Paul Riismandel » geek stuff http://www.paulriismandel.com/wordpress Media Technologist Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:05:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 New Sony Cam Appears To Get Flash Memory Recording Right http://www.mediageek.net/?p=1569 http://www.mediageek.net/?p=1569#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2007 22:56:00 +0000 Paul http://www.paulriismandel.com/wordpress/new-sony-cam-appears-to-get-flash-memory-recording-right/ Sony HVR-Z7U. The specs on this thing really sound like Sony has been paying attention to what serious video makers want in a “prosumer” camera. The most exciting spec is that it records DV and HDV video to plain old compact flash cards, just like you use in a digital still camera and other devices. CF cards have recently hit 16 GB, which will store 72 minutes of video. Those cards average about $200 or so, which is a bargain compared to one of Panasonic’s proprietary P2 cards, which cost more like $900 for 16 GB. While it’s surprising for Sony to adopt such a common standard rather than going proprietary (16 GB Memory Stick anyone?), I think it’s a good move that sets an example for where camcorder technology has to go. And, unlike AVCHD and other MPEG-2 based codecs used on other (admittedly lower priced) hard drive and flash memory camcorders, DV and HDV is ready to import an edit in any major NLE without any transcoding. The second cool spec of the cam is that it takes interchangeable lenses, like its competitors the JVC GY-HD110 and the more expensive Canon XL-H1. With an adapter it even uses lenses from its Sony Alpha line of digital SLRs (previously known as the Minolta A mount). Of course, $6k is a lot to drop on a camera and I haven’t seen the thing yet. My hope is that these ideas trickle down into lower priced cams, especially CF card support. I don’t see any reason why CF card writing can’t be added to one of Sony’$1000 HDV cameras, especially since CF wouldn’t require any moving parts. I’d be one of the first in line with my debit card if that appeared in my local electronic shop. You can throw all the whiz-bang psuedo-features at me you want and I won’t jump. But give me simple, relatively inexpensive recording to a memory card (or hard drive) in a standard codec made for editing, and I’m there.]]> http://www.mediageek.net/?p=1569/feed/ 0 Amen! Film Flap asks: “Where, Oh Where, Has the Mic Input Gone?” http://www.mediageek.net/?p=1557 http://www.mediageek.net/?p=1557#comments Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:00:30 +0000 Paul http://www.paulriismandel.com/wordpress/amen-film-flap-asks-%e2%80%9cwhere-oh-where-has-the-mic-input-gone%e2%80%9d/ who is trying to find a decent new camcorder with a mic jack:
This recent development leads me to a bit of a rant. Why has the mic input (and its brother the headphone jack) become scarce? How much money and camera size is really saved by eliminating these very useful connections? Could it be a steady diet of crappy clips has desensitized the public to quality? My guess is that most people don’t care. Joe Six Pack never used that little hole anyway, so why start now? So, when looking for a camera to buy or borrow, make sure you get a mic input. The “fast-cam” is great for shooting spontaneous stuff, but would be even better if you could interview someone without having to jam the camera up their nose so you can understand what they are saying. A cheap external mic is better than the most expensive built-in one.
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