Idiots guide to settings?

[brido]

Has anyone written an augmented or more descriptive "manual" for the settings on the HV20?

I am finding the manual less than user friendly!

Perhaps some members can share their settings on this forum?

Thanks

[jmorton]

I was thinking that the members could start to compile one here in this forum. We could call it something like -

How to use the HV20: Tips and Techniques

Everyone could post there candidate tips and techniques in a yet-to-be-created forum category just for this purpose then one or more moderators could pick the best ones then they can be placed into an "official" How to use the HV20: Tips and Techniques handbook (with credits, of course.)

Here's a couple of examples:

24p or 30p (60i)? Ask yourself what do you expect your final output to be: Internet, DVD, transfer to film, etc.?

The shot: lots of motion or relatively static? If there is little movement you can opt to control depth of field over controlling shutter speed. Your choices are shutter-priority or aperture-priority. Will your choice be consistent with the entire sequence?

What do you think? :hv20-smilie55:

JM

[Numbox]

Yeah, we need something like that. Also, is there any difference in apperture priority and shutter sppeed numbers on PAL and NTSC cams, cause people always talk about 1/12, 1/200 and such numbers but i can't see them anywhere. Granted, it's got more to do withe fact that i still don't know a damn thing about those things, but nevertheless, some decent clarification IN ONE DEDICATED THREAD would be awesome. Of course it's been mentioned and explained, but on various threads, and when you search those terms you get a gazillion of answers.

Also, one thing that puzzlez me is that cinemode always look kinda blurred on my cam. Why is that?

[brido]

I too am not really sure what everything means. I am not even sure that i am shooting in PAL, but i am in a Pal region and assume it will do the 50i thing for me. That is terrible to admit that!!! I just have not found a setting that asks me what i am shooting in except for the various HDV settings. Does it mean that if you are shooting in HDV it does not matter if it is Pal or NTSC? (Cant be)

In ordinary DV I felt pretty confident, but i have just come in from my first HV20 video shoot and am "almost" nervous to get into the editing.

I will first install Cineform Aspect HD as I have chosen that (trial) before i decide if i will go the Intensity pro route.

I did find the grid that comes up on the LCD screen and was happy to have that as I have done very little wide screen work. i also managed to sort out the external microphone and earphones, but not confident yet in adjusting the sound as i am filming.

From auto everything to adjusting everything is something i will enjoy but it is a bit scary.

Glad my need has touched a spot for others. Thanks

[jmorton]

I think a good place to start for explanations and definitions is here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Just enter your search term such as "hdv video" or "PAL" or "NTSC" or "frame rate" or "shutter speed" or "aperture" in the search box on the left down the page.

Another place is to just read the HV20 instruction manual. If need be reread it over and over until you have got it. You cannot get it overnight: it takes time. Perhaps just a little each day.

Then shoot video using all the various settings and adjustments. Experiment. You cannot learn any other way.

To get great results takes work. :hv20-smilie03:

JM

[SenorKaffee]

RTFM, Google, Wikipedia, then RTFM some more and in the end hit the forums. ;)

I think there is also a small table in the manual which shutter speed to use in which situation. Some parts of the manual are hard to understand, but I´ve read worse.

Maybe someone has to write an additional manual that adds the exposure trick and why CineMode seems to looks worse than the other modes. ^^

[brido]

Yes I am in the read and re read the manual mode. You are right, some of the things do become a bit clearer and i will continue to keep into this mode. I don't really want to be seen a a lazy user, rather than a confused user!!

Would it be OK to use this thread to ask specific settings questions?

My first question would be: Why can i not find the Portrait, snow etc settings. Have i set something else that has taken these off the list?

[Dodgy Nick]

I was thinking that the members could start to compile one here in this forum. We could call it something like -

How to use the HV20: Tips and Techniques

Everyone could post there candidate tips and techniques in a yet-to-be-created forum category just for this purpose then one or more moderators could pick the best ones then they can be placed into an "official" How to use the HV20: Tips and Techniques handbook (with credits, of course.)


Brido, jmorton & Numbox

I'll be happy to start a thread like this, and members can contribute with posts that they think should be in there, or links to other users posts with invaluable information. Once I've compiled it all in one thread, we can make that a sticky. We can have one for the HV20, and a seperate one for Accessories, although I think somebody's made a head start on the accessories one already, so that leaves us with the HV20 settings sticky.

Any ideas for a thread title? "HV20 settings - everything you need to know" Or is that a little ambitious? lol

[Ebony]

I am new to this forum this is my first post, what a wonderful forum., you guys are so intelligent. I just purchased the Canon HV20 after having tried The Sony HDR-SR5 60gb HDD. I have been facinated with borderless/transparent video, thus I selected the Canon HV20 for my projects, I love this little camera and have been playing around with the various settings, what I should have done is record the settings I selected for each shoot. I know I have a lighting problem, cannot figure that one out. Several of the shoots I chose the "cinema mode". Have a look at my samples using the HV20 - I am explaining about the glare on my shoulder and nose. i used some of friends as my models. My web site is:

www.jensresidence.com

Your feedback is appreciated. Thank you so much.

[Ebony]

Hi everyone I just joined this amazing Canon HV20 forum, you guys are so intelligent, this is my first post and have been thinking along the same lines.

I purchased the HV20 and agree that the manual is confusing in regards to settings so I have been testing them. I am using the HV20 for my chromakeying project, just started and having fun with it. I have always been facinated with borderless/transparent video so I am trying the various settings to see the results, unfortunately what I should have done is record the settings I used for each shoot. Have a look at my website with my clips.

I know I used the 'cinema' mode on my friends and for myself, I turned on the 'backlight' - manual mode.

What I plan on doing for each shoot is to write everythng down: Lighting, camera settings, placement of subject and a column showing the resultant video. I am new to this and I am eager to learn, I love video/technology on a whole.

Please check out my site with the sample videos: www.jensresidence.com

Your feedback is appreciated.

[alexville]

ahh double post!