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MillimeterShoot Tools
Oct 1, 2002 12:00 PM, By Trevor Boyer
Field downconversion
For an HD shoot that requires quick turnaround on rough-cut editing, a compressed format is often necessary. That's the thinking behind Miranda's new DVC-800, which mounts in front of the battery on the Sony HDCAM and Panasonic AJ-HDC27A camcorders. Monitoring outputs include HD-SDI, SDI, composite, and DV via 1394. The latter output, which includes embedded audio, timecode, and metadata as part of the signal, allows the camera to be plugged into your field editing laptop or a portable DV drive. The 2lb. DVC-800 inputs 1080i, 1080p, and 720p at 23.98fps and standard PAL and NTSC frame rates.
Price: $8,995
Montreal; (514) 333-1772; www.miranda.com
On-camera light
One of Aspen Electronics' hotter camera accessories right now is its A30 on-camera light. Well-suited for DV camcorders, the 30W light comes standard with barn doors, a diffuser, a focus knob, and a dichroic filter. The A30 light connects to your camcorder via a Power Tap connector or an optional XLR connector, and it mounts with a camera shoe and lockdown nut. It works with 14.4V batteries, but running the 0.8lb. light this way shortens the life of both the battery and the light. For a dimmer, look to Aspen's LT-100 Light Tuner.
Price: $285
Shelton, Conn. (860) 489-1193
www.aspenelectronics.com
Shady hood
Known better for its equipment bags, Petrol lends some fabric expertise to its new Mini Hood, designed for the 3.5in. monitors on cam-corders like Sony's PD150 and the TRV series. Composed of padded fabric with rigid internal panels, the unit shades the monitor from bright light for better viewing during sunny shoots. The 1.8oz. Mini Hood can be positioned at either 90 or 180 degrees on the monitor. Contact U.S. distributor Sachtler for more information.
Price: $19
Freeport, N.Y. (516) 867-4900
www.sachtler.com
DV update
This summer Canon released an update to its GL1 camcorder, which has been very popular with enthusiasts and event videographers. The new GL2, still competing with Sony's VX1000/2000 camcorders, sports a few new notable features such as manual audio level controls, VU level meters, Clear Scan for shooting computer screens, and SMPTE color bars. The GL2, with three 1/4in., 410,000-pixel CCDs, also features a new adapter for XLR microphones, an L-series 20X optical zoom lens, and an analog-to-digital converter for sending analog signals through the camera and out to a computer via 1394.
Price: $2,999; lower street price.
Lake Success, N.Y.; (800) OK-CANON; www.canondv.com
Continue the discussion on “Crosstalk” the Millimeter Forum.