For Telecine Transfer what camera do you use?

[Konton]

Hey all. I'm going to assume at this point that many people posting here are trying to have a home built telecine transfer system. Maybe you are using a Goko TC-20, Cine-Mate, Work Printer, Elmo TRV-S8, Or even a 5-bladed projector. What camera do you use to transfer with? Did you pay more for the camera than the transfer system?

I was into the idea of using old tube cameras or 3CCD cameras for a while. I had a Sony DXC-M3 and a Sony EVW-300 (borrowed from http://www.filmarts.org who took it back and now use it on their own 16mm transfer system). But the problem with both is you only have an s-video hookup (although even then the EVW-300 gave a damn good picture). I'd rather have a better connection to my computer. To me this means firewire. How about you?

Anyway after giving up on camcorders and still cameras and just about everything else, I came across a color progressive scan firewire camera with a built-in 12x zoom lens, white balance, external trigger control for frame rates of 3.75, 7.5, 15.0, 30 fps and one shot, as well as a bunch of other cool stuff. Take a look at it here:

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Professional/w ... t?id=17519

I managed to just get this little baby off Ebay for around $250! I can't believe it's progressive scan. I keep seeing website about the DFW-VL500 and it's many uses. Actually, I don't understand most of them. But here's some info on the CCD chip, a spec sheet, and a user guide:

http://www.1394imaging.com/products/cam ... x084ak.pdf
http://www.1394imaging.com/products/cam ... ae50c716c0
http://www.1394imaging.com/products/cam ... ae50c716c0

I'm going to test this with my Goko TC-20. But if there was a way to make this work directly with a WorkPrinter or Cinemate, using faster speeds for transfer than 6fps utilizing the external trigger, I'd love to hear it!

[bbito]

I hadn't seen this camera before, but right off the bat it looks geared more for machine control applications or image analysis than video since it uses a square-pixel CCD and has a max resolution thats less than the standard DV-601 NTSC rez of 720x486.
I'm very interested in what you get out of it though. Do you have the camera yet?
I've seen film-chain transfers with the 3-chip SonyTRV900 camcorder that look pretty good... but I guess it really depends on where you're going with the transfer...
video-to-film blowup?
just to get a frame-accurate file for an NLE system to produce an EDL?
video-only post?

[Andreas Wideroe]

I'm using a Panasonic NV-MX300 camera. This is a 3CCD camera, PAL with 720x576, 12x optical zoom, all functions can be operated manually and it's simply great!

[Kurt]

Hey Andreas!

Just wondering why you went with the Panasonic NV-MX300? I'm looking for a miniDV camera to use with my workprinter and I've been finding a lot of good info on the Sony and Canon models, I especially like the Canon XM-1/XM-2 (GL-1/GL-2) in North America. What was it that made you go for the Panasonic?

Thanks!

Kurt

[Konton]

I hadn't seen this camera before, but right off the bat it looks geared more for machine control applications or image analysis than video since it uses a square-pixel CCD and has a max resolution thats less than the standard DV-601 NTSC rez of 720x486.
I'm very interested in what you get out of it though. Do you have the camera yet?
I've seen film-chain transfers with the 3-chip SonyTRV900 camcorder that look pretty good... but I guess it really depends on where you're going with the transfer...
video-to-film blowup?
just to get a frame-accurate file for an NLE system to produce an EDL?
video-only post?

I just got the camera today. The idea for me in using this camera was for a frame by frame capture with no interlacing using a workprinter. For realtime transfer I might as well use a high quality camera with 3CCDs. I'll let you know how it goes as I'm still in the process of . . . well getting out of bed.