looking for camera/tripod

[Natepelzel]

So our board finally approved us for a new camera with a budget of around $10000-$13000

Until now, we've been using a canon GL1 and a GL2, sending via firewire and mixing with software on a MacPro. The pastor and board have finally become convinced that video is something worth investing in and so now I have a little money for video equipment. I've done some research on switchers, and the ATEM television studios seem like a great option, unless any of you know anything I don't.

The main thing I need advice in is a camera. I'm hoping to get a professional quality camera with HD SDI output. our cameraman will be ~15 ft away so zoom isn't SUPER important. I've always been a canon guy, but as you can see with our previous setup, I don't have a lot of experience in the "professional camera realm".

I'm also hoping to get a tripod with zoom/focus handles. have no idea whatsoever how much those run, so just tell me if my expectations are way too high.

The main purpose for this setup will be a live recording that will be sent to our sister campus for use as their main message on Sunday mornings.

Thanks in advance! let me know if you need any more info.

Nate

[petereit]

I think the Atem switcher will work great for you. We're currently considering upgrading from our current Panasonic AVH3000G to a 16-input Atem2.

As for camera setup, I love our Manfrotto 519 fluid heads. Nice fluid motion, good counterbalance and good price. We balked at the price of camera platforms so we had a local metal fabricator build us aluminum stands with the camera stand split from the operator stand (to isolate vibration) for about half the price of commercial stands.

We ordered the second pan handles with the 519 heads and mounted electronic Verizoom zoom controllers on the right and manual Varizoom focus controllers on the left. We got a good deal on refurbished JVC GY-HD250U cameras and they have worked great for us. We also looked at the Panasonic AG-HPX370. A bit more expensive, but they seem to do better in low light.

We have SmallHD DP1X monitors mounted on flexible goosenecks for our operators keep sharp focus. SmallHD doesn't make them any more (pitty!) but they do occasionally come up on eBay. Manhattan LCD has comparable monitors. For HD work, you REALLY need an HD focus monitor, at least 8". Preferably 9". And make sure it's full HD. It doesn't work as well if your focus monitor is downscaling your image.

[tdangelo]

Except that that Sony's flagship HD studio camera has a rear viewfinder which is 5.5" and the optional 7" is 1024x576 resolution.

Grass Valley's flagship HD studio camera has a rear viewfinder which is 800x480.

The same is true with Panasonic, Ikegami, etc.

Even JVC's studio viewfinder is 1024x768.

[petereit]

I know. But we shoot 720p and there's nothing like seeing EXACTLY what you're shooting, full frame at 1:1. With our low lighting and almost wide open lenses, I couldn't imagine shooting with anything less.

My dream display would be an iPad3 with a retina display displaying full 1080i while simultaneously recording iso in Prores 444.

[tdangelo]

If shopping for viewfinders (or a monitor to be used as a viewfinder) "peaking" is a very important fuction in determining focus which is not found on some monitors.

Some monitors have "focus assist" modes which will change colors or contrast when the camera is in focus.

Whatever the methodology peaking or focus assist should be priorities when shopping for a viewfinder.

[Natepelzel]

I really appreciate all your input guys, sorry I haven't replied in a while. My second job has been keeping me busy this week. So here's what I'm thinking of putting in my proposal:

JVC GY-HD750U with 14x Canon KT14x4.4KRSJ HD lens- Any negatives about this? is genlock an important feature? I have no idea what it is.

Canon XA10 - I know it will look a little silly next to the JVC, but I've read a lot of great things about it's low-light performance, and I think a compact camera would be a wise investment for our church, as we do tons of missions and have been wanting to have a better way of reporting what we do in the field. Plus we could use it as a little wider shot during the sermons? I know it has an HDMI out which would work with the ATEM switcher, but I'm not sure if it's a clean output.

ATEM 1 M/E with MacMini, HDTV, and some monitors.

We already have a heavy-duty bogen tripod with a good head on it (specific model escapes me at the moment) but we're just going to order the extra handle kit and the zoom/focus handles.

I was hoping to make this field monitor work with the blackmagic UltraStudio SDI. as a viewfinder, any woes about that idea? Amazon doesn't list this, but I did read that you can switch it to monochrome for cleaner focusing.

That's about it I think? obviously cable and stuff like that would be included, but as far as hardware goes, am I missing anything?

Thanks so much,

Nate

[tdangelo]

Genlock is an engineering fuction which allows you to tell the camera when to start scanning each frame. It is very important if designing a system with the least possible latency (delay time between when an image enters the camera lens to when it actually makes it out to a destination like a Imag screen, the web, a recorder, etc.).

[petereit]

How far from the pulpit will your cameras be set up? I love the Canon glass on the new JVCs, but 14x may not be enough zoom if your camera is set up too far away. We have the 17x Fujinon lenses on our JVCs and it's just barely enough for our positions.

The problem you're going to have with connecting the Canon XA10 in your sanctuary is going to be cable distance. HDMI is only good for 35' (with a high-quality HDMI cable, and those are NOT cheap!) Anything longer and you're going to need inline HDMI signal booster/equalizers and they will add additional lag. HDMI connectors are also notorious for going bad, especially the HDMI mini-connectors on most consumer cameras. Since HDMI connectors do not lock, the cables are extremely easy to tug right out of their sockets, and we have found that they "go fiddly" over time which means they'll just suddenly drop signal for no reason. Wiggling or reseating the HDMI connectors usually brings the video right back, but you REALLY don't want that happening in the middle of a service, and if you have an extender in the chain, you have FOUR different places you may need to run and "fiddle" with. That crap gets old REALLY quick!

Another problem you may have with the Canon is tripod controls. I'm not sure what remote zoom/focus controls are available (if any). It may not be important depending on how you plan to use the camera during services.

Another issue you may deal with is getting the two different cameras to give you a consistent "look". White balance, color balance and lighting differences may make it very difficult to match the look from the two different cameras.

[Natepelzel]

Okay so XA10 is going to cause problems and probably just cost more money. What about the XF105? still nice and compact, but has the SDI output. also has great low-light performance (From what I've heard) I'm not super worried about the tripod controls on this one. Not ideal I know, but I think it would be a valuable camera to have for other uses.

The problem with upgrading to that camera is it puts us about $1100 over budget. any idea where we could save some money? Any good used sites to look at? I am comfortable with used equipment, but I want it to be from a reliable place.

The camera will be about 26' away from the pulpit... how does that sound?

oh and the tripod we have is a bogen 3040 with a bogen 3063 head.

Thanks,

nate

[petereit]

For your budget, I'd get the ATEM switcher, then look for a good package deal on two refurbished JVC GYHD250U cameras. That would leave enough in the budget for cabling, tripods, heads and remote controls. You could cable a small sound board with a mic in your studio and run Mic cable out to the XLR connectors on the cameras, your camera operators can plug in ear buds and you have a VERY inexpensive one-way comm system. (That's how we're running our 3-camera system now.)

This would get you set up with a good, solid, SDI-based system to train your camera operators and TD. As your team gains experience and you rebuild your budget, add a third camera (on tripod or a rover if one of your camera ops gets really good.)

Then upgrade your cameras, add the hardware switcher controller, a REAL comm system, etc as your budget allows.