Canon HV30 + Azden SMX-10 + Steadycam Test

http://benhughesstudios.com

Video created January 2010.

Great news guys. I just got myself a Canon Vixia HV30 high definition camcorder. It's the greatest thing ever! The quality is amazing, and it can shoot in 1080p. This is just a test video using the camcorder outside in the winter, inside, in low light, and I also tested the microphone. For some reason I was getting some very very annoying hiss in the video. It's because of my camera settings though, not the microphone.

-Shot in 24p
-Most of the video was shot in Cine Mode, except for some of the last few indoor shots, which were recorded in Shutter Priority mode(TV mode) with the contrast lowered to look like cine mode(1/60 shutter).
-Manual Exposure (besides the part where i was talking to the cam)
-I also screwed around with Manual Focus
-Removed 24p Pulldown in TMPGenc 4.0 Xpress
-Then a little Color Correction

[EQUIPMENT USED]
-Canon Vixia HV30
-Azden SMX-10 Directional Stereo Microphone
-MiniDV Stabilizer (steadycam)
-Sennheiser HD-202 Headphones

[SOFTWARE USED]
Adobe Premiere Pro CS3
(After Effects for the intro)
TMPGenc 4.0 Xpress

[MUSIC]
"American Beauty" - Thomas Newman

I love my hv30! Look at this footage, this is why I think that 35mm adapters are extremely unnecessary.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Canon
• Vixia
• Legria
• HV10
• HV20
• HV30
• HV40
• HV50
• HDV
• MiniDV
• ShotGun
• Microphone
• Color
• Grading
• Correction
• SteadiCam
• SteadyCam
• Merlin
• Pilot
• XH-A1
• Cinema
• mode
• TV
• Mode1080p
• Short
• Film
• Movie
• Trailer

[venerojo]

nice video. Can you help me? I have a Canon Vixia HG21 and I want to buy a: steadycam, microphone and video ligth. Can you recommend somthing? thanks

[BenHughesStudios]

@venerojo

Steadycam: MiniDV Stabilizer from balvanz enterprises

Microphone: Azden sgm-x, rode videomic, or azden smx-10. MAKE SURE TO GET THEM ON A BOOM POLE.

Lights: bhphotovideo has good 3 point lighting tungsten kits.

[FreshJamsEnt]

what was the song at the beginning it sounds like the pursuit of happiness.

[BenHughesStudios]

@FreshJamsEnt

read the video description.

[Laurencia7]

@BenHughesStudios Ben, how does it do over longer distances. I need to film a wedding, and just want some quality sound. I read some good reviews on this mic, and others, just trying to cut my decision. 

[BenHughesStudios]

@Laurencia7

I'm guessing you're probably trying to capture dialogue from far away. Which usually shouldn't be done ever. With a stereo mic, it would be harder to get good dialogue from far away. Well actually with any mic it would be hard to get good dialogue from far away. I think you should get a wireless lav mic kit if you want to get great dialogue from the bride and groom from any distance.

But if that isn't an option, then I'd go for a mono shotgun mic like the rode videomic or azden sgm-x

[SunnyTheRapper]

im getting one of these today! hey what do you edit your videos with?

[scottttyoung]

man i think you just made me buy one of these cameras.

[danielofantioch]

Shawshank?

[maxpower789z]

looks like Big Bear

[alejandroperezdeniz]

the song seems to style the oc televsion series

[ExcellenceInAll]

Song is Any Other Name by Thomas Newman... my favorite composer, and one of my favorite songs.

[shai23]

loved it. the first part has been shot in low light, how come it seems so smooth? 24p and cinemode? thats it? any secrets/hidden tricks?

[venerojo]

@BenHughesStudios thanks. I need to buy some kind of adapter for the rode videomic works in my camera (canon)? If a want to use like "shotgun"

Or its "universal"? My camera have a "mini advanced shoe" and "in put mic". But not have XLR in.

And If I want to use like boom pole, what do i need? (some cable, adapter...not include in the box product)

Sorry, my english its not good and i dont understand very much what do i need. I want to be shure that i buy everything i am going to need

[tsanibaytchev]

Was this the sound track of K-Pax?

[FreshJamsEnt]

@BenHughesStudios my bad im stupid im also getting this camcorder for my bday thanks this is kind like a review for me. But Yeah Im Still Stupid Srry For The Dumb Question.

[Laurencia7]

@BenHughesStudios thanks, I am looking for something that is better than my onboard mic. I work as a professional news photographer, so I know the best mics are out of my price range. But I will be quite close to the bride and groom, so was thinking on azden smx-10 for my sanyo hd 1010.

I wish I could use my Panasonic AG-HVX200A p2 cam I use at work, but that would be non-kosher with the boss.

[BenHughesStudios]

@Laurencia7

well as long as you don't have an hv30, then this is fine for an on camera mic too.

[Laurencia7]

@BenHughesStudios I am actually looking for an onboard mic, because I do a lot of venues alone, and don't have 3 hands ;) but thanks.

[BenHughesStudios]

@Laurencia7

It's actually really really good. Just make sure to get it on a boom pole if you want to use it to record film dialogue. If you're using an Hv20, 30, or 40, then you'll want to get it as far away from the cam as possible.

[Laurencia7]

@BenHughesStudios just wondering, how do you like that azden mic?

[BenHughesStudios]

@Laurencia7

I filmed at dawn, everything gets real exaggerated at dawn. as you can see at 2:33, when i'm white balanced for the indoors, the snow still looks blue.

I also used color correction to turn the darks and midtones blue.

Yes, i meant for the snow to be blue. This is done all the time in a lot of movies.

[Laurencia7]

great artistry, but did you mean for the snow to be blue? or was your white balance off?

[BenHughesStudios]

@psycold

there is a mic test later in the video.