Professional quality standard definition video camera shoots via three Advanced HAD 1/3" CCDs to produce excellent quality video.  This cam is particularly good for shooting in low-light, or variable light situations, such as nightclubs or concert halls, and does an exceptional job at producing vivid color and clear, sharp images in daylight or well-lit shooting conditions.  Wide-angle shooting and good zoom capabilities enhance, and more enhance this camera's skills further.

More About The PD-170

Two of these... Pro-sumer quality high definition video camera that shoots exceptional quality video.  The color matching between this camera and the PD-170 is very good.  Like the PD-170, this camera also works well in low or variable light situations.  High definition video shot with this camera also converts extremely well to standard definition for mixing with video shot from the PD-170.

More About The HDR-HC7

This is a general purpose consumer quality camera, which can be used as a third camera in a pinch, but its primary use is to transfer video to a high speed computer for video editing.

The color reproduction and general clarity of picture on this camera is not nearly as good as the other two cams listed here.  As such, it is not typically used for video projects for hire, except when no alternatives are available.

However, if a client has a need for additional high-quality cameras, then we may have access to other videographers that can shoot additional footage as needed, thus insuring that your project's needs are met.

The Raynox MX 3000 Pro is a wide-angle, fish-eye lens that produces a very wide field of capture, but which is only slightly fishy looking.  Some slight curvature is noticeable toward the outside edges of the viewing area, particularly when shooting near vertical objects.

However, the real value in this lens is the amount of video-graphic real estate it is capable of capturing.  It is ideal for filming in tight areas, or where you want to film a very wide area from a close up perspective.  While zooming capability is limited, this lens is perfect for many applications where zooming is not a priority.
 

The Sony VCL-HG0758 Wide Conversion Lens is a screw-on lens that works with the existing video camera's standard lens to provide for wide-angle shooting.  This lens, unlike the Raynox above, does allow the user to zoom in or out with either manual or automatic focus.  Therefore, this is an ideal lens for use in shooting wide stage shots, as is typical in performance videos, or in other applications where a wider field needs to be captured in the video.

The Canon TL-H37 37mm 1.5x Telephoto Converter Lens - This lens increases the focal length of the lens by 1.5 times, meaning it increases your camera's zoom capacity by one-and-a-half times.  This gives your video camera a little extra zoom power when you can't get any closer to your subject, and your camera's zoom capability just won't quite do the job!  I use this lens with my Sony HDR-HC7 video cameras.

The Canon WD-H37II 0.7x Wide Angle Converter Lens - This wide-angle conversion lens is ideal for either portrait or landscape videography, and boasts a magnification factor of 0.7x for an extended shooting range.  This lens also allows me to get in close while capturing a majority of the action!  I use this lens to my Sony HDR-HC7 video cameras.

Comparison Of The Potential Shooting Area Of These Lenses

The Measurement - In this test, a hallway was set up with paper markers indicating their distance in one foot intervals from a zero foot starting point to twelve feet to measure distance, and at two foot intervals from two feet to eight feet to measure height.   The lens was set approximately 5' 10" off the ground, and at the zero foot mark for distance.

The Sony PD-170 Standard Lens - Given the conditions above, the standard lens was able to include distances from the six foot marker and farther, and included the four and six foot markers in height.

The Sony VCL-HG0758 Wide Angle Conversion Lens - Same conditions here and the Wide Conversion Lens was able to include distances from the three foot distance marker, and nearly reached the eight foot marker as well.

The Raynox MX 3000 Pro Lens - This lens was capable of including distances from the one foot marker distance marker, and included the ceiling from the three foot marker out, and at one foot in distance included the eight foot, six foot and four foot markers, and caught just a piece of the two foot marker.... from five foot, ten inches high!  Lots of up close shooting capability, when zooming is not needed.

The Botero 5' x 7' Chroma-Key Green Collapsible Background provides the ability to place other videos, still photos, or other background images or textures 'behind' a video subject in the video/image editor.  This allows a for a wide array of background possibilities for your video projects, as well as a great way to remove unwanted backgrounds from your project, or to give the appearance you are shooting in other locations.

The Impact Convertible Boom Arm/Light Stand is a light stand that can support a small or medium light head to a height of 13' (4 m). Raise the second section completely, click, and it is a boom stand.  As a boom, it can hold a small light head to an extension of almost 3' from the center of the stand.
It is a reflector holder by means of its two clips, which can support an Impact, Flexfill, or Photoflex light disc as large as 60".  A hole at the end of the arm allows an optional counterweight to be hung, for greater stability.

The Botero Muslin Background (5x6', White) is a white backdrop that can be used for video projects as is, or to use with various lighting to create a desired effect.

The H4 offers more than meets the eye.  First off, it can record in either stereo or 4-track mode (see notes below on 4-track operation).  It can be used as a stand-alone recorder, using the X/Y patterned, built-in condenser mics, or may be used with external sources (via the combo XLR / 1/4" inputs), such as microphones, guitars, bass, or keyboards, or line inputs from other audio sources, such as a mixing board or other audio device.  As if this wasn't enough, the unit has built-in modelers for various types of guitar and bass amplifiers or microphone enhancement.

The unit records onto an SD memory card (ours employs a 2 gigabyte card, allowing maximum recording time).  The use of SD memory card storage means that there are no moving parts and the audio being recorded is not susceptible to shock induced accidents that plague hard drive units.

This unit records in high-quality MP3 or WAV format.  The resulting audio can then be transferred to a computer and edited in as a primary or supporting audio track for your live, or pre-recorded, performance video.  This unit is also very effective as a secondary sound source for live performance videos in concert hall or nightclub settings.  In such environments, condenser mics can be set up in key locations in the room to capture the group's performance, as it sounds to the audience.

This audio can then be used as a stand-alone source, or mixed with line output audio taken from the room's mixing board (provided the venue has such a system, a crew willing to provide the feed, and that has mic'd instruments for the performance), thus providing very good results in an environment that is often very difficult to capture live audio in.

NOTES ON 4-TRACK OPERATION - 4-track recordings are achieved by "bouncing" tracks.  Thus, simultaneous recording of 4 separate tracks is NOT possible using the H4.

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Drum Mic Set below)

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This set of Audix mics, combined with the Shure and Audio Technica mics described above, can provide for recording of an entire 5 piece drum set.  Two additional pieces may be accommodated by sharing one mic between two rack toms, and sharing another mic between two floor toms, thus reaching a 7-piece capacity, with two over-head condenser mics.  Great for producing excellent audio for drum lesson videos, to be combined with video for lesson-based DVDs.

Included in the set are two F-15 condenser mics, an F-12 mic for kick drums, & three F-10 mics for the tom toms.  The Shure SM57 LC can be used to mic the snare & hi-hat, and/or the Shure SM58 Beta and Audio Technica copy can be used as a second snare drum mic, to mic the hi-hat separately, or as an additional mic for another instrument, such as chimes or a gong, etc.

Sony DVDirect VRD-MC3

The Sony DVDirect VRD-MC3 works with Sony camcorders and offers specific features for use with Sony HandyCam gear.  The unit allows the camcorder to be hooked up directly, and after a few moments of set up time, can burn a DVD straight from the tape in the camera to disc, in "real time".

Computer DVD Burner - A DVD-R/DVD-RW is also available on my Intel Dual Core Processor PC for burning edited video to DVD for client projects.

The Yamaha MG8/2FX is a high-quality, portable mixer that allows for the mixing of multiple single or stereo sound sources into a stereo output.  The mixer can then be hooked directly into the H4 digital recorder, or into the Sony DSR PD-170 camcorder.

The mixer can accommodate up to two mono microphone or line inputs, and up to three stereo line inputs, two of them with mono microphone input capability.  It is equipped with low-noise preamps, phantom power, 3 band EQ, and built-in digital effects.

The Behringer MX1604A is a high-quality, portable mixer that allows for the mixing of multiple single or stereo sound sources into a stereo output.  The mixer can be hooked directly into the H4 digital recorder, or into the Sony DSR PD-170 camcorder, or other source that accepts a stereo input signal.

This mixer can accommodate up to four mono microphone or line inputs, and up to four stereo line inputs.  It is equipped with low-noise preamps, phantom power, high, midrange, & low tone controls, and built-in digital effects.