SONY CAMCORDER VX2100 settings

johnbl wrote on 1/6/2004, 4:12 PM

I just received my new VX2100 Sony camcorder today (Ive done my share contributing to the Sony Charitable Foundation..ha ha this past yr) and want to get started ASAP with a project copying old 8mm celluloid film to miniDV. I have my variable speed projector (REVERE 777) and will project that on a forward surface with a size of about 10 X 10 inches. The VX 2100 will be fitted with the appropriate macrolens attachment onto the 58mm lens threads.. What manual settings would you use. I assume one would not use auto on aperture and speed.. SO far Ive been blown away with the low light quality of the camcorder which is the main reason I bought it. Thanks guys for the help. JOHN

Comments

farss wrote on 1/6/2004, 4:35 PM

You need to get the shutter speed down to about 1/50th of a second to avoid serious flicker. Then you need to use manual iris to control exposure. You didn't mention how many blades in the shutter, 5 is much better than 3 for avoiding flicker. Also get the camera back further otherwise the lens picks up a lot of the scattered light. Very subtle difference I know. A piece of white A3 size paper makes for a good screen. Make the projector and the camera at the same angle to the screen to avoid keystoning. You shouldn't need the macro lens either, if you need it you're too close to the screen.

Depending on the age of the film it may also need a good clean!
Try 90% pure athanol and 10% water on a soft cloth. Oh and check all the splices.

If the movies have any audio (they will not if they're regular *, super 8 maybe, look for the ,ag strip) you'll need a way to get that out of the projector and into the camera at line level also.

I'm not that keen on using projectors unless you mod them, too much risk of damaged film. Try reducing the wattage of the lamp a LOT for safety.

johnbl wrote on 1/6/2004, 4:38 PM

Thanks FARSS.. THE 90% alcohol..is that ethanol or methanol??? THANKS