Into The Wild

International Wildlife Film Festival
Missoula, MT.

May 10-14, 2010

Each year the best wildlife film makers desend on Missoula, MT for the oldest wildlife film festival. This year marked the 33rd time this event has been held. The setting and the vibe is great. Panasonic is a sponsor of the event, and so each year, we bring a number of cameras to the event for the film makers to play with. It is also a great way to hear first hand what world renowned cinematographers need in the way of cameras in very challenging environments.

A lot of these shooters are currently working with Varicams, so the new P2 varicams got lots of attention. But so did Lil'Buster (the HMC40) AVCCAM shown here with it's big brother the Varicam.

We also showcased the HMR10 portable recorder and the HCK10 POVCAM. This combination was extremely appealing, particularly with the fact that you could separate the camera from the recorder via cable, by up to 65 feet! Additionally, we had a new underwater housing from Gates, that people were very interested in.
Here is a pix of the POVCAM as a helmet camera. I wonder why I look so serious?
The wildlife folks could see lots of application for this little camera and recorder.

Lots More to Come,
The Road Warrior

FTC Disclosure
In compliance with the FTC rulings, I state that I am the Panasonic AVCHD Evangelist. As such, I am a paid consultant to Panasonic, and I get free use of the AVCCAM products. However, the opinions on this blog are purely my own.

This was Fun!

April 28, 2010
San Diego State Univeristy

I was invited by Steve Montal, professor at San Diego State University to come and speak to his advanced production class. The class was 2.5 hours and we really rocked. I spoke to them about how codecs do matter, and showed some examples of the difference.
In fact after the class, one of the students sent me this email; "Thanks again for coming to our class and presenting. It was one of the most informative classes I've had this semester and finally settled my codec/storage/camera confusion".

I had lots of AVCCAM products there and some P2 as well.
We discussed camera options, what to look for when picking a camera, how you can create a look with your camera.
Then the topic turned to post production. No suprise the great majority of students were Final Cut Users, so I fired up FCP and showed them how easy it is to edit AVCCAM footage.
Finally, I presented them with an update of some of the new products shown at NAB.
First up was the AG-HMC80.

This camera will absolutely rock the education market. It is a light weight shoulder mounted camera that not only shoots HD, but it also shoots standard def on SDHC cards. It will be available in September. More to come.




Second cool new product was the AG-AF100. This large sensor camera is designed as a video camera that you can attach any of your existing still camera lenses to. It has XLR inputs, and time code. It generated a tremendous amount of buzz at NAB. It will be available end of year. And yes, more to come.





Finally, the AG-3DA1. The world's first integrated 3D camera. I have had the pleasure to shoot with this little guy a couple of times, once on a set and once out in the desert and it is amazing. But, let me tell you shooting 3D is a whole new ball game. There is so much more to consider shooting 3D. But the images, whoa. This camera will be out in the fall and you can bet there will be lots more to come regarding shooting with it. I hope to post some tips from things that I learn.

The class was very attentive and asked very good questions. A good time was had by all. And the questions continued after class. The professor sent this very nice email to Panasonic: "Bernie Mitchell's presentation on the developments of HD camera technologies is the most comprehensive lecture/demo we have had on the subject in ten years at San Diego State University. Bernie effectively communicated to the students strategies for making the right decision in selecting cameras and media to work with. The demo of new Panasonic cameras was incredible. We look forward to welcoming Bernie back to SDSU soon. Thank you!"

Lots More to Come,
The Road Warrior

FTC Disclosure
In compliance with the FTC rulings, I state that I am the Panasonic AVCHD Evangelist. As such, I am a paid consultant to Panasonic, and I get free use of the AVCCAM products. However, the opinions on this blog are purely my own.

3D in The Desert

Yesterday, I got my hands on one of the first Panasonic 3D HD camcorders in the country. What a thrill!
It records 3D on the AVCHD format on two inexpensive SDHC cards and is the newest member of the growing AVCCAM family of professional products.
Off to the desert, just outside of Las Vegas to put this baby to work. Let me tell you shooting 3D is a whole new way of thinking and shooting. Panasonic has done a great job of creating a hand held, light weight camera that makes the process easier. But, if you have never shot 3D, there are a number of new skill sets that you will have to learn. And the best place to start that learning, to get your hands on this new hot camera and to see some of the tremendous footage shot with it, is in the Panasonic booth at NAB. Starting Monday and running thru Thus of next week, the Panasonic booth will be the place to be. Stop by and say hello, and I will welcome you to a new 3D world.

More updates to come.

The Road Warrior

FTC Disclosure
In compliance with the FTC rulings, I state that I am the Panasonic AVCHD Evangelist. As such, I am a paid consultant to Panasonic, and I get free use of the AVCCAM products. However, the opinions on this blog are purely my own.

AVCCAM at NAB Once Again!

April 7, 2010

It is time for Las Vegas and NAB (the National Association of Broadcasters Show).
Ole Betsy, Lil' Buster, other AVCCAM products and I will all be in the Panasonic Booth next week. Wonder what surprises we will be showing?
NAB is Monday, Tues, Wed and Thurs. I will be there talking the AVCCAM talk. If you are coming to NAB, please stop in and say hi!
Also, I will bring the products to the Final Cut User Group SuperMeeting Tues. nite at the Rio. And, immediately after NAB, I will be at BEA. It is going to be a very busy 10 days. I look forward to speaking to many of you. As always, it will be a blast.

The Road Warrior

FTC Disclosure
In compliance with the FTC rulings, I state that I am the Panasonic AVCHD Evangelist. As such, I am a paid consultant to Panasonic, and I get free use of the AVCCAM products. However, the opinions on this blog are purely my own.

Lil' Buster Goes Viral!

We have just completed 14 "How To Videos" for the Panasonic HMC40 AVCCAM camera (Lil' Buster, to us here on the blog.)
This pix is a behind the scenes look in the studio. BTW, all the footage that you see in these videos was shot with the HMC40 camera. No tricks, just the real thing. As I have said for months, this little camera is amazing.

To see the videos go to Check them out at: www.youtube.com/user/PBTSProVideo.

Each program is short and covers a specific topic, such as "How Do I Set White Balance." We tried to keep them informative and a bit entertaining. You can learn all about frame rates and resolutions, dynamic range stretch and interval recording (time lapse) some examples of this I have posted here on previous blogs. Other programs include Pre-record (really cool feature) as well as Optical Image Stabilization (a must if you are hand holding the camera). We even included some FAQ's. All in all, 14 nifty little videos that should help you to make the most of shooting with Lil' Buster.
If you get a chance to look at them, post your comments here. I would love to hear what you think.

The Road Warrior

FTC Disclosure
In compliance with the FTC rulings, I state that I am the Panasonic AVCHD Evangelist. As such, I am a paid consultant to Panasonic, and I get free use of the AVCCAM products. However, the opinions on this blog are purely my own.

Lil' Buster Headed To Hawaii For AVCO Tech Show

Aloha!

March 31 and April 1 are the dates, Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Honolulu, Hawaii is the place. Lil' Buster, Ole Betsy and the new HMR10 and POVCam will be at the AVCO Technology Show. Oh yeah, I will be accompanying them.
See www.theavco.com/avcotechnologyshow for registration and details. Come by and see the cameras and take in my presentation both days entitled "Codecs to Cameras: The Panasonic AVCHD Evolution". I will be stressing the importance of video compression and how MPEG-4 is vastly superior to the older MPEG-2 compression and cameras that still use it. It is usually a lively discussion, because I also always ask "Why in World Would You Still Shoot on Tape (or MPEG-2)?"

The Road Warrior

FTC Disclosure
In compliance with the FTC rulings, I state that I am the Panasonic AVCHD Evangelist. As such, I am a paid consultant to Panasonic, and I get free use of the AVCCAM products. However, the opinions on this blog are purely my own.

Lil' Buster in Park City, UT for Slamdance Film Festival

Sunday January 24, 2010
Finally the sun came out! It has been snowing, cold and white-out conditions here since Friday am. The Slamdance Film Festival (see www.slamdance.com) is in full swing and the weather can't dampen the spirits here.

Yesterday, I moderated a Fireside Chat session at Slamdance
where we invited filmmakers who all have films in this year's festival to speak. Each of these filmmakers shot their films on Panasonic cameras. Mainly the HVX200 P2 camera. They talked about their experience with the camera and the workflow. Then they showed clips of the films. Way cool!

I then asked them what they liked about shooting with Panasonic and their comments ranged from: "I like the look I get with Panasonic HD cameras", "The camera is so light weight it allowed me to get shots in positions not otherwise possible", and "The workflow from camera to edit is so fast".

I also asked them if there was anything that they didn't like, and there really wasn't. How bout that?

Thanks to the filmmakers for sharing their stories and talent with us.
You can check them out on the links below:
Nico Sabenorio "Bout That Bout" see: www.boutthatbout.com
John Carluccio "Cease & Desist" see: johncarluccio.blogspot.com
Chuck Gomez "Poinciana Sunrise" see: slamdance.bside.com/2010/films/poincianasunrise_chuckgomezdirector_slamdance2010

After the session we all gathered out in the hallway, where TV Specialists, the Panasonic dealer in Salt Lake City, had set up a table and had a number of the Panasonic cameras on display for the filmmakers to play with. See: www.tvspecialists.com

Most were familiar with the P2 cameras but the AVCCAM cameras (particularly Lil' Buster, the HMC40 camera) that record on standard SDHC cards, blew them away. I am pretty confident we will see films next year shot with Lil' Buster.
It was a great day.

Tomorrow, I am giving another Fireside Chat at Slamdance, this one is "Codecs to Cameras" and I will discuss the benefits of the various codecs, the limitations of MPEG 2, and show the Panasonic P2 and AVCCAM cameras.

I will try to get some more pix tomorrow and post them.

The Road Warrior

FTC Disclosure
In compliance with the FTC rulings, I state that I am the Panasonic AVCHD Evangelist. As such, I am a paid consultant to Panasonic, and I get free use of the AVCCAM products.