Michael Sandoval

Great! I just priced out what it would cost to ship the stuff we're getting from B&H to Spain--about 500 Euros, or about $750, give or take. What we're getting: HVX Pal 2 batteries carrying case glidecam x-10 Manfrotto w/fluid head Tripod wheels Sennheiser wireless kit w/ 2 lavaliers We're going to go and check out the Madrid store(s) this week. (and I do miss the flying merchandise). It's going to be interesting shooting in the desert. Going to trek down to Petra to get some shots. Producer wants to also shoot in Syria, but I have to double-check visa issues for U.S. travelers. In fact, I should do a quick post about issues shooting with the HVX under desert conditions. A few years ago I had to organize a camera training with an MPAD (military public affairs) National Guard unit being sent to Iraq. We recommended the PD-170, which held up supremely well for them.

You think? I'd be surprised that there's no comparable outfit out here. Though to state the obvious, B & H is a pretty unique place. Gotta hand it to them. And of course in NYC I live about 20 minutes away from the store, vs. where I am now, 3,000 miles away! Thanks for your opinion--though don't know if B & H could make the producer's deadline--wants to shoot first or second week of March.

Hello, I was recently asked to shoot a documentary in multiple locations in the Europe, Africa, and the U.S., following a very prominent Spanish painter as he exhibits in some major galleries. I suggested to the producer that it would be much more cost effective to purchase the HVX/glidecam/dolly set up we need, and he asked me to come up with a budget. If I was back in NYC this would be a snap. However, over here in Madrid I have no idea where is the best place to buy/price out equipment (basics: camera, portable light kit, tripod; mic and mixer and boom). I could always have B & H ship, but maybe there's a comparable store out here. I've never shot in Europe, before, and would appreciate any help in this matter. This actually sounds like a pretty basic question, but my search on this forum ("Equipment - Europe - store" that kind of thing) didn't produce any results. Thanks any and all!

Hi, guys! I'm going to pose you a question that I hope all our collective brains can answer! I'm about to place an order with a rental house, and am mulling over the possible lighting configurations. Any words of widom would be much appreciated. -SITUATION: I am lighting a bedroom for the morning (7 AMish, spring); windows on 2 sides. I would love to use a 2.5 K HMI boucing light through each window. I am shooting with the HVX with a P+S 35 mm adapter. With the adapter, my f-stop would be approx. an ASA of 80, if I'm doing my math right. So for me, the 2.5 K HMI's bounced make sense. However, 4 2.5 K HMI's aint cheap, since the producer has already spent a gazillion dollars on other toys. I'd also have to rent a genny. The other option is to go with 4 1.2 K HMI's, shooting directly into the windows through a 4 x4 piece of diffusion (grid, though maybe opal). Would this work? The HVX is good in low light level situations, but I'm losing 2 stops with the 35 mm adapter. Morning light is soft, and I don't want to go too direct. There will not me any practical lights inside the bedroom helping me out. Do you think I could make this work with the less powerful HMI's? IE get enough light to see detail in the shadows; to replicate a morning effect; to replicate the softness of morning light? Thanks!!! smile.gif Appreciate your thoughts!

Hi, guys! I'm going to pose you a question that I hope all our collective brains can answer! I'm about to place an order with a rental house, and am mulling over the possible lighting configurations. Any words of widom would be much appreciated. -SITUATION: I am lighting a bedroom for the morning (7 AMish, spring); windows on 2 sides. I would love to use a 2.5 K HMI boucing light through each window. I am shooting with the HVX with a P+S 35 mm adapter. With the adapter, my f-stop would be approx. an ASA of 80, if I'm doing my math right. So for me, the 2.5 K HMI's bounced make sense. However, 4 2.5 K HMI's aint cheap, since the producer has already spent a gazillion dollars on other toys. I'd also have to rent a genny. The other option is to go with 4 1.2 K HMI's, shooting directly into the windows through a 4 x4 piece of diffusion (grid, though maybe opal). Would this work? The HVX is good in low light level situations, but I'm losing 2 stops with the 35 mm adapter. Morning light is soft, and I don't want to go too direct. There will not me any practical lights inside the bedroom helping me out. Do you think I could make this work with the less powerful HMI's? IE get enough light to see detail in the shadows; to replicate a morning effect; to replicate the softness of morning light? Thanks!!! :) Appreciate your thoughts! The other alternative is to

Anybody hear any updates on the Panasonic 24P HD coming out (I think this winter)? Cost? Industry buzz? Thanks!

I would appreciate any helpful words out there. I'm shooting on a pd170 and there's something strange in the timecode menu. It's perpetually set on "record run," and does not let me select anything else. When I scroll to the "TC/UB SET" menu, all the options (i.e. "TC PRESET, UB PRESET, TC FORMAT", etc.) are grayed out so that I cannot select them and make changes. This is driving me absolutely crazy. How do I reverse this? Or do I have to take the camera to the shop? Thanks! m.c. :blink: