Ruby Gold

Thanks all for your responses. One other (potentially stupid) question: Are DVD productions made with footage shot in 24p or 30p only playable on DVD players and tvs with progressive scan capability? Most of the DVD productions I make need to be playable on a fairly wide variety of set-top DVD players and tv's, as well as on computers with DVD players. Many of the set-tops and tv's they'd be played on are older models that don't have progressive scan capability. Can anyone tell me if this means they won't play well? thanks so much- Ruby

I've been shooting stuff for productions with a GL-2 and am about to make the big leap up to a DVX100-B. Do people have opinions about the relative merits of the DVX vs. Canon XL-2? Two other questions: 1. People talk about the "flicker" inherent in shooting 24p vs. interlaced video. "Flicker" doesn't sound like a good thing--can someone explain what this looks like and/or point me in the direction of a sample, so I can see what they're talking about? 2. I capture my tape from a Sony clamshell into my computer and don't plan on transferring to film for any projects in the near future. Can someone explain to me (in basic terms) what the purposes are for the 24p Advanced vs. 24p Normal setting. I don't really understand what the various pulldown ratios associated with them mean--can someone explain to me what you'd use the different ones for? 3. I edit with PPro 1.5, use AE 6.5, and author in U-Lead's DVD Workshop 2--any conflicts or special settings to use in any of these apps for stuff shot with the DVX? Thanks so much- Ruby

I've been using a Canon GL2 for all my shoots and want to keep that for B roll and upgrade to the Panasonic DVX100a or 100b. Hope you don't mind a few DVX newbie questions here, then. First--how steep is the learning curve from a GL2 to the DVX cameras? Second will the quality be so different on footage shot from the GL2 to the DVX100a or b that it will look too strange to edit the two together? Third--I read the thread about the interval timer--which seems like a nice feature--any other thoughts on getting an a vs. b besides cost? Last--anyone know a good dealer that still stocks new DVX100A's (B and H doesn't)? thanks a lot for any help- Ruby

Thanks so much Mark, I appreciate your thoughts. Yeah, the GL2 has been good to me too, that's why I'm puzzled. I'm not nearly as experienced as you (don't even know what a 2K Blonde IS), but your tip about positioning for balance could be the key. Also, the fact that the fluorescent light may have thrown it all off--though the GL1 looked to be truer in the same set-up--so I'm not sure. Will report back on the shoot today. Thanks again- Ruby

thanks for the desperate answers, I appreciate it. What do you mean that the camera has developed a "fault?" thanks-

Thanks Mark. I actually did try using a pale "green" card to white balance with to see if that'd help, but it didn't. The curtains were closed. Any other thoughts? thanks- Ruby

I shoot mostly interviews with a GL-1 and GL-2. More recent shoots have been in classrooms for an educational DVD. At my shoot yesterday, there was an unavoidable mix of light between curtained windows and tungsten--but it was about about 80% tungsten. No matter how I tried to white balance my GL-2 (manual with card, auto, presets), the result came out looking kind of pinky--too much magenta. Not horrendous, but definitely off, and especially compared with the GL-1 which was in the same shoot. I can't understand why setting the white balance wouldn't allow the colors to read truer, and have not had this problem before. I've got another shoot today and am paranoid about it--can anyone offer something I haven't thought of as an explanation for this or a way to correct? thanks a lot- Ruby

Hi there--can anyone point me in the direction of a good site on the rules about shooting in public space and what is permissible? My understanding is that it is permissible to shoot people and plainly show their faces if they are in public (not privately owned) space and use the footage in productions as I see fit. I'm talking about people walking down the street, hanging out on a public corner, etc. Is this correct? What are the exceptions to the rules? Also--what about minors? I need general footage of school kids getting off buses and going to school--I'm assuming that this is not permissible, but if it is on a public street...??? thanks!

I've been shooting small projects using FujiFilm mini-dv tape without incident for a couple years. Recently I started seeing small glitches in my captured clips (I capture using a Sony clamshell--mini VCR). I sent my camera to Canon to be serviced, used a Panasonic head cleaner to clean the clamshell, and am now wondering if I should seize the opportunity of "clean" tape heads to switch tape to Panasonic or Sony. Anybody have anything good or bad to say about FujiFilm quality vs. these other brands? thanks!