HVX200 w/o P2 Stop Motion Animation

[Laone Collins]

Hi. I am a director of photography and documentary filmmaker (primarily film interviews and B-roll) that is branching out to keep busy during the snow months and decided to try stop motion animation.

 

I have an HVX200 and chose to go with FireStore over a P2 setup. Generally it works better for my purposes, as most clients prefer DVC or firestore. Before the HVX, I was using the sony VX2000 on loan, which unfortunately I no longer have access to. I am saving up to buy the sony Z1U, so I am hesitant to purchase further expensive accessories for the panny. I currently have FCP, Avid, and Aftereffects in my editing bays.

 

I purchased the HVX200 almost 2 years ago over the Sony FX1 (which was popular at the time) because of the panny's ability to do stop motion but was uneducated about the accessories (p2) necessary to open the camera up to all of its functions. So I have a quandry.

 

Is there any way for me to do stop-motion animation?

 

From what I see the One Shot mode is only available for P2. Is there anything I can do with FireStore, DV recorder or connecting the camera directly to a laptop for live feed?

 

If i did decide to get a P2 card and used it to unlock the P2-only features, could I "trick" the camera into recording to tape so I don't have to buy a P2 card reader? Spending money for a reader isn't in my budget.

 

I considered using still photos from a webcam but I won't have the functions and focus options of my pro camera. Something about scaling down to a webcam just seems silly when I have a great camera in hand.

 

I'm dreading the idea of shooting to tape or firestore and having to log/capture the footage frame by frame. I would spend more time logging/capturing than filming, plus the additional import time and reassembly into my editing system. I am open to ANY suggestions.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Dory Breaux DP]

Hi. I am a director of photography and documentary filmmaker (primarily film interviews and B-roll) that is branching out to keep busy during the snow months and decided to try stop motion animation.

 

I have an HVX200 and chose to go with FireStore over a P2 setup. Generally it works better for my purposes, as most clients prefer DVC or firestore. Before the HVX, I was using the sony VX2000 on loan, which unfortunately I no longer have access to. I am saving up to buy the sony Z1U, so I am hesitant to purchase further expensive accessories for the panny. I currently have FCP, Avid, and Aftereffects in my editing bays.

 

I purchased the HVX200 almost 2 years ago over the Sony FX1 (which was popular at the time) because of the panny's ability to do stop motion but was uneducated about the accessories (p2) necessary to open the camera up to all of its functions. So I have a quandry.

 

Is there any way for me to do stop-motion animation?

 

From what I see the One Shot mode is only available for P2. Is there anything I can do with FireStore, DV recorder or connecting the camera directly to a laptop for live feed?

 

If i did decide to get a P2 card and used it to unlock the P2-only features, could I "trick" the camera into recording to tape so I don't have to buy a P2 card reader? Spending money for a reader isn't in my budget.

 

I considered using still photos from a webcam but I won't have the functions and focus options of my pro camera. Something about scaling down to a webcam just seems silly when I have a great camera in hand.

 

I'm dreading the idea of shooting to tape or firestore and having to log/capture the footage frame by frame. I would spend more time logging/capturing than filming, plus the additional import time and reassembly into my editing system. I am open to ANY suggestions.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

I belive that you can use the camera to transfer P2 files via firewire.

[Michael Nash]

Yes, you can capture the P2 data from the camera over firewire.

[Timo Klages]

Hi. I am a director of photography and documentary filmmaker (primarily film interviews and B-roll) that is branching out to keep busy during the snow months and decided to try stop motion animation.

 

-snip-

 

If i did decide to get a P2 card and used it to unlock the P2-only features, could I "trick" the camera into recording to tape so I don't have to buy a P2 card reader? Spending money for a reader isn't in my budget.

 

I considered using still photos from a webcam but I won't have the functions and focus options of my pro camera. Something about scaling down to a webcam just seems silly when I have a great camera in hand.

 

I'm dreading the idea of shooting to tape or firestore and having to log/capture the footage frame by frame. I would spend more time logging/capturing than filming, plus the additional import time and reassembly into my editing system. I am open to ANY suggestions.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

hmmm, a few thoughts from me.

i did a stop motion project this year with some friend (ended up with a 7 minute short film in HD). We used a Canon EOS-1D Mark II i think. and i would always use a digital SLR for a stop motion project. you have a full-frame sensor (well, at least the markII has one). if you have the chance to do so, do it!

you can check out what we did (a little trailer is online by now) at: http://www.vampire-film.de

 

if you shoot on p2, you "only" need a pc-card slot (like most laptops have) and of course the p2-drivers installed. with later avid versions you can import directly from the card in this case...

 

well, hope that helps a little...

 

good luck,

timo

[Lars Zemskih]

I second that, use a digital SLR, it will speed things up and give you better quality in the end. There is also more room to play with depth of field and aperture than in HVX's lens.