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Got a few questions about video, audio, etc. +k for help

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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
Looking at making some purchases soon and I have some questions that I would really appreciate some help with.

First: I'm looking to get the Tokina 11-16 Nikon mount for my FS100. However, I only have a simple Fotodiox NIK->NEX adapter right now. This will work since it's a Nikon G mount adapter, but the adapter is prone to a little light leakage. So I'm considering getting a higher quality adapter. I've been recommended both the Novoflex version and the MTF version. What's the difference between the two? Just a higher level of craftsmanship? Does the quality of the MTF justify the cost over the Novoflex?

And a related question: I would like to use the 11-16 on my T2i as well. I would probably just buy a Fotodiox adapter for this one. There are two options: one with a focus confirmation chip, and one without. What exactly is focus confirmation and how does it differ from autofocus? Is it worth the extra $50?


Second: When I visited the B&H store in NY, I was told that the FS100 can't output 4:2:2 to an external recorder. However, I was told here on NS that it can. Is that true? And if so, do you guys think the benefit of having 4:2:2 is enough to buy an external recorder? If it is, can somebody recommend me a good one that doesn't completely break the bank?


Third: I'd like to pick up some sort of portable audio recorder. I've used a Zoom H4n before and was pretty happy with it (granted I know next to nothing about audio), but I've heard a lot of bad things about it on here. I have the Rode NTG-2 (which I know isn't the most amazing mic). I've skimmed through the Audio + DSLR thread, and what I got from it was that the Tascam DR-100 and DR-40 are relatively decent choices. What puts the DR-100 over the DR-40? Say my budget was up to $400, are there any other recorders I should take into consideration?

And a couple more related questions: Any relatively cheap wired lav mic recommendations? What about boompoles? I don't use audio a TON, so something fairly cheap would be nice.


Thanks for any help!
Dec 10 2011 6:10AM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
I am 99% sure that I know about focus confirmation. Basicallly what that means is that when you half press the shutter as you would normally do to autofocus, all of the af points that are in focus will light up. additionally, some will let you set the aperture to whatever you want to go into the metadata of the camera. It wont take the aperture data from the lens though, it will be specifically set for a certain aperture (which sometimes you can change)

It also stops the "No lens is attached" error messages, which for canon is no big deal.

Overall not worth it unless its virtually the same price and you plan on doing a fair amount of photography with it.
Dec 10 2011 9:19AM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
Thanks man, makes sense.



bump
Dec 10 2011 5:11PM
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eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,027
1. Novoflex. I just got mine, its fantastic. No problems. Can't compare to mtf but everyone on dvxuser loves the novoflex too.

I don't think the focus confirm does much for you, I'd pass on that.

2. The fs100 can output 422 to the ninja and a different recorder. Is it worth it? IMO no. There is a big thread on dvxuser about this exact topic with lots of examples and opinions, pretty much a few different guys used it and compared the footage, avchd held up very well in CC and keying, the only two reasons to have 422. At this point, i think an external recorder is pointless waste of money just to have some different tech specs.

3. Why do you want an audio recorder? Just curious, fs100 has xlr inputs so unless you want to use the fs100 with your t2i at the same time and match audio or you want to record audio far away without using Lavs.


As for mics, i am inexperienced, cant help much here. I was considering getting a lav set but dont have the money right now. Ive heard that 150 lavs sets work just as well as like a 600 dollar set and then if one breaks its cheap to replace.
Dec 10 2011 5:21PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,231
the NTG2 is a great mic, the ntg3 or sennheiser mk(?)416 would be the only decent upgrades I could think of, but are they going to make a huge difference? no, probably not.

Buy my Sound Devices Mix-Pre, it along with a DR-40 is a pimp ass setup! :)
Dec 10 2011 5:28PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
Awesome, thanks for the answers Evan and Jamie.



The reason I want an audio recorder is for times when I'm either A. Using my T2i only or B. in the scenario you described, shooting with the FS and T2i at the same time. I shot a wedding over the summer and they wouldn't allow any sort of camera gear past a point in the chapel. So my only mic was my FS100 mic, which was way in the back with my camera, and the audio sounded like shit. If I'd had a recorder I could have just stuck that and my NTG-2 or some lavs up where the couple was and I would have had much cleaner audio.
Dec 10 2011 6:21PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
oh and what exactly is this for? how does it work in conjunction with the dr-40?
Dec 10 2011 6:26PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,231
Mix Pre is a Preamplifier and Field mixer - the pre-amps (which boost the signal up from the mic to make it at an appropriate level) usually stink in most "budget" field recorders. Using the mix-pre with the dr40 makes the audio have much less noise then if you were to use just the internal pre's.

and it goes like this

>mic
>xlr mic in on mix-pre
>xlr line out on mix pre
>xlr line in on Dr-40
Dec 10 2011 6:47PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
Hm, sounds kind of hard to move around with?


I took a sound design course so I have a very basic understanding of this kind of stuff, but there's still a lot I'm unclear on. So the signal coming out of the mic is like -30 dbu (or somewhere around there), right? Then the pre-amp boosts it up to line level? I'm guessing that's gonna be either like -10 or +4, right?

So what you're saying is that the pre-amp that boosts the signal in the dr40 (or any other cheap recorders), is going to create a lot more noise when boosting to that level than the mix-pre?
Dec 10 2011 7:35PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,231
yes, can't remember which it is though.

and yes, the in recorder noise will be a lot more noticeable in SOME situations than the mix-pre.
Dec 10 2011 7:38PM
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
I can answer the second question...

In my opinion, no. The external recorder would not be worth it unless you plan on shooting for cinema purposes. IMO, nobody will be able to notice the difference when videos are being streamed on the internet in 1080p.

TL; DR: No; it's pointless for web-based videos.
Dec 10 2011 8:13PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,231
I pretty much agree with this, especially because he has a fs100. However, if you are shooting for clients with your t2i and fs100 or just the t2i it'd be nice to have
Dec 10 2011 9:48PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
I think he was talking about the external recorder for video, right?
Dec 10 2011 9:51PM
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I.B
Posts: 8137 - Karma: 24,351
This thread has blown my mind on what i don't know.
Dec 10 2011 10:04PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
I have a novoflex, but I wish I had gone with the MTF. They have a support for the mtf that I wish I had from the start. The e mount on my fs is trashed, so it's going to have to go into Sony. The combination of a shitty, and I mean shitty, Sony mount with poor lens support resulted in a screwed up mount. The MTF adapter would have really helped prevent that.
Dec 10 2011 10:20PM
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JStrathern
Posts: 8747 - Karma: 1,536
This is aimed toward 1337 but my phone won't let me quote, if I'm using an NTG2 and DR100 with a 60D, will I need a preamp and what might you recommend for one?
Dec 11 2011 8:48AM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
I'm assuming he would probably recommend the same one that he recommended above since the DR-40 and DR-100 seem to be pretty similar in many aspects from what I can tell.

You don't NEED the mix-pre, but as he said, it will help in some situations. If I get a DR-40 or DR-100, I won't buy the mix-pre immediately, I'm gonna see how it performs on its own first. Also, the type of camera you're shooting with doesn't really matter since you don't connect anything to the camera. The audio goes straight from the mic to the recorder (or through the mix-pre, then to the recorder), and that's where it is stored.
Dec 11 2011 6:46PM
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messplay
Posts: 4483 - Karma: 1,066
.
Dec 11 2011 6:51PM
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JStrathern
Posts: 8747 - Karma: 1,536
I know that I just threw it in since it's part of my setup, but thanks for the help, I'm gonna try it without the preamp first
Dec 11 2011 7:16PM
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JStrathern
Posts: 8747 - Karma: 1,536
So after some trial and error with my NTG2 and DR-100, I've found that a preamp is necessary. The levels coming out of the mic are extremely low, even after using the highest gain. After looking on DVXuser it seems to be a typical problem, so now I'm faced with which preamp to get. I don't know much about them, but I was told the Sound Devices MM-1 is a good choice. I can't really afford that right now, so I looked a little on Craigslist. Does anyone know if something like this would work?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/540764-REG/Bogen_Communications_VMIX_VMIX_Power_Vector_Mixer.html

I might be way off and it might not even be what I need, but I found one used for less than half price so I'm wondering if it might work.
Jan 3 2012 7:01PM
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JStrathern
Posts: 8747 - Karma: 1,536
I've also heard this "gain turbo charger" can boost the output signal from the mic, but you have to solder it into the XLR connecter. Not sure how I feel about that/I have zero soldering experience.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010HRZ0U/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
Jan 3 2012 7:19PM
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