What format are you shooting?

[vuphinder]

I ran into a one-man-band news shooter yesterday...asked what format tape they were shooting on(camera was covered by a porta-brace)...they had no idea what the tape was that was in the camera....How many reporters/producers/photojournalists are handed tapes without asking questions would not know the answer either?

[omb]

On behalf of one man bands everywhere, I apologize for this person and hereby disassociate them from our group. You are urged to take the poor camera away from this person for the camera's protection before they abuse and/or damage it.

[The Fedora]

how in the world do you NOT know what kind of format you shoot on?

I realize that there are a lot out there: DVCPro, DVCAM, MiniDV, P2, XDCam, Hard Drive, BETA SP, BETA SX, (SHUDDER) MII...

BUT, if your eye is in the lens every day you should know which format you are shooting with.

geez.

[photog78]

Anybody still on 1 inch???

[Stack It]

We're almost entirely shooting on P2. We still have a few Beta SX cameras around, but for the most part, we do everything on the card.

Anyone still roll their feeds on S-VHS?

[ March 27, 2007, 06:06 AM: Message edited by: Stack It ]

[Signature on File]

Boleo CP 16 with a Rajurn 12.5 zoom lense. 200ft. mag-stripe film loads with an Aurecon backup.

[phil413]

still on beta sx

[Diggin' Bear]

To answer the original question, I can't imagine how anybody can succeed as a real newsperson without mastering the basic tools of the trade. I tell that to interns all the time who show no interest in the gadgets but want to be Katie Couric.

We shoot mostly P2 but still have a couple of DVCPro 25/50s left in the mix, and our small P2s can also shoot miniDV, which surprisingly turns out pretty good vid.

[TV Dad]

Originally posted by Diggin' Bear:
I can't imagine how anybody can succeed as a real newsperson without mastering the basic tools of the trade.I used to agree with you, Diggin', but I had to rethink this recently. It used to be that if you brought in video that was blurry & blue with garbled audio, nobody was going to care what story you were trying to tell. But these days, some of the newer cameras (especially those that are being touted for use by VJ's) are extremely good at getting all the technical details very close to the mark via auto-focus, auto-white balance, steady shot, etc... I've decided that a person could probably progress faster if they jumped ahead in the learning process and concentrated on the less technical aspects of story-telling. EVENTUALLY, if they want to continue to improve, they'll need to master their tools more, but I don't think it's as crucial when a person is starting out as it used to be.

[ewink]

Originally posted by phil413:
still on beta sxStill?

SX is a great format. If I had to choose between all the tape formats, it would be SX.

*Hugs XD cam*

Now for non-tape, that's a no brainer. smile.gif

*Hugs XD cam again.*

[SCB]

We shoot on Beta SX, and with the great photogs we have, the product generally looks good.

Unfortunately, we still edit down to Beta SP, which makes it look ... not as good. Still nice, just not as crisp.

But the problem will all be fixed, management promises. Last I heard everything should be wonderful by 2078.

[Signature on File]

Our staff used to shoot S&W 357's...then we upgraded to the Glock 40 cal. graemlins/eusa_doh.gif

[NewsMom]

Shooting on Beta SX, then bumping it down to BetaSP merely says that your managers have far more money than intelligence.

Sadly, they're not putting the money into the payroll.

[MyracleMan]

EDIT FOR SPELLING:
Still shooting news on a combination of Beta SP and miniDV, but the final product ends up on Beta SP.

[ April 04, 2007, 07:06 PM: Message edited by: MyracleMan ]

[SCB]

Originally posted by NewsMom:
Shooting on Beta SX, then bumping it down to BetaSP merely says that your managers have far more money than intelligence.

Sadly, they're not putting the money into the payroll.I think the money went to extra gummy bears. But that's only a guess -- the employees stopped getting candy in '05.

[ April 04, 2007, 10:35 PM: Message edited by: SCB ]

[Spx Guy]

Did anyone mention: SVHS or Hi-8???

...just wondering, however, why it matters (for the most part) if a reporter knows what format they're shooting on? Seriously. Why?

[The Fedora]

SPX.

In the original post the person was a one man band.

[Spx Guy]

...and?

I have worked with many reporters over the years -- pretty much all of which went out as one-man-bands. I'm guessing at least half of them had no idea what they were shooting on...nor did they probably care.

...don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying that it's right. But explain to me why it's wrong.

[cinehead]

Originally posted by Spx Guy:
...and?

I have worked with many reporters over the years -- pretty much all of which went out as one-man-bands. I'm guessing at least half of them had no idea what they were shooting on...nor did they probably care.

...don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying that it's right. But explain to me why it's wrong.Dude, if running a camera is part of your job, you damn well better ****ing know what tape format you're shooting on. What, do you think just any tape will fit in any camcorder?

This is a pet peeve of mine from my days in the biz. Reporters and producers should know the basics of television production. Now, I'm not saying they should know how to shoot a package, but you should at least know how to use a video deck. You work in TV, not a newspaper. The more you understand the business and the technology, the better you will be at your job.

[WalMartNation]

Even in this cheap-hire business... anyone running camera that doesn't know what the format is should be kicked in the balls and made to walk back to the station from the site of the next shoot.

One shop I'm at is on DVCAM, with a spare camera that's a mini HDV cam from Sony, and editing on Avid Liquid (old Pinnacle Liquid Edition).. the other shop is beta sx for shooting.

[wxgeek]

Originally posted by vuphinder:
I ran into a one-man-band news shooter yesterday...asked what format tape they were shooting on(camera was covered by a porta-brace)...they had no idea what the tape was that was in the camera....How many reporters/producers/photojournalists are handed tapes without asking questions would not know the answer either?Wait, don't tell me...one of Rosenblum's VJ's, right? Were you near a hyperlocal node?

[ April 07, 2007, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: wxgeek ]

[Rosenblum]

That would be a P2 and they would know what it is. Everyone who works for me is technically literate. They have to be. They shoot, cut and upload all their own work. You can't do that if think television journalism is about your stand up or hair.

[Ralphie the buffalo]

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
That would be a P2 Are all your VJ tought stations P2 and why?

[Rosenblum]

Almost all vj projects now are using P2. There are a few exceptions. It saves time on the digitizing. Cards pay for themselves in short time. Camera records a very good image. Seem to be robust so far. We are very happy with them.

[Ralphie the buffalo]

Do you use external card readers and then consolidate only the sequence or do you consolidate each card using the laptop card input and then edit from there? And how do you handle file tape video on a laptop only system?

[Rosenblum]

We don't need card readers. We use the Panasonic HVX200, and the camera serves as a reader when connected to the computer (the MacBook Pro has an
express 32 slot instead of the older PCMCIA slot so the P2 cards wont slot in).

Using FCP 5.1's P2 Import tool you can select the clips you want to work with and import them directly into the Browser ready to edit.

As far as File tape is concerned, it simply needs to be digitized on any edit system or digitizing station into the appropriate format and then transferred to the laptop via network or swap-drive.

KGTV San Diego has a nicely setup system for this.

[ April 07, 2007, 02:52 PM: Message edited by: Rosenblum ]

[Ralphie the buffalo]

Very good.

That USB cable to the camera setup is slick, huh? The full size ENG cams can hold 5 cards though and that comes in handy on occasion.

I didn't know about the MacBook slot problem. We use Dell lappers on the road and don't have that problem.

[ April 07, 2007, 03:03 PM: Message edited by: Ralphie the buffalo ]

[RollTide98]

Originally posted by Stack It:
Anyone still roll their feeds on S-VHS?Anyone still actually ROLL their feeds?

[mothball]

I roll S-VHS -- at home. I purchased a recorder about eight years ago to catch my favorite shows.

It's pretty much obsolete, with the DVR, but at least I can still watch my old recordings in near-broadcast clarity.

[vuphinder]

Wait, don't tell me...one of Rosenblum's VJ's, right? Were you near a hyperlocal node?

Nope. Time Warner 24 hours news station.

[interloper]

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
Cards pay for themselves in short time.Thanks! I needed the laugh!

[Spx Guy]

Originally posted by cinehead:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Spx Guy:
...and?

I have worked with many reporters over the years -- pretty much all of which went out as one-man-bands. I'm guessing at least half of them had no idea what they were shooting on...nor did they probably care.

...don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying that it's right. But explain to me why it's wrong.Dude, if running a camera is part of your job, you damn well better ****ing know what tape format you're shooting on. What, do you think just any tape will fit in any camcorder?

This is a pet peeve of mine from my days in the biz. Reporters and producers should know the basics of television production. Now, I'm not saying they should know how to shoot a package, but you should at least know how to use a video deck. You work in TV, not a newspaper. The more you understand the business and the technology, the better you will be at your job.</font>[/QUOTE]...again, so?

If a television station is shooting everything on just one format...why does it matter if the reporter knows what format that is? They toss a tape into the chamber. It fits. Why do I have to know what it is?

...again -- I'm not saying that it's right...I just don't agree with you 100%.