Okay....I jumped into the deep end. Canon HV30 Vixia

[wibubba]

I bought the camcorder last night. My first ever and it's HD. I'm pretty excited, but it is intimidating. For those of you experienced with this camera I have a few questions.

Is there a good online resource or third party book that will help me to use this thing to its fullest extent?

I have Adobe CS4...the Master Collection as well as iMovie and iDVD. I am presuming as far as software and the ability to transfer the movies from the DV cassette to the Mac there won't be a problem.

Any advice, tips, pointers, or websites/books etc. would be GREATLY appreciated!

[Chaos123x]

Whoa you spent way more on software then on your camera?
;)

[Gymnut]

http://www.hv20.com

[wibubba]

Yeah...but I got a sick deal on the Adobe software collection...only $500 for the Master collection. Couldn't pass it up.

[Digital Skunk]

Yeah...but I got a sick deal on the Adobe software collection...only $500 for the Master collection. Couldn't pass it up.

did you get the actual, real deal discs, or just copies? If you did get official discs, let me know if I can pick a copy up for myself.;)

[Apple Ink]

Yeah...but I got a sick deal on the Adobe software collection...only $500 for the Master collection. Couldn't pass it up.

Not joking.... my lower jaw really fell on the floor and I cant seem to find it..

Serious guys..

[Rizvi1]

planning on joining you as an HV30 owner once I find a good price on it. I'm looking to pay below $500 for it new. I used to have a Sony HC1 which I bought in Spring 2006, but that got damaged in a house fire and I'm looking to replace it.

[thelongmorrow]

I recomend buying a good shot gun mic, and a wide-angle lense, extra battery, lense filter kits.

Good wide-angle lense for the hv-30, I like it because its affordable and subtle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBUaIuD7US4

Better mic:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/534023-REG/Sennheiser_MKE_400_MKE_400_Compact_Video.html

Good mic for the budgeter:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/444022-REG/Azden_SMX_10_SMX_10_Stereo_Microphone.html

Extra Battery w/ higher capacity:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/446334-REG/Impact_NB2L22_NB_2L22_Lithium_Ion_Battery_Pack.html

Introductory Filter Kit:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/408008-REG/Hoya_GIK43GB_43mm_Introductory_Filter_Kit.html

And the camera itsself for $599, which is the best price I found from a TRUSTworthy site:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/539289-REG/Canon_2680B001_VIXIA_HV30_HDV_Camcorder.html

I beleive its still $999 0r $899 in bestbuy.

PS: Student prices are awsome when it comes to adobe CS, not as good as $500 for master collection, but pretty good.
http://www.journeyed.com/department.asp?NAV=0402&SKW=Vpadobenew

[madmaxmedia]

If you want to spend a bit more on the mic, a Rode NTG-2 plus XLR to 3.5mm adapter is a great addition to the HV30. It is an 'upgradable' mic if you add a XLR preamp later, and can run on phantom power or AA battery. The sound level coming out of the mic is also high enough that you don't have to crank up the crappy HV30 internal mic preamp too high and get hiss.

Or just get something like the other poster mentioned, or a Rode VideoMic, if you're keeping it really simple and don't need great quality audio (great being a relative term of course, there are people who spend more on mics than they did on the HV20/30.)

[thelongmorrow]

I fell in love with the HV-30 from watching these test videos, they helped me make my decision buying it.

Good videos using HV30 and 20
http://www.vimeo.com/431500
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buc2D6GZLfU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWGiW9pUp38

my footage from it has been phenominal, made 3 awsome projects and a bunch of fun test stuff. I should post some of them.

[thelongmorrow]

there are people who spend more on mics than they did on the HV20/30.)

That is very true, The rode is an awsome mic, my friend has one and its great, I just posted a few that were good for the money, regardless I don't recomend the internal mic for anything. Between the loud hiss when turned up or the "sounds like were on an airplane" air noise that is heard on the background. Plus if your shooting outdoors, any wind at all on the internal mic makes a mess of your audio.

[brendanryder]

did you get the actual, real deal discs, or just copies? If you did get official discs, let me know if I can pick a copy up for myself.;)

Not joking.... my lower jaw really fell on the floor and I cant seem to find it..

Serious guys..

Id say it was educational discount + money off when buying a mac
When i bought my new MacBook Pro i got 200$ off for edu discount then i got the Adobe CS4 web Premium suite for 359$(legally, with disks and tags from the apple store) and it sells for $2309.95

[SJD]

What would be considered the shallow end? A Chinon VHS-C camcorder?

The best investment you can make with your deep purchase would be to learn how to operate the camera in manual mode, and use of a stabilizing device like a monopod or tripod.

[polar-blair]

I have owned a HV30 for not that long so I can share some of my expierences with as a newbie, the plan was to get it too film a short I wrote but still haven't got round to doing it :(

Well the HV30 is amazing for its price, the picture is superb and the interface is really good and simple, it is a bit big because of the tape part but is still comfortable.

I got a RodeVideo mic for it and works great, much better than the inbuilt mic. The biggest learning curve for me was using tapes, I was too young to use a camera when tapes were still main stream and the first camcorder I got was a HD one, so i had to get used to making sure not to record over my footage, rewinding ect... also putting the tape in! It took me 20 mins to figure out I was putting it in upside down!

I would suggest getting a tape and using it purly for test shots, try different manual settings, frame rates ect...

[Moof1904]

I have an HV-30 that I got for Christmas and I (mostly) love it. The problem is capturing via FireWire into FCP (5) on my Mac Pro. The capture fails repeatedly and on a forced retry, typically succeeds, only to fail again.

As I posted in the HV-20/30 forum: "I have a generic log file that captures a single tape in three 20-minutes segments for editing. What should be a very easy capture of three segments seems to confuse FCP, causing it to fail to find the time code. Choosing 'Continue' in the error dialog usually, but not always, succeeds in capturing the failed clip. I don't know if this is FCP or the HV30. It didn't happen with my Panasonic SD that I had previously."

The forum has a variety of suggestions but none of them seem to help much. I don't want to hijack the thread, but I'd love to hear if anyone else is having the problem with their -30.

[wibubba]

Id say it was educational discount + money off when buying a mac
When i bought my new MacBook Pro i got 200$ off for edu discount then i got the Adobe CS4 web Premium suite for 359$(legally, with disks and tags from the apple store) and it sells for $2309.95

It was an educational discount through the U of Wisconsin system. Could not pass up getting 80% off that suite of software. Now, the daunting part is learning to use it all. I'll get to that more seriously when my current class schedule ends.

Sorry...only allowed one per user. Can't help you guys get your own!

And it was legit, not a copy. Came in the Adobe box with sealed edges and real discs.

[wibubba]

What am I going to need to get data off the camcorder and into the mac? Firewire? I've never used a FW cable or connection. I've noticed there are 4 and 6 pin cables. Any idea which I'll need for both components?

[Moof1904]

The camera has a mini FireWire port so you'll need a mini to 400 (or 800 if they make a mini to 800 FireWire cable).

[rick3000]

I would highly recommend looking around HV20.com, there are a lot of very knowledgeable people over there.
I would also invest in a Rode VideoMic, it is in my opinion the best prosumer non-XLR mic you can get, ($120 at Jack's) along with a flash bracket to stabilize and eliminate motor noise. They you might consider Final Cut Express if you want to step up from iMovie. I hope the HV30 works out for you, the're fantastic camcorders.

Also, you need a 4-pin Firewire (the small U shaped port on the camcorder) to 6-pin FW400. Then you may need a FW400 to FW800 adapter depending on what your computer has. They may even make a 4-pin to FW800 cable but I haven't seen one.

[Digital Skunk]

What am I going to need to get data off the camcorder and into the mac? Firewire? I've never used a FW cable or connection. I've noticed there are 4 and 6 pin cables. Any idea which I'll need for both components?

Where did you get your Master collection? Did they give you real discs or is it just a boot leg copy?

You will need a 4 pin to 6 pin or 8 pin Firewire cable.

[polar-blair]

Also, you need a 4-pin Firewire (the small U shaped port on the camcorder) to 6-pin FW400. Then you may need a FW400 to FW800 adapter depending on what your computer has. They may even make a 4-pin to FW800 cable but I haven't seen one.

If your mac has a FW800 in put you can get a a FW800 to FW400 cable, I got mine from a seller on amazon for £7.00 and it works very well, so you wont need to bother using adapters.

[rick3000]

Camcorders do not use 6-pin FW400. As far as I know there are only 4 to 6 pin FW cables that are FW400, so you would need a FW400 to FW800 adapter. A cable has a male plug on both ends. But you would need a adapter to use a cable like this, because it has a female FW400 port.

[Rizvi1]

..
I would also invest in a Rode VideoMic, it is in my opinion the best prosumer non-XLR mic you can get, ($120 at Jack's) along with a flash bracket to stabilize and eliminate motor noise....

Once I get my HV30 (still waiting on a sub $500 deal), I was thinking of using my AT822 mic with it. I have two of them. Thoughts?

[Rizvi1]

I was right about to buy this a few days ago when it was in my Amazon gold box for $569 since that was the best price I was finding on it. Unfortunately, it's gone now. I think next time it comes at this price, I'll grab it.

[Gymnut]

Camcorders do not use 6-pin FW400. As far as I know there are only 4 to 6 pin FW cables that are FW400, so you would need a FW400 to FW800 adapter. A cable has a male plug on both ends. But you would need a adapter to use a cable like this, because it has a female FW400 port.

The Canon XHA1s does have a 6-pin firewire port, which is more durable and I imagine less prone to frying the port when plugging and unplugging the cable from the camera. The original XHA1, however, did have a 4-pin port, but you are correct in regards that consumer miniDV cameras have 4-pin FW400 ports.

[jayeskreezy]

wow! I'm just trying to get an hv20 for $350.

[Flange1999]

I've got a new MacBook Pro and it doesn't have a Firewire port. Where does that leave me if I get the HV30? With USB 2.0?

[brendanryder]

I've got a new MacBook Pro and it doesn't have a Firewire port. Where does that leave me if I get the HV30? With USB 2.0?

Between a rock and a hard place... Or here :rolleyes: (http://www.amazon.com/Sonnet-FireWire-400-Adapter-FAD-824/dp/B0000CDJPQ)

[Flange1999]

^^ Thanks for the help! ^^

[bagelche]

I've got a new MacBook Pro and it doesn't have a Firewire port. Where does that leave me if I get the HV30? With USB 2.0?

just to be clear, do you have a MacBook or a MacBook Pro? The new macbooks do not have firewire, in which case the adapter brendanryder recommends won't do you any good. On the other hand, if you have the new MBP with one FW800 port that adapter will help.

I use one and it's great to have, but it feels a little loose. I would recommend getting a FW800>FW400 cable if you're going to popping it in and out much. It would be a bummer to knock it loose during a capture.

[Flange1999]

I've got the MBP. I didn't realize it had Firewire at all. Wasn't familiar with the new connection. Thanks for the suggestion on the use of the cable.

[bagelche]

I wasn't thinking entirely clearly. If you're capturing direct from the HV30 You'll want a 9pin FW800 cable to 4pin cable, like this one (http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-F019-006-Firewire-Hi-speed/dp/B000AAZQM2/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_1) (no specific recommendation, just an example).

One of the downsides to the new MBP is that it has only the one firewire port. Unfortunately, if you want to capture to an external drive (which I would recommend) you'll want to get a FW or esata card for the expressbus slot or get a FW hub.

[goramsey]

Great camcorder. I bought mine late last year and have been shooting up the place. The video is sharp as a tack. Tape is no problem to capture as long as you use a 4 to 6 pin firewire cable 3 foot. 4 pin plugs into the back of camera and 6 pin into the 400 firewire on the back of your mac. You can get an adapter if all you have is 800 firewire. I purchased my firewire cable from eBay and it was $ 5.25 give or take a few cents. Excellent.

I edit in Final Cut Express and love it. Short learning curve. I bought Final Cut Express 4 by Tom Wolsky from Amazon. You might check Amazon out. You can see how people rate the books and read reviews about them. I was clueless as to what book to buy. Amazon really helped with that, plus pricing is pretty good.

Oh, I also bought the Canon wide angle lens. Wow is all I can say. As a commerical still shooter for 30 + years I have always, well almost always, shot with a wide angle lens. There is something about the deminsion and depth that lets me create a visual that seems to relate to how I see things. Just an idea.

All I can say overall is the HV30 is a great camera and works just great with a Mac.

Cheers and have fun.

Gary

[MIDI_EVIL]

Wow, this camera has blown me away. I'd not heard about this until I stumbled across this thread.

It seems to put the Sony A1E that I'm using to shame, which costs 3 times more!

Just to clarify, is it 1080p or 1080i?

What kind of machines are you guys editing with?

EDIT: What is your workflow with 25p footage in Final Cut Pro?

[goramsey]

Wow, this camera has blown me away. I'd not heard about this until I stumbled across this thread.

It seems to put the Sony A1E that I'm using to shame, which costs 3 times more!

Just to clarify, is it 1080p or 1080i?

What kind of machines are you guys editing with?

EDIT: What is your workflow with 25p footage in Final Cut Pro?

I would go to this site and find all the answers to your questions. This site has helped me a lot.

http://www.hv20.com/index.php

It covers HV30 FCP 25p all that and more.

Cheers,