Posted by PTravel on 11/23/07 10:22

"Martin Heffels" <goofie@flikken.net> wrote in message
news:1q1dk3pf52e6mj7d7jt2ur77slv7g3dq5h@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 22:31:52 -0800, "PTravel" <ptravel@travelersvideo.com>
> wrote:
>
> Welcome back! The Beijing smug didn't suffocate you eh? ;-)

Still on the road. In fact, we're only halfway to our final destinations --
a couple of old world heritage towns close to the Burma border. We're
overnighting in Kounming (just on our way out the door to attend a Chinese
folk ballet). Tomorrow, we fly to Dali (Well, hello, Dali! -- sorry,
couldn't resist.).

>
> Speaking about HD, how did the HV20 fare?

I actually shot with it for the first time this afternoon. I haven't
transferred the video yet (probably won't for a few days), but I really,
really liked shooting with it. For the kind of stuff that I shoot, there's
an added advantage: it looks completely innocuous, just like any other
consumer camcorder. As such, it attracts no attention whatsoever, unlike my
rather visible VX2000. I was walking around a city park shooting locals,
amateur musicians, kids, etc., with no tripod, no backpack full of gear, no
extra lenses -- just me and HV-20. It was great! I felt completely
anonymous (and much lighter, having to deal with only 1.2 pounds, instead of
my usual 12 -- camera plus gear).

I'll be shooting the world heritage towns with a little more gear, but I
expect I'm going to enjoy it considerably.

I don't know if I mentioned it here, but I found that I can do my usual
"shoot from the chest" with the HV20. I put a heavy camera strap on it,
attaching it to the supplied buckle and a space at the front of the handle.
Though the camera won't hang steady by itself, I can brace it with my left
hand, tension the front strap, and work the (awkwardly place start switch)
with my right hand. IS on the HV20 seems pretty impressive -- I was
shooting in moderate tele positions and it look pretty solid (though, of
course, this was on the small LCD screen).

If the video looks as good as I hope, I'm going to be one happy camper.

>
> -m-
> --
> Official website "Jonah's Quid" http://www.jonahsquids.co.uk

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