Workprinter users! What cams are you using?

[El Jeffe]

For digital I shoot a dvx100a which will not work with a workprinter. I would like to get myself a workprinter setup and I am looking into buying a camera to be used exclusively with it. I am looking at either the Canon Gl1 or a Sony trv900. Both of these cameras can be found at a good price on ebay. I know the GL1 would be much better with it's much higher optical zoom but the trv900 does have the minimum 12x and I am sure I can find one for under 400 to suit my needs.

So what cameras are you guys using and how are they working out?

Thanks!!

jeff

[Macnessa]

I used a ZR 60 until it went bust (another argument against video). Am now using a ZR 100 that I got for around $250.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=KhristoStoianev

[wado1942]

I have made my own answere to the Workprinter and it's a royal pain in the butt to get my GL1 to work properly with it. It has a very long zoom lens but the backfocus is wrong on the GL1s making it nearly impossible to get proper focus through the condenser at longer zoom ranges. It's low resolution also impedes the advantages of the condenser vs a sheet of paper. My ZR65mg (which I got off Ebay for $75) works MUCH better but you can't lock the exposure or take manual control over the iris at all. I'm thinking a GL2 or XL2 would be ideal. Not sure if they fixed the back focus problem on the GL2 or not though.

[JhnZ33]

See if you can pick up a Sony TRV950 off ebay. A fellow Workprinter user has one and his results are outstanding. He did try the TRV900 and wasn't happy with it. He said the focal length wasn't quite right.

Even Roger will tell you the Canons can require some finessing to get lined up just right.

John

[super8man]

I use the GL2 - am quite happy with it...my backup is a ZR60.

Just had Roger install the DC power source and the LED lighting...can't wait to give it a spin.

Cheers,
Mike

[El Jeffe]

I just talked to roger and he said he got the dvx to work with a cl filter and had great results. So I guess I am gonna go that route. Thanks for all the input. The Trv950 sounded like the best bang for your buck for a dedicated camera for it though.

[MovieStuff]

I just talked to roger and he said he got the dvx to work with a cl filter and had great results.

Yes the results can look great but it is a very tight fit because of the DVX's short zoom. You definately need the +1 close up filter for the DVX. The longer zoom of the GL2 is much easier to work with.

Roger

[mr.skull]

I use the Sony TRV-950 for my workprinter setup, its great! 3 ccd, manual controls. Whats not to like? I only use if for super 8 films, never tried regular 8. The zoom will go further than I need for super 8, so I believe it has the "reach" for the smaller reg 8 frame if you need it.

[BSMaier]

I started out with a Sony TRV-8, but it was such a pain to get adjusted just right. Now I use a GL2 with my Workprinter 2, no problems.

[jholmesh]

I've used a GL-2 for nearly 3 years with Roger's WorkPrinters.

I've been very happy with it, until recently.

The "bad pixel" problem just reared its ugly head.

In the lower left quadrant of the display, I've got a white pixel (even with the lens cap on, so it is indeed in the CCDs.)

This has happened to other people, from what I've read on the 'Net.

Other people have experienced a cassette malfunction with more than a few of these units. But because my GL-2 is permanently mounted in my studio just for WorkPrinter captures, and I don't use Mini-DV cassettes, I didn't really care about that problem, before I decided to make the purchase.

But now that this pixel problem has occurred, I am definitely not happy with Canon. It will probably cost a minumum of $400 to fix, according to Canon Support.

I plan on upgrading to a Sony HDR-FX1 next year, or sooner if more bad pixels occur. I was going to upgrade to the similar Canon model until the pixel thing happened.

I've had a little Sony DCR-PC100 camcorder for 6 years, and it is still going strong, with zero problems.

I know it's only one pixel (so far), but like most of you, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my work product, and even though most people will never see it, I KNOW it's there, and it bothers me.

Regards,

Jon

[MovieStuff]

The "bad pixel" problem just reared its ugly head.

The new CineCap software has a dead pixel fixer in it. ;)

You should contact Jeff about it. I don't know if the beta version is out there or not. You run off some black footage, bring it up in the viewer, click on the dead pixel, and the software remembers the position. When you process your speed changes, it samples the pixel next to it and fills the dead pixel with the same color. Works great.

Roger

[super8man]

Sounds like the ultimate "acne" remover for face shots! I shall look forward to the latest version of cinecap as well...to remove those pesky permanent "hairs" in the gate from 1964.

Cheers,
Mike

[tukon4]

Has anybody used the Panasonic AG-DVC30 with their WorkPrinter?

[jholmesh]

Roger (et al),

Thanks, again! That's a bargain solution, for now.

The Canon Support folks said something about reinitializing the camcorder BIOS first, for about $250, and that might solve the problem. I then asked the worst case, replacement of CCDs, and was quoted $400 plus.

If Canon's CCDs or their circuitry is this unreliable, I'll be darned if I'm going to spend c. $3000 + on an XHA1, and risk bad pixels.

I'll be going back to the comparable Sony model (HDR-FX1).

Sorry to all for hijacking the thread, but I can't in good conscience recommend a Canon GL-2, based on my experience, and that of a few others. Granted, my problem is anecdotal, and perhaps with the number of units that they ship, the GL-2 may relatively few have problems per capita, or when compared with other brands. But I don't know.

It's a shame, too, because up until now, the GL-2 had performed flawlessly for me. And that 20x optical zoom is verrrry nice.



I'll be in touch with Jeff.

Regards,

Jon

[wado1942]

Just to interject, Canon buys their CCDs from Panasonic. So if Canon's CCDs are problematic, expect Panasonics to be the same way. I know Sony makes their own CCDs so they may be a better option if you're afraid of that in the future. In the mean time, my GL1 has a dead pixel in the upper right quad as well as a busted 1394 port, so if you want to sell me your GL2, I'm interested.