All Forum Comments
Comment by pezking posted on FS: Nasty cheap Chinese grip for K-7/K-5 at 30/07/2011 - 18:40
PM Sent
Comment by pezking posted on FS: Nasty cheap Chinese grip for K-7/K-5 at 27/07/2011 - 13:23
rparmar wrote:
Not any recorder will sound good for this application. I've used other recorders which haven't faired so well. Many can't cope with the SPL and others have a much higher noise floor. Some have weird frequency responses and so colour the sound in an odd way.pezking wrote:
I've recorded acoustic guitar, electric guitar and singing with them and it sounds great.
Any recorder will sound great for that application, since noise will be masked by the relatively high input signal level, as you should well know from being an audio engineer. However the application under discussion is not recording your favourite band or practice session, for which you may as well use a cassette recorder. I've recorded acoustic guitar, electric guitar and singing with them and it sounds great.
Come on a cassette recorder? Now you're just being silly...
rparmar wrote:
The application here is video, which I assume means capturing both dialogue and ambiance in the field. Recorders with high noise floor cannot be recommended for this application.
You're right, I should have provided some more relevant experience with the recorder. I recorded ambience outside in the garden. Distant traffic, birds, kids playing in the next garden - you know the stuff. The noise floor was not an issue here, and I was still able to achieve a high signal to noise ratio.The application here is video, which I assume means capturing both dialogue and ambiance in the field. Recorders with high noise floor cannot be recommended for this application.
pezking wrote:
If I had to critique two points they would be that it doesn't feel strongly built (so don't treat it roughly... why would you anyway?)
If I had to critique two points they would be that it doesn't feel strongly built (so don't treat it roughly... why would you anyway?)
rparmar wrote:
That's an odd statement. In field use one doesn't have the choice of babying equipment. I cannot tell from the lack of context, but if you are referring to my comments on build quality, they were made regarding the H2, not the H1, which I have never used.
You're reading too much into it... It was a statement made based on my opinion - not in response to any comments made by you. My point was - so what it's delicate? Just treat it with respect! I have so many microphones and pieces of equipment which need to be handled carefully but that doesn't make them bad products.That's an odd statement. In field use one doesn't have the choice of babying equipment. I cannot tell from the lack of context, but if you are referring to my comments on build quality, they were made regarding the H2, not the H1, which I have never used.
pezking wrote:
As for some of the opinions listed here: I can't believe that you're comparing a cheap personal recorder to field recorders costing many many times the price... Compare apples with apples eh?!
As for some of the opinions listed here: I can't believe that you're comparing a cheap personal recorder to field recorders costing many many times the price... Compare apples with apples eh?!
rparmar wrote:
I think perspective is a good thing. If a distinctly better recorder can be had an extra 50 or 100 monetary units then anyone serious about their task should pony up. Having knowledge of what different price points buys you can only be a good thing.
For what it's worth, I have been recommending inexpensive gear with a distinctly better ability to get the job done than gear the same price or slightly less. The fact that Zoom recorders are often recommended in certain circles only points to a lack of knowledge about alternatives. That's all well and good but aren't we on a Pentax forum? Look to other options.
You're right perspective is a great thing - and I removed the comment you quoted very shortly after writing it. You happened to catch it pretty damn quickly!I think perspective is a good thing. If a distinctly better recorder can be had an extra 50 or 100 monetary units then anyone serious about their task should pony up. Having knowledge of what different price points buys you can only be a good thing.
For what it's worth, I have been recommending inexpensive gear with a distinctly better ability to get the job done than gear the same price or slightly less. The fact that Zoom recorders are often recommended in certain circles only points to a lack of knowledge about alternatives. That's all well and good but aren't we on a Pentax forum? Look to other options.
The point of my post was purely that a) Thomann are a very good reseller and b) At £100 the Zoom H1 is unbeatable and more than up to the task of recording dialogue and ambience for video. It will not only cope with the more quiet situations (it has plenty sensitive microphones), but will also handle high SPL situations like in front of a live gig.
It is my opinion that this recorder would out perform a microphone attached to the mic input of a DSLR.
Sorry if my post rubbed you up the wrong way! Just trying to share my experience with the type of products being discussed.
Comment by pezking posted on What microphone for video? at 08/06/2011 - 21:56
I've been to the Thomann facility in Germany. Provided your item is in stock, within 15 seconds of you clicking the final "Confirm" button, your product is being selected by a robot within their automated warehouse and will be on its way to a box via a conveyor belt within minutes. I would be surprised if you did not have it by Saturday if you select an express delivery!
I am in the pro audio industry and am a trained audio engineer. I have direct experience with the Zoom recorders (bought one for my Dad last month). I don't have any vested interest in them other than I think for £100 there is absolutely nothing which can come close to the H1. Simply fantastic and you cannot fault it at that price point. I've recorded acoustic guitar, electric guitar and singing with them and it sounds great. I am considering buying one for myself to use for video, and recording my song ides.
If I had to critique two points they would be that it doesn't feel strongly built (so don't treat it roughly... why would you anyway?) and secondly the handling noise is high - so don't handle it.
I am in the pro audio industry and am a trained audio engineer. I have direct experience with the Zoom recorders (bought one for my Dad last month). I don't have any vested interest in them other than I think for £100 there is absolutely nothing which can come close to the H1. Simply fantastic and you cannot fault it at that price point. I've recorded acoustic guitar, electric guitar and singing with them and it sounds great. I am considering buying one for myself to use for video, and recording my song ides.
If I had to critique two points they would be that it doesn't feel strongly built (so don't treat it roughly... why would you anyway?) and secondly the handling noise is high - so don't handle it.
Comment by pezking posted on What microphone for video? at 08/06/2011 - 21:02
Great video - certainly better than my experiences would suggest. Now that I am aware of the ability to lock the exposure, the video capabilities have gone up in my view Thank you for sharing.
The only blemish on your video seems to be some dead pixels to the left of the picture...
The only blemish on your video seems to be some dead pixels to the left of the picture...
Comment by pezking posted on Movies with the K7! Where do i start? at 01/06/2011 - 22:33
Don wrote:
use of an M lens = full manual apertur control (on my kr I can change aperture while shooting) it shoots at 25 fps which measns the Shutter speed is effectively fixed..... and if you meter it then set the AE lock you are shooting full manual.
I simply do a greycard reading and color balnce, lock the AE and go... no problems at all.
It might surprise some to know, that for all the fancy do-dads, most serious video shooters set evrything to manual.
It might also surprise some to know... (I have hdv, avchd camcorders as well so have tested) that the codec Pentax chooses for video will chroma key better than avchd.
Just learn when and how to use the camera for video and it will hold it's own against anything else out there.
If what you're saying is correct (I have no reason to doubt you!) then I salute you and thank you for bringing this to my attention. I look forward to trying it out.use of an M lens = full manual apertur control (on my kr I can change aperture while shooting) it shoots at 25 fps which measns the Shutter speed is effectively fixed..... and if you meter it then set the AE lock you are shooting full manual.
I simply do a greycard reading and color balnce, lock the AE and go... no problems at all.
It might surprise some to know, that for all the fancy do-dads, most serious video shooters set evrything to manual.
It might also surprise some to know... (I have hdv, avchd camcorders as well so have tested) that the codec Pentax chooses for video will chroma key better than avchd.
Just learn when and how to use the camera for video and it will hold it's own against anything else out there.
Comment by pezking posted on Movies with the K7! Where do i start? at 01/06/2011 - 22:04
I honestly think the K7 is terrible for video.
The fact that it ONLY has auto sensitivity is a show stopper. You can't change the shutter speed/frame rate either which is annoying - so only 30FPS shooting.
I imagine that a firmware update could bring manual sensitivity but honestly why would they?
I know that it's a DSLR, and not a video camera, but if you look at the competitors - they have better video mode.
Have you tried using a different lens? Or tried switching it to manual aperture? That looks to me like it is the diaphragm or aperture being changed.
The fact that it ONLY has auto sensitivity is a show stopper. You can't change the shutter speed/frame rate either which is annoying - so only 30FPS shooting.
I imagine that a firmware update could bring manual sensitivity but honestly why would they?
I know that it's a DSLR, and not a video camera, but if you look at the competitors - they have better video mode.
Have you tried using a different lens? Or tried switching it to manual aperture? That looks to me like it is the diaphragm or aperture being changed.
Comment by pezking posted on Movies with the K7! Where do i start? at 01/06/2011 - 00:36
Can I contribute with a £6 3x teleconverter I bought last summer? Coupled with my 300mm it was a whopping 900mm - and I got some good pics out of it.
Comment by pezking posted on The ten quid lens thread. at 11/05/2011 - 21:32
It's all due to ROHS.
And yes, the EU I'm sure are well aware of the number of properties with lead pipework, but if they require all new builds to use safer materials, and all replacement pipework to be made from safer materials, eventually there will be no more lead pipes.
It's just like the introduction of seat belts - old cars didn't have to be modified, but all cars made after a cut off date had to have them.
And yes, the EU I'm sure are well aware of the number of properties with lead pipework, but if they require all new builds to use safer materials, and all replacement pipework to be made from safer materials, eventually there will be no more lead pipes.
It's just like the introduction of seat belts - old cars didn't have to be modified, but all cars made after a cut off date had to have them.
Comment by pezking posted on GO On Mike-P!!! at 06/05/2011 - 18:47
No problem.
Microglobe. They seem to be cheapest, but it's also around for £270 a few places including Amazon.
Microglobe. They seem to be cheapest, but it's also around for £270 a few places including Amazon.
Comment by pezking posted on DA 55-300mm PentaxMacro 100mmF2.8 at 16/04/2011 - 19:42
Thanks for getting this to me super-quick ahead of my holiday!