View Full Version : DVC30: external mic and on-camera light


diggersf
Hi Everyone,
I'm trying to come up with a way to get good sound and lighting with my DVC30 while still being very portable. I made the mistake of buying an Azden SGM-1x and I'm looking for a new mic. I see good things about the Rode VideoMic. Is there any way to mount that mic and a light on the DVC30 at the same time?

Seaking
Hi Everyone,
I'm trying to come up with a way to get good sound and lighting with my DVC30 while still being very portable. I made the mistake of buying an Azden SGM-1x and I'm looking for a new mic. I see good things about the Rode VideoMic. Is there any way to mount that mic and a light on the DVC30 at the same time?

I have the Rodes VideoMic and have been very impressed with the sounds on video..

however, I have no idea if lights and Mic would fit together on the camera. What kind of lights have you been looking at thus far?

diggersf
What kind of lights have you been looking at thus far?
I just want someone cheap to start out. I've looking at these:
Bescor KLK-623D (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=304510&is=REG)
SUNPAK RL-20 Readylite (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=52959&is=REG&addedTroughType=search)

Seaking
I just want someone cheap to start out. I've looking at these:
Bescor KLK-623D
SUNPAK RL-20 Readylite[/URL]

I checked them out.. Though I know naught about these type of lights, I'd lean towards the Bescor as it seems to have more flexibility with 3 light settings (10, 20 or both on for 30w of lights) and barn doors.

Let us know which you go for and how it turns out..

I'm currently working on a LED bank of lights to use with the DVC30 that will mount on camera. Quite buckshee but inexpensive.. still a ways to go with it though..

diggersf
I'm currently working on a LED bank of lights to use with the DVC30 that will mount on camera.
Would that mount on the hotshoe or somewhere else? Would you be able to use what you're working on with a mic at the same time?

sconi
I'm lookin to purchase the Panasonic AG-DVC30... I don't need the top mounted IR deal, but does anyone know the exact model #'s of the XLR box and mic shown in this photo? [the top photo at this page]

http://www.mediacollege.com/equipment/panasonic/camera/agdvc30.html

Many thanks,

sconi

diggersf
The XLR Mic Adaptor is the AG-MYA30G.
The mic is the AG-MC100G.

DVC30 accessories from Panasonic are on this page: http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=S&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=68840&catGroupId=14571&surfModel=AG-DVC30

sconi
The XLR Mic Adaptor is the AG-MYA30G.
The mic is the AG-MC100G.

DVC30 accessories from Panasonic are on this page: http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=S&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=68840&catGroupId=14571&surfModel=AG-DVC30

Thanks diggersf... I see there they have the AG-MC200G listed. I wonder if it's better than the 100G...? My needs are basically indoor shooting at a range of 5 to 15 feet mostly.-- [art stuff, painting, speaking, etc] To bad a guy just can't buy the cam and needed accessories from the page you listed. [directly from panasonic] -- Do you guys know of any trust worthy on-line stores where one could get the whole rig without the top IR...? I've been looking for over 2 weeks, and all I see is get the cam at 1 place, then hunt down the mic and xlr box elsewhere...

Any suggestions would be appreciated,

sconi

diggersf
I finnally found a possible solution to my original issue. The NRG 59111 Accessory Tri-Mount.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=114982&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Has anyone tried it? It looks like it might make the DVC30 a little unwieldy.
I see there they have the AG-MC200G listed. I wonder if it's better than the 100G...?
I'm not sure why they don't list the MC100G and I don't know what the difference is. I just plan on using the Rode VideoMic with the standard mini-plug input. That should be good enough for my work.

TurtleTone2
I just want someone cheap to start out. I've looking at these:
Bescor KLK-623D (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=304510&is=REG)
SUNPAK RL-20 Readylite (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=52959&is=REG&addedTroughType=search)


the first light I bought was the sunpack ready light. biggest waist of money. lasts about 15 min. no where near enough usable light. junk. you can find them for $20 if you want to play around with it, but it's junk. you'd be best just to get a good light if you can afford it. something with a battery pack that you wear. I ended up getting a lowel light kit that had a pro light that allowed you to put DC bulbs in, 50w and 100w. it's pretty big to mount on the camera and it needs a battery belt to operate it for any length of time. But I can also stick a 250w bulb in it and use it as a stand light plugged into the wall. Something like that will be much more usefull to you in the long run. I also found no way to mount both on the camera without the xlr adapter, at least no usable mount. you can make your own for about $50 that would be much smaller, but it would require some leg work to find the parts and put it together.

Seaking
Would that mount on the hotshoe or somewhere else? Would you be able to use what you're working on with a mic at the same time?

The way I'm working it is that the LEDs will be mounting to a PC board and pressure clamped to the carrying handle, whether or not you have a mic mounted etc. it would stick out to the side a bit.

We're going through various IR LEDs as some work better than others depending on the frequensies and other variables. But it's promising.

I have a specific shoot project to use it for, I'll let you know how it works out. Keep in mind it's all buckshee at this point. ; )

Seaking
the first light I bought was the sunpack ready light. biggest waist of money. lasts about 15 min. no where near enough usable light. junk. you can find them for $20 if you want to play around with it, but it's junk. you'd be best just to get a good light if you can afford it. something with a battery pack that you wear. I ended up getting a lowel light kit that had a pro light that allowed you to put DC bulbs in, 50w and 100w. it's pretty big to mount on the camera and it needs a battery belt to operate it for any length of time. But I can also stick a 250w bulb in it and use it as a stand light plugged into the wall. Something like that will be much more usefull to you in the long run. I also found no way to mount both on the camera without the xlr adapter, at least no usable mount. you can make your own for about $50 that would be much smaller, but it would require some leg work to find the parts and put it together.

Keep in mind also that this DVC30 camera works great with little lighting.. My previous camera, the Canon Optura XI required I put anywhere from 500 to 1000 watts of lighting on a room to get good even coverage without dark shadows or blowout highlights. (TriStar quartz lighting has 3 250W bulbs per head, you can select 1, 2 or 3 bulbs to be on with a slider to increase the intensity. With these lights you light up a room with colour temp so that you have enough light shining at a proper colour temp, this is what I found works best for the Canon..)

However, with the DVC30, I don't use them anymore as the modeling lights in the 2 strobes (25W each) work so well with what ever available lighting there is in the room. With the camera set at 1/60 and "open" (is that gain?) in manual mode, I have ample lighting and great results for the kind of shoots we do. Just have to do a CWB before the shoot and away we go!

If I tried to use 200 or 500W lighting I would be fighting trying to bring the camera up to work at that brightness..