I finally wanted to ask you about stabalisation. Are you using any rigs whilst filming the footage around 2:55 onwards as it looks very steady without any wabble at all.
sunderlandoful 1 month ago
@sunderlandoful - Yes, I have a Steadicam Merlin that I use with the AG-HMC40. This video demonstrates my first attempt at using it with this camera. It takes lots of practice but eventually ends up being a great tool.
dmsflorida 1 month ago
Thank you very much. I do like the HMC41. Its a toss up between that and the Sony NX70. Does the footage from the HMC40 import directly into imovie or does it need to be converted first?
sunderlandoful 1 month ago
@sunderlandoful - I don't use iMove much so I can't speak with authority on import issues. I can say that transcoding the footage before editing is not near the big deal many make it out to be. It's basically like copying the clips from your media card to your hard drive. Not quite as fast but it also gets the footage to a much more edit-frienly format anyway. If skipping transcoding is important to you, then certainly research that. For me, it's not an issue that would make me change cameras.
dmsflorida 1 month ago
All those thoughts have recently gone through my mind and I have been going back and forth from what to plunge into. I cant afford to make a mistake with this. I was also leaning towards a Sony NX70 but I hear they have import compatibility problems with imovie.
Im pretty much stuck in the mud here and I need to make a decision soon. There seems to be just too much choice for a budding wedding videographer.
sunderlandoful 1 month ago
@sunderlandoful - well, you're not alone in your difficulty to make a decision. You don't want to make a wrong choice and waste hard-earned money. I'd caution against the DSLR route for just that reason...as they aren't true video cameras, you'll end up having to purchase add-ons to get it to do what you need and the constant work-arounds can get old quick, especially in a run-and-gun situation. I host a Facebook Group for Panasonic AG-HMC40 Users that you might find useful. Search for it on FB.
dmsflorida 1 month ago
Thank you very much. The only thing that is putting me off getting a DSLR is the stabalization issues that I have seen. I will be mostly handheld filming weddings etc and the footage of the DSLR Cameras look really unsteady (without tripod). Im also looking for something with a professional videographer look to it as this is important to unknowledgeable clients who may be turned off by the sight of a camera that takes video footage.
sunderlandoful 1 month ago
@sunderlandoful - those are valid concerns. Several different companies manufacture hand-held stabilization rigs for DSLRs that provide better grip and balance capabilities for the smaller cameras. You can also buy rod support systems, matte boxes, follow focus units, etc. for your DSLR that make them look more substantial and "cinematic." I personally prefer the video camera route but the advantage of the DSLR route is inexpensive access to the larger chip and better, interchangeable lenses.
dmsflorida 1 month ago
superb footage. Could you recommend a similar camera (in terms of price) for lower light conditions?
sunderlandoful 1 month ago
@sunderlandoful - if low-light performance is the number one goal, you might look at going the DSLR-that-shoots-video route. These cameras have larger chips and faster lenses that will perform better in low light. You give up a whole lot of other "video camera" features but many are willing to do so at that price range. To be honest, if you learn work-arounds to the general low-light limitations of small-chip cameras, you really shouldn't have much of a problem. I rarely do. Good luck!
dmsflorida 1 month ago
Is this camera good enough to shoot a basic tv commercial if I use a wireless lapel mic and edit it in adobe premier pro 5
BluemelsGardenCenter 8 months ago
@BluemelsGardenCenter - Absolutely! Just be aware of its few limitations. The small chips won't give you a shallow depth of field unless you open up the aperture and zoom in. Also, the low light performance is limited unless you're able to slow down the shutter speed to allow more light to saturate the chips. Other than that, the camera produces beautiful, 1080i or 720p (or 1080p) images without any upscaling or artifacting. Good luck!
dmsflorida 8 months ago
Thanks for the quick response! Can you have 100% manual setting: iris, sh. speed and gain at the same time? Thanks again !
photoimely 1 year ago
@photoimely - oh, yeah, you have fully manual controls with this camera. Focus, iris and shutter speed are all fully manual (when in manual mode) and there are several white balance and maximum gain settings. The only thing missing is a manual ND filter control. And there are many custom image setting controls in the menu system. Pretty "professional" camera for such a small package and small price. It does have very small chips, though, so don't expect stellar low-light performance at first.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
Nice footage. Did you do any post color corrections or just camera preset? How many Gamma presets does it have? Thanks
photoimely 1 year ago
@photoimely - thanks for the feedback. I used a polarizing filter in many of the shots during shooting to help make the colors pop. I added a bit of saturation in some of the shots during post to help match shots will less color to the remaining shots. All camera settings as their default "zero" settings. What you see is pretty true to what the camera records.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
I noticed the scene at 0:24 that there is a cross focus is that a manual control on the camera or is it automatic
CocoIsEvil 1 year ago
@CocoIsEvil - that's a manual rack focus. Shooting with an open iris and zoomed in will give you a shallower depth of field, even with this small-chip camera.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
Can u tell me what computer system you are downloading to and what editing program. I have an IBM with Vista and seems to be to weak for this camera. I was thinking about buying an I-Mac. I heard it is easy to download and convert with this camera and a Mac. So, basically I have an expensive paper weight in the form of a camera that I love but cant use. Please help-thanks,
wowbropro 1 year ago
@wowbropro - I responded to your comment via a personal message so that I could include more information than allowed here.
As an overview, though, I use a Mac Pro with Final Cut Pro 7. The Log and Transfer process that imports the clips and transcodes them to ProRes works quite well.
Any of the current line of iMacs will work fine as long as you're not doing lots of multi-layer compositing and heavy color correction; you'll need a desktop machine that can connect to a RAID array for that.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
love it, im gonna buy this camera :)
Reubennss 1 year ago
Comment removed
TampaBayMediaGroup 1 year ago
@Reubennss - I don't think you'll be disappointed as long as the specs and features meet your requirements. I just purchased a matte box and rails system for mine and am anxious to see how they perform. Good luck!
dmsflorida 1 year ago
Nice video mate!
I havw the HMV41E - I think your footage looks better than mine, is the HMC410 a superior camera do you know?
MikeNicholsonVideos 1 year ago
@MikeNicholsonVideos - Thanks for the kind words. I'm not familiar with an HMC410 model. Mine is the AG-HMC40 which, to my understanding, is simply the U.S. version of the AG-HNC41.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
Lovdly quality video! I have the HMC41E, but yous looks better than mine if anything.
MikeNicholsonVideos 1 year ago
I have bee looking at this camera, and I have been looking on youtube for some good test footage with this camera, and I would have to say that yours is the best. Do you think this is a good camera to purchase?
CodyKidMac 1 year ago
@CodyKidMac - Thanks for the kind words. In choosing a camera, you really have to evaluate your needs as a shooter and compare that with what each camera offers. If this camera includes the features you need and is compatible with the rest of your equipment and software, then I can definitely advise that this camera is a great value. The image quality and feature list this camera offers is quite impressive, especially for the price. Let me know if you have specific questions about it.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
I just purchased this camera however I have not shot any video. Your video shots are very nice. What resolution were you shooting at and did you get the depth of field shots from the camera? The reason I ask about the depth of field is because I don't see any ND settings on the camera.
MrKjsdata 1 year ago
@MrKjsdata - Thanks for the kind words. This camera features an automatic ND filter that kicks in at f/2.8 as you close the iris. After absorbing 2.5 stops of light, the iris then continues to close again. Kind of weird. For better control, I use screw-on ND filters. To maximize the DoF, shoot with an open aperture (iris) and a long focal length (zoomed in). Adding an ND filter will allow for a more open aperture and decreasing shutter speed can help, too. Open up, back up and zoom in.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
@dmsflorida I actually did have a couple questions. My first question is, how much is the xlr microphone that you can buy for it? Because I noticed that it doesn't come with it, but you can buy one for it. And would you suggest that I get an external microphone, or just use the one that comes with it?
CodyKidMac 1 year ago
@CodyKidMac - The Panasonic XLR microphone adapter (AG-MYA30G) retails for $325 and provides dual XLR inputs for use with any line/mic source. It's very useful. You can then purchase Panasonic's AG-MC200G (retail $400) or any microphone system that mounts on an accessory shoe. Alternatively, you can use a handheld or stand mic and plug an XLR cable into the adapter. I use a Rode VideoMic with my setup; it can attach to the camera or be mounted on a boom. For quality audio, use an external mic.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
@dmsflorida Are there a variety of color options besides white balance, iris, shutter speed which all effect brightness?
BBrtqB 1 year ago
@BBrtqB - The Setup menu on the Panasonic AG-HMC40 includes the following adjustable parameters:
Detail Level, Detail Level Vertical, Detail Coring, Chroma Level, Chroma Phase, Color Temperature, Master Pedestal, Auto Iris Level, Dynamic Range Stretch, Gamma, Knee, Matrix, Skin Tone Detail.
Lots of choices to taylor the recorded image for your needs.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
Comment removed
BBrtqB 1 year ago
@dmsflorida except whats matrix, Knee and detail coring, the rest pretty much know. Isnt matrix the 4:2:2 but that doesnt really give you much options just 4:2:2 and 4:2:1 or whatever but effects colors slightly right?
BBrtqB 1 year ago
@BBrtqB - @BBrtqB - probably the best way to answer this (because of the limited space available in the comments section) is to suggest you go download the camera user guide from the Panasonic Website.
A brief overview is as follows: Matrix has to do with how the camera reproduces colors in different lighting conditions. Knee adjusts how the camera represents light levels at the brightest end of the exposure. Detail coring adjustments attempt to reduce video noise.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
@dmsflorida thank you very much ill go get guide right now
BBrtqB 1 year ago
I have been looking for a professional camera that fits my price range. I have been looking for a video on youtube and I have to say yours is the best and I LOVE to see my hometown in a very clear video. What format did you use to encode?
blueraycrazy2006 1 year ago
@blueraycrazy2006 - Thanks for the feedback! I shot the footage in the camera's highest quality PH mode, encoded the video as a QuickTime movie at around 8,000 kbps and then uploaded to YouTube where it gets re-encoded.
dmsflorida 1 year ago
can anyone help me? im using a windows based computer and connect my SDHC card into the slot at the top, but cannot import the cpi file or mts file into adobe premiere pro! how is everyone getting it onto the computer without quality loss? Thanks
MoviesByPiece 1 year ago
Are you using Panasonic's AVCHD Transcoder for Windows to transcode the media files into DVCPRO HD media?
dmsflorida 1 year ago
I just got my camcorder today but I'm having a problem connecting Sennheiser ME64 and K6 to the mic jack on ag-hmc40. The cable I used was Pearstone LMT100. I consulted the audio specialist at B&H and was told this pearstone LMT100 will do its work to connect ME64 to ag-hmc40. Do you have any idea what's going on?
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
Wow, you know, I purchased that same pearstone cable adapter years ago (I still have it) and it didn't work when I got it. So I opened it up and I realized I needed to sauder ('weld') a cable that was disconnected, problem fixed and it was all good. That's my two cents, take a look inside I'm pretty sure it's that.
StuartHaight 2 years ago
@StuartHaight
I looked into the cable, bought brand new battery for the mic, still nothing worked. If I unplug the cable, I have sound from the built-in mic and the mic levels are clearly seen on the LCD screen. The minute this pearstone LMT100 is plugged in, No Sound at all. The mic level on the LCD showed nothing. Have you also used other cables, StuartHaight? This cable destroyed my joyfulness of receiving this new camcorder and I'm frustrated for its now spring break everywhere is closed..
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
Well the only solution that I can think of is:
-that the battery is IN the mic
-the microphone has no battery which means that it requires phantom +48 Volts
-the mic itself is bad
I just realized that's a $500 mic 0_0, are you sure that is a 'shotgun' microphone capable for these kinds of applications for directional or uni-directional capture?
If you can, upload a video of your setup with a separate camera showing the issue. Otherwise I'd say that the microphone itself is bad.
StuartHaight 2 years ago
StuartHaight, thanks for being so helpful. My other camcorder uses tape so I'm unable to upload the setting up video. But I've done quite a lot of tests:
1. I connected Sennheiser ME64 and K6 to Sony PD170, using XLR adapter and XLR female to male cable, it worked on that camcorder, and I think this means that ME64 and K6 are workable;
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
2. I connected Zoom H4 to the mini stereo mic jack on Panasonic ag-hmc40, using a XLR female to stereo mini male, it worked on ag-hmc 40, this means the mini mic jack is working;
3. I detached the external mic and used the built-in mic in ag-hmc40, the audio is working perfectly fine.
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
And my guess is:
1) Sennheiser ME64 and K6 cannot be connected to the mini stereo mic jack on ag-hmc 40 using a pearstone LMT100;
an xlr adapter is required and not optional as panasonic has advised( but you and other users have sucessuflly done it that way???)
or 2) Pearstone LMT100 is defective, because the ME64 and K6, and ag-hmc40 are workale;
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
That's good that the source of the error is just a cheep cable. Since it does an XLR signal to phono signal, there is actually a transformer in the xlr end of the adapter cable, so one of those wires might be disconnected, just get a replacement one.
StuartHaight 2 years ago
Hopefully this just ends up being a cable issue and you get it worked out. The best solution I was able to come up with is to purchase the Panasonic AG-MYA30G Microphone adapter and the Rode VXLR Mini-to-XLR adapter. I just keep the Panasonic device attached at all times; it's always ready to go for when I need to plug in a mic with an XLR cable and when I need to plug in a mic with a mini jack cable, I just pop on the Rode adapter and go that way.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Nice work...
VirtualMP3Studio 2 years ago
fabulous shots. What batteries do you use? and how long do they last? I'm about to buy this camera and I'm really concerned about the batteries
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
Thanks for the comments.
I went ahead and purchased 2 Panasonic VW-VBG6PPK (7.2V, 5800mAh) batteries. They're about $150 each from B&H. They last a good 6 hours or so depending on your shooting style.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
thank u so much dmsflorida. I like the coloring and the framing of your shots so much. would you think the Manfrotto 585 ModoSteady 3-in-1 Camera/Camcorder Stabilizer and Support System will also do the work that your Steadicam Merlin does? I'll be shooting outdoor, mountains and heavy wind. A tripod is too heavy for me..
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
Thanks again for your complements.
The Manfrotto 585 will definitely allow you to achieve more stable shots as compared with handheld shooting while standing still, at least. As far as walking shots, you might have an issue with bounce since the device is being supported by your body instead of being supported without direct contact with your person. I've not used the device, though, so I couldn't say for sure. For $100 though, I'd think it's worth giving it a try.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
@dmsflorida
Just an update: Manfrotto 585 could only afford 0.75kg therefore unable to work with Ag-hmc40.
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
Thank: ) Do you use Mac pro and FCP or other software for editing? I heard u you a quad core computer to run HD footages?
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
Yes, I use a Mac Pro 3.0 GHz Quad Core with 8 GB of memory and Final Cut Studio 3. Works like a charm. Also important is using fast external hard drives for your video files. I've been using the G-Technology G-Speed eS drives for about 16 months and they've been great. A big investment, for sure, but will last you a while if you take care of everything.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Hi again: ) Just placed my order. I ordered the Manfrotto 585. Another question for you ( more to come if you won't say no): what SDHC card do you use? I'm thinking about the Transcend SDHC 16GB. There will be no stable electricity in the place where I'd be shooting so I'm looking for SDHC cards (2 to 3 pieces) that will accommodate 2-3 batteries (one 2640 plus two 5400 I guess). Do you have any suggestions? Thanks for your previous helpful answers and I'm very appreciate of that.
nyimatsekyi 2 years ago
Congratulations! I think you'll enjoy the camera quite a bit. It's a great piece of equipment and a great value.
This is the first device I've owned that uses SDHC cards so I'm a bit of a novice here. I originally purchased two inexpensive Delkin Devices 16GB cards and, while they recorded and transferred just fine, the build quality was questionable. So I purchased two Panasonic 16GB Class 10 cards. Probably overkill but I didn't want to be burned again. I'm sure most name brands are fine.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Hey very nice steady cam shots. How did you make those? I just bought this camera. May I ask, if you know, if you shoot say an hour worth of video, without stopping, how many files does it make on the card and have you had any problem stitching them together in editing? This is a FAT32 hard drive and only makes about a 4.2gb file as I recall. Can you comment? thanks,
beautiful color work!
Kimchoc 2 years ago
Thanks for the comments.
The Steadicam shots were captured using a Steadicam Merlin. It's a handheld stabilizer for small, lightweight cameras. The shots in this video were the first ones I attempted with the HMC40 so I'm sure they'll improve as I get more practice. I'm more used to my HVX200.
I've not shot any clips that create files larger than 4GB so I can't say for sure what the process for combining them is. I'm fairly certain it just creates clips that you can edit together back to back.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Yeah, I was fairly certain about that too with the JVC Everio that i bought a year ago. But, as I found out, the sound drops off right before the end of the clip. When I called tech support, they basically said tuff. Its a Youtube camera. What????? LOL. Anyway, it might just be that JVC so I went ahead and bought one of these last week and am just crossing my fingers.
Beautiful footage though. Thanks.
Kimchoc 2 years ago
those shots are clear does the camera automatically adjust for those shot or did you have to re set it.
BasseMedia 2 years ago
Not quite sure what you're asking. The nature of HD video makes the shots very clear as long as focus, white balance and exposure are set properly. These settings can be automatic or manual. I usually like to set everything manually unless I'm in a hurry.
If you can provide a little more explanation as to what you're asking, I'd be glad to provide a more detailed response.
Thanks.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Beautiful pictures. I own the same camera but I didn't have the chance to make these beautiful shots yet. In some scenes there seems to be a bit of vignetting, were you using a wide angle lens ? Thanks...
elcordobito 2 years ago
Thanks for the feedback. It helps that I live near sunny, tropical weather!
Yes, I used a wide-angle lens on top of a protective filter in some of the shots. That's the cause of the vignetting. If you just use the wide angle lens without an additional filter, vignetting is a very minimal problem, if at all.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
I'm considering getting this camera. Have you done any test shots in 24p and if so what is your opinion?
Also just wanted to say. Nice Shooting!
Thanks
glovercm 2 years ago
Yes, as a matter of fact I've shot a lot of footage in 24p. It works very well! As with any 24 fps system, you have to be aware of your camera movements such as pans, tilts, etc. so you don't end up with a stuttering effect. The camera's data rate is actually at its best in 24p as the bits can be allocated over the fewest amount of frames and pixels. Also, you have the option of shooting at 30p and 60p (in 720p mode) to create some nice slow motion effects. Great camera for the price!
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Thanks for posting this. I just put this camera on my Amazon wish list last night, and after seeing your footage, I'm looking forward to getting it even more. It's astounding to me that you can get such an amazing camera nowadays for less than $2,000.
makani57 2 years ago
Comment removed
makani57 2 years ago
wow, I was kind of on the fence about this camera, but seeing your footage is definitely making me lean to making that purchase....I have his bigger brother the hmc150 and it looks like they would really compliment each other in the field and on the set.
Pok3rF4ce 2 years ago
Beautiful camera!!! I wonder if you're satisfied with it when you shoot in low light conditions. Thanks ;)
andrus9000 2 years ago
I haven't tested low-light performance too much but, so far, I'd say it's a little better than expected from 1/4" chips, a small aperture and tiny 1920x1080 pixels. Slowing the shutter, keeping movement to a minimum and using a little gain has been beneficial.
I plan on posting more tests and will definitely shoot some low-light footage.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
This video HD is lightweight, does not stop, good color, you could share that editor did you use and what are the specifications? thanks in advance, sorry for my poor English, greetings.
promoloco 2 years ago
Thanks for the comments.
I edited the video myself; since it was just demo footage the editing didn't need to be too fancy. The footage was actually a mix of 1080 and 720 footage at 24p and 30p. I normally don't recommend mixing formats but as this was a test, I shot with a variety of settings.
I'd be glad to answer specific specification questions if you have them.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Very nice--I have the 200/P2
Loft54 2 years ago
I have an HVX200 as well and love it. Once you get it tune to its strengths and weaknesses, you can really capture some fine images with it. The variable frame rate works great and DVCPRO HD codec is rock solid.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Truly awesome camera. I thought the sony 520ve was good but this much closer to broadcast quality. It probably would be broadcast quality if it werent for the compression on youtube.
MrMalthus80 2 years ago 2
Yeah, I continue to be impressed with this camera. The camera manufacturers are really doing incredible things with their systems.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Stunning scapes! Thank you for the movie and sharing your experience.
Though I noticed some jerkiness of the movement: for example boat is floating a little bit uneven (1:28, 1:37) - is it on my system only or what might cause the effect?
Fantastic shots! Really love Florida (I was there a month before your shooting :) and your movie does bring back the flavour of the place.
k76isonthelist 2 years ago
Thanks for the comments.
The jerkiness you're seeing is simply due to 24p clips being edited into a 30p timeline and encoded for YouTube at 30p. Generally I'd advise against mixing frame rates; this footage was shot for testing purposes so I did quite a bit of mixing of capture settings.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
I forgot to ask, when you flim this, did you use any filters or was it straight out the box..
lvlik9 2 years ago
this hmc40 blows away the dvx100b...
lvlik9 2 years ago
wow.. amazing.. I'm using a Canon Vixia Hf11 and i was wondering how you cam reacts in low light?
nx2overide 2 years ago
Well, with the limited low-light testing I've done thus far, the HMC40 performs a little better than one might expect by just looking at its specs. The chips are only 1/4" and the lens aperture is only 43mm so not much light illuminates the 1920x1080 pixels. With a slower shutter, a little gain and some experimentation with the picture settings, I think you can get some very usable low-light images. I've seen some samples online that look pretty good. I'll do more testing and post the results.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Muito bom o video as imagens otimas
Moacir
Guarapuava Brasil
Moacirdsr400 2 years ago
¡ Excelente ! gracias
Jorge
jorgepineyrua 2 years ago
Is this camera any good for making short films?
RedRumEntertainment 2 years ago
I'll preface my response by stating that almost any camera is good for making short films if you have a good story to tell. From a technical standpoint, though, this camera shoots 1080/24p and has pretty good manual control over images including menu settings that let you tailor the image to your liking. However, the CMOS chips are small, the lens is small and there are limited camera accessories thus far. On the whole, I have not doubt some wonderful short films will be shot with the AG-HMC40.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
@RedRumEntertainment if you really want that film look tho you should consider a 35mm adapter
FocklerM 2 years ago
hi I'm looking to buy a good tripod for my new AG-HMC40. would you recommend any for me?
2181425 2 years ago
Well, it really depends on your budget. Don't underestimate the benefits of using a quality tripod. It's one of those items that might be hard to spend a lot of money on because it seems like such a simple product. But a quality tripod will sometimes be the piece of equipment that makes or breaks your shot. I'd take a look at Manfrotto and Sachtler kits in the $350 - $850 range; do a search on B&H for products that are compatible with your camera and buy the best one you feel you can afford.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Thx 4 that
DiscoDancer135 2 years ago
Great footage for a camera with 1/4" sensors. The colours really seem to pop out, especially the colour of the sky. Did you use a polarizer?
GizmoPlanet1 2 years ago
I did use a polarizer on many of the shots. I obviously chose to shoot imagery with appealing visuals including shots with vivid colors. The great thing about living in Tampa is that we have nice shooting weather year-round!
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Wow! Great footage, awesome soundtrack. This has persuaded us to buy this camera over a couple others we were considering. We're not professionals, just want a good camera. Out of curiosity, how much raw footage was shot to produce this piece? It's incredible! Thanks for sharing.
VespaDivax4 2 years ago
Thanks for the kind words. I think you'll be quite satisfied should you decide to purchase this camera.
I shot around 6 hours of footage over the course of three days to put together this video. The shooting was very run-and-gun hopping from location to location with just the camera and a tripod.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
great info. great footage. i'm seriously considering purchasing this camera and the research is supporting my choice so far. thank you for posting!
rlogan2009 2 years ago
Thanks for the comments.
I don't think you'll be disappointed with this camera as long as it meets your requirements. The feature set and image quality at this price is hard to beat.
Good luck!
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Has Panasonic minimized the rolling shutter effect vibration distortion associated with cmos camcorders on the HMC40?
360PuertoRico 2 years ago
I haven't noticed any rolling shutter issues unless I'm deliberately whip panning wildly back and forth to try to force the effect. I think the Panasonic 3MOS (3 separate CMOS sensors) system helps out a great deal over a single, large CMOS sensor found on many still and some video cameras.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Your video looks exceptional for a recompressed 720p. Can you tell us what bit rate you compressed you original footage at to upload to YouTube?
panmaew 2 years ago
Thanks for the comments.
The file uploaded to YouTube was a QuickTime movie exported from Compressor using the H.264 video codec at 3,000 kbps (30 fps) multi-pass VBR. The audio was AAC at 128 kbps (44.1 kHz). YouTube re-encoded to an MP4 using H.264 at about 2,000 kbps.
I'm curious to see how the upcoming 1080p YouTube footage will look.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Some very nice shots. If I'd have seen this work before I would have purchased my HMC40 sooner.
Good news, this camera does have "Auto Neutral Density".
Thanks for sharing.
superslowdan 2 years ago
Thanks or the feedback.
Please expand on your comment about "Auto Neutral Density" function. I don't see this feature anywhere in the menus or user buttons.
Thanks.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
The two places I found it was as "Auto Neutral Density" in the overview on the HMC40 website.
Also, listed in the brochure at the same site as ND Filter: Auto On/Off by IRIS. Seems as the IRIS is closed, the ND filters automatically slide into place.
Kind of a well kept secret.
superslowdan 2 years ago
Well, I did a bit of research on this. Apparently, when automatically or manually closing the iris, once an f/2.8 aperture setting is reached, the auto ND will kick in to absorb light as the f/stop is increased. Once the ND has absorbed the equivalent of 2.5 stops, the iris will then begin to actually close again until fully shut. This is a nice piece of technology but, unless I'm missing something, doesn't allow for using an ND filter for the purpose of shooting with a more open aperture.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Great find! Thanks for passing it along. I would bet, as we become more familiar with the HMC40, we'll find ways to make this work to our advantage.
superslowdan 2 years ago
thank you very much for the information :)
it's very usefull
claudiagirardin 2 years ago
i'm looking to by this model hmc40,you've talked about a lens add-on?
i'm new to this stuff,what kind of lens are you talking about,how much does it cost?
these image are great :)
claudiagirardin 2 years ago
Most professional and many prosumer cameras have a built-in neutral density filter used to cut down the amount of light entering the lens. This is useful when shooting outdoors on a bright day or when you want to shoot with a more open aperture. This camera doesn't have a built-in ND filter so, to have that functionality, you'd have to purchase a screw-on type filter that attaches to the end of the lens. They're fairly inexpensive.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
Man thats some good look footage. I bet it look even better in person on a hd t.v.
lvlik9 2 years ago
is that Edius neo 2 a pretty decent software. I trying to shoot my frist movie.
lvlik9 2 years ago
I have no idea. I don't use PCs so I can't offer any advice. It obviously handles AVCHD footage from the AG-HMC40 camera, though, so at least you know you can do something with the footage.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
I dont have final cut pro, I just have the cheap pinnacle studio ultimate(VERSION11), do you know if it will work with this software...
lvlik9 2 years ago
I don't know much about Pinnacle products. However, the camera comes with a free copy of EDIUS Neo 2 editing software for PC, a stated $199 value.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
No problems at all. I'm actually pretty impressed with the image quality and feature set at this price. There are a couple of "need-to-knows" though...
The white balance function is a little quirky, requiring a menu selection to set up. There's no built-in neutral density filter so you'll have to buy a lens add-on. There's no 1/48 shutter speed selection when using 24p; there is a 1/50, though. Final Cut Pro doesn't support the 720p60 format of AVCHD yet.
Overall, a great camera for the price.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
The 720p60 issue has been resolved with the Mac OS X 10.6.2 software update. 720p60 footage can now be imported into FCP and conformed with Cinema Tools.
The Synchro Scan feature will allow you to manually select a 1/48 shutter speed; in fact, you can manually select any shutter speed in 1/n.1 increments from 1/24 to 1/250.
dmsflorida 2 years ago
have you had any problems with it...
lvlik9 2 years ago