craigbuckley

thanks galen. I did find the mic input but now I need an adapter to make my 1/8 inch fit in there. I have always monitored my sound with headphones when I recorded video before.. I'm not sure what a pre amp is but I think I get the idea... I saw suggestions about the beachtek and others, I just am still a little confused with the whole process, (also investing another 200 would be tough, but I could if necessary). I found an olympus digital recorder that has a mic ''in'' and an earphone ''out.'' Could I plug my azden into the mic jack on this recorder, and then monitor from the headphones out of the recorder? My audio/video would be seperate which stinks but it might be doable. Will this work? Any better suggetions? And will syncing up be tough? I can use a clapboard, just wondering about a more efficient way.

Sweet guys. I am going to make a clapperboard and use that for syncing... Question though, if I purchase an h4n, and then have my external mic go through the h4n which then goes to my camera, would I still need to sync stuff up? Wouldn't it be saved right on my camera with my video? And is this a waste of an h4n just using it as a connector, should I purchase something cheaper?

Thanks again. Could someone assist me with my audio troubles? Im not getting answer on my other thread and I am pretty confused. Why wouldn't panasonic put an audio jack in the gh2? Seems really silly. What is the way around this? I have an azden shotgun mic and I would like to monitor the audio when I am recording.. Whats the best way?

Thanks so much for the breakdown. I'm going to take that all in. Could you suggest the "right" kind of diffuser or defuser for the orange work" lights? I think I would invest in a diffuser or a gel to use, thanks to your adivce. Also, I'm not really getting a response on another thread (my apology for starting another one), but I found out that there is no headphone jack on the gh2... What is up with this? Is there a way around it? Even on my old cameras you can plug a headphone in to listen to the audio, (if the volume needs to be lowered or raised), so what is the way around this? Thanks again.

Thank you so much Axel, awesome. I read that 3 point lighting and that helped a lot. I will definitely need more than 1 light source, maybe that 600LED will accompany the orange work lights in my basement. [quote name='galenb' timestamp='1349986808' post='19636'] But, It really depends on what you are trying to achieve. What kind of look are you going for? Do you have any examples of lighting in movies that you like? Like Axle pointed out above, do you want a natural look or are you wanting a more polished/produced studio look? Because these two categories are going to require fairly different lighting setups. [/quote] GalenB, I really like Wes Anderson's films. I watched the royal tennenbaums the other night, [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pyBB7y8fDU[/media] That scene rocked my world. Moved me so much. And I know its a vague scene to get all of my lighting inspiration from, but something around those lines. Is there a direction I should head to have lighting like Wes Anderson? I know its probably very different in his other movies... I believe the ones in my basement are hallogen, I will look into getting some type of filters for them. Any recommendations?

Ok Ok great. I just found 2 construction lights (those orange ones) in my basement. They seem to work alright, do you think this could be usable or are these lights crap for film? Maybe I should get some reflectors or something...

Just wanted to say thanks again for all your guys help and advice on choosing my video products. I have been on other websites where people are so harsh and won't even answer a simple question. And I know newbies can be annoyin and I know I am one, just there is a more mature way to handle dealing with one, like the way you guys do.. Here's my microphone question: I have the azden sgm 2x , and have only used it with my old canon camera. Now this is going to be such a newb question, but I did search all over the internet and my manual, but where is my mic jack in? And what about headphone jack so I can listen? With my canon vixia I just plugged the shotgun mic into the mic jack and then my headphones into the headphone jack, and boom it worked. Something tells me this wont be this easy with the gh2, what do I need to do?

ok I definitely will be panning a lot. Does anyone have any personal use or recomendation of a tripod (100-200 range) that has fluid head? GalenB's suggestions were awesome, its just weird that some of the reviews on amazon say those tripods are terrible, and some say they are awesome.

do you think those 600LEDS will work good with video? And would just that one light be enough to start shooting, or do you need multiple lights? Thanks again for the post, I'm going to read your article and pass it on!

thank you so much for you help guys. I'm going to keep researching and pick one out today, this first one posted, Does it not have a fluid head? http://www.amazon.com/700DX-Professional-Tripod-Panhead-615-315/dp/B0002EXF38/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_topv Because it has such good reviews compared to the other ones, but it doesnt say fluid head.. Should I stick with the other ones you posted with the fluid head?

Beginner film maker here with my new Gh2. I am ordering a tripod and I got some good lenses, so I am almost ready to start shooting some short films. I know I will need some lights, I was wondering if someone could suggest some good beginner lights.. I'm not even sure what the range of price for lights are, but I am in the $100-200 range, unless thats not reasonable for decent lights. I am open to all suggestions.

wow awesome. Thank you for the response. Great all around.. I am going to do some research... There is a benro in a pawn shop next door for 80 bucks, not sure what model or style but its benro. Is benro a good make? and I will have to find out the model. I think I am going to stick with your advice and not spend too much on a tripod, until I get going more.. I could afford the 2 you suggested, but does it need to have a "fluid head?" And Can anyone suggest what would be better, the slik pro, the vanguard, or the benro (sorry again for not knowing the model, I will find out.) Or is it worth it to spend the extra 100 for the manfrotto 701hd fluid head with the manfrotto 055DX basic tripod legs.?

I re evaluated my budget and I cant really go over 150... Should I just buy some crap one to get me by until I can afford one of those nice ones? Or would something like this not be bad? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Professional-Heavy-Duty-FT9901-75mm-Video-Camera-Tripod-with-Fluid-Drag-Pan-Head-/120996664371?pt=US_Tripods&hash=item1c2bf69433

So I need a tripod, bad, for shooting short films with my new gh2.. now have read that manfrotto makes some of the best, for my range, my question is, should I get some 70 dollaes tripod or something like the avelli avtp pro tripod or spend the extra 150$ on the manfrotto 701hdv?

I just read almost the whole manual and theres not much about shutter speed. Just technical stuff, I guess I need a book on photography

Thanks, would I Need an adapter with the 12mm SLR magic on the gh2?

well my range is only 400 dollars, so between the 14mm and the rokinon 14mm, which would be a better investment? The big turn off with the panasonic is its so small so its hard to focus while I am shooting video

I have the canon fd 50mm I just wanted a wider lens than the 20mm pancake,but not a fish eye..

ok

I dont have the kit lens, i just got the 20mm pancake with the gh2 body. Would it be stupid to have the 20mm and the 14mm pancake? And I think I would go maybe for a little higher quality than the 14mm panny, just based on my research with its bad low light. Any other suggestions? HOw do the 14mm panny and the Rokinon 14mm compare? THe panny is 300 dollars cheaper on ebay, and has f.2.5 compared to the rokinon f.2.8.. Thanks again.

Depending on the "recording mode" of my gh2, when I try and take a photo and pull up the display- the shot is clear and fine, but after I snap the shot, the picture is all dark. Does this seem right?

So I bought the 20mm pancake and the canon fd 50mm to go along with my gh2. Both are pretty good, but I feel like the shots are stil not wide enough, can anyone suggest a wider lens for the gh2 ( I have adapter for FD), that won't be crazy in price. Also, is there another lens I should be going with to accompany the 20mm and the 50mm, other lens that I should be acquiring?

any good beginning photography books you guys recommend?

I didnt format the card, but I notice when I change the settings, the length of the free spae on my card goes up. Is there a way to format?

ok relax Zach. Keep it in the pants... But I appreciate all you guys help, I am new to this field... What is the GH2 "Hack" all about? I keep hearing that and not sure if its a program or a setting or what...