Thanks for the site, a few questions and a little about myself

[hippiedog]

Dear forum:
I received my HV20 two days ago and through the help of posts on this site, I am learning the coolness of the camera and understanding the features. This is my second video camera and my first with HD. I think many members can understand my lack of rest and sleep the last two days because of this camera.
I'm new to video but a veteran photojournalist working in coastal SC and NC. I started shooting video because I needed something to help with the rigors of the day-to-day boredom, which sets in after many years of pumping out daily newspaper photo requests.
Although new to the medium of motion, I have produced several web style videos and I'm open for suggestions and comments. Go to www.randallhill.org to see my portfolio of still photography and recent videos.

A couple of questions:

Since I'm shooting for the web but needing HD so I can also pull frame grabs for possible publication in the newspaper, how do you guys suggest I set the camera's HD settings? I've heard progressive is better but I'm confused about the cine mode. A short explaination of the HD modes would be helpful.

When I use a headset on the camera during recording, is it normal for they’re to be a delay between the ambient sound and the audio in the headset?

Thanks again for the providers and moderators of the forum.

Hippiedog

[Terfyn]

I too noticed the delay on between the live sound and the headphones. Slow processor? I guess it must be normal.
I pull frames in the edit process but not in the camera (Iv'e not tried that yet) The advantage being that I can select exactly the best frame to grab and I have time to think about my desicion

[24Peter]

Welcome Hippie!
Shooting progressive v. interlace for still image reproduction from frame grabs is probably less of a reason to choose one over the other. You can grab interlaced frames and de-interlace them in most photo editing/video editing programs with only a slight loss of resolution (though HD rez still images are pretty low rez compared with most digital sitll camera rez's these days.) CineMode doesn't really enter into the frame grab equations per se - pick 24p, 60i and whether to CineMode or not based on the asthetic you are pursuing, not b/c one offers a substantial advantage in frame grabs (since none do).

The audio delay is fun - try interviewing someone and listen to yourself: it's like talking underwater, everything slows dowwwwwnnnnnnnn.

Again, welcome aboard!

[hippiedog]

Thank Peter and Terfyn for the comments.
With the HV 20, my primary goal is to shoot video.
Like many newspapers across the country, more and more photojournalist are being asked to do both stills and video. Video for the web and stills for the paper. Sometimes the image which would be best for the paper will inevitability happen with the video gear is in hand and the still camera is at my side. Thus the need for frame grabs.
Some photojournalist are dropping still gear all together and opting to use frame grabs for everything. One of my colleagues was just issued a XH a1 and no still cameras. For me, I can't let go of my still cameras.
Most of the time I shoot with two Canon EOS 1D's with a wide and long zoom (each hanging from my shoulders) and the HC20 around my neck. For interview work with videos, I will get the tripod.

Hippiedog