My name is Michael Cox and I worked in the film industry for over twenty years in many jobs, mostly as a grip but I also shot, recorded sound, edited, wrote scripts...anyway, I'm new to documentary filmmaking, after having "quit" the film industry and returned to university. So I'll be returning to this forum regularly with either questions or some in-the-field experiences.
A Cautionary Tale
The first thing I want to say is that I bought a Canon HV40, a Schneider/Century .5x wide angle adapter, a Rode Videomic, all new in April 2010, and I'm already selling the package! The only reason for selling it is that the Canon's manual focus knob sucks; and while IrvDesign has a manual focus ring which slips over the lens barrel, I've tried, and tried, and tried, to get one from him but he's still out of stock. I realized how much I need to keep the camera in manual focus mode for my work, and I simply cannot do it with the LCD screen open.
So i have the camera up for sale, but then I also have to put the W/A adapter up for sale because it doesn't fit anything else, and then the bag, because it's too small for the new camera (Sony HVR Z5U), then the Rode Videomic, because it terminates in a 3.5mm minijack and the camera comes with a monaural shotgun mic (XLR connection only on the camera), and so on...a loss of some 400 or more dollars, if I get the asking price.
So this is my cautionary tale: if you are considering a small camcorder AND you like to use manual focus, really give it a good workout at a store first. I bought it after only a few minutes use...bought it online from B&H (U.S. warranty) and three months later, with only ten tapes through it, I"m putting it up for sale!
Pictures of the gear.
A Cautionary Tale
The first thing I want to say is that I bought a Canon HV40, a Schneider/Century .5x wide angle adapter, a Rode Videomic, all new in April 2010, and I'm already selling the package! The only reason for selling it is that the Canon's manual focus knob sucks; and while IrvDesign has a manual focus ring which slips over the lens barrel, I've tried, and tried, and tried, to get one from him but he's still out of stock. I realized how much I need to keep the camera in manual focus mode for my work, and I simply cannot do it with the LCD screen open.
So i have the camera up for sale, but then I also have to put the W/A adapter up for sale because it doesn't fit anything else, and then the bag, because it's too small for the new camera (Sony HVR Z5U), then the Rode Videomic, because it terminates in a 3.5mm minijack and the camera comes with a monaural shotgun mic (XLR connection only on the camera), and so on...a loss of some 400 or more dollars, if I get the asking price.
So this is my cautionary tale: if you are considering a small camcorder AND you like to use manual focus, really give it a good workout at a store first. I bought it after only a few minutes use...bought it online from B&H (U.S. warranty) and three months later, with only ten tapes through it, I"m putting it up for sale!
Pictures of the gear.
