[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by akprodr

Oh, no, given the choice of a free XL-1 or pay for a HV30, I'd jump at the XL-1. But it depends on what you want to do with the camera. You can 'run and gun' with the XL-1. Change settings on the fly etc.

The HV30, for 'professional' use is more like a big film camera. Set your settings and hit record. Don't think about changing anything because it is so small the slightest touch will show as an earthquake in the image.

People think so much of this $1K camera that they put pricey focal length adapters on them.



But manual control on the HV20:

1. set your shutter speed--most people like the 24FPS mode so use 1/48
2. point the camera at a light--idealy you should be able to vary the brightness or you can just move the camera to a spot of correct brightness.
3. Set a fixed exposure value (+/-)
4. Now half-press the photo button and the exposure (f-stop/shutter) will appear on the LCD. If it is 2.8, you're ready to go. If not, adjust the light until it does.
5. Now, you have manual control of the iris using the exposure value control. Plus the camera will not add gain (which is otherwise totally automatic and invisible on the LCD display)

so how do you do a rack focus on that?

regardless, it shoots hdv-- major suckage.

im stashing funds aside for the red scarlet...