20 Mar
About
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Philip Johnston (HD Warrior) has been in professional video production for the last 27 years, 21 of them running my own video production company (Small Video Co Ltd).
As I was growing up my father had a 8mm cine camera, unfortunately he did not have a clue how to use it and we sat upside down through many a darkened room watching what can only be described as a fly with a camera, he would zip and zoom all over the place. At the tender age of 12 I was given my own Super 8mm Kodak XL cine camera this was indeed progress, the film was enclosed in a single cartridge and had 2 flavors 125 ASA and 400ASA. The XL part of the title meant for the 1st time you could film in existing light this was a major advancement, no glaring cine lights. I produced well in excess of 100 various 3min films and the odd 400ft epics.
During my teenage years I got a Super 8mm Chinon sound camera and I was the sole archiver of all my secondary school trips in both silent and sound film. needless to say I have transferred these wonderful days into a DVD and considering no one had taught me how to use a cine camera I done a fine job if I say so myself. I started my working career as a draughtsman, I knew my higher Art would help with some part of my career.
My first video camera (1983) was a Sony HVC-4000 linked to a portable SL-F1 Betamax recorder this was the dogs bollox in it’s day,… 260 lines resolution and a good old videcon tube…the smear was very noticeable in low light. My first professional camcorder was the Panasonic F10 one of the 1st cameras to have a CCD chipset (The Birth of CCD), this was a great workhorse, one of it,s poorer features being the iris adjust, a small wheel near the back end of the lens that opened and closed the iris with the precision of a sumo wrestler plucking daisy petals.
My first real job in the industry was with Flashback Video, a production company specializing in corporate, training and television work. Chris who was the boss, left a good job with Scottish Television as a senior cameraman to start Flashback now runs a very successful bed and breakfast on the isle of Arran. He recently bought my Sony EX-1 and is still making various documentaries around the island. I left Flashback to join a cable TV company, Clyde Cable Vision as a video editor this took me through till 1988 when after a blazing row with my boss I told her to stick her job where the sun did not shine I decided to go it alone and formed in 1988 The Small Video Company.
I started with a Panasonic F10 and after various JVCs, Sony’s, Panasonic’s and Canon’s later I now have a Canon C300. I am one of the stranger animals in this business I do not stick with any single manufacturer, so many of my colleagues swear by Sony etc. but I tend to buy what’s best for me at the time, this time it happens to be Canon.
For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd
7 comments on this post
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Hi Philip what a shock I got when i saw the picture of Flashback video. It was inded a flash back in time. I am now in Spain for the last 7 years se my web site. http://www.spainalive.tv
Thank you so much for your down to earth, yet professional content. My mother was from Coatbridge so hearing your Scottish accent also warms my heart. Keep up the good work. Gerry in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Hi Philip,found your website just by chance – and couldn’t stop reading. Like Gerald said, “down to earth, yet professional”. Thanks a lot, will come back soon to get more!
Jan, Berlin, Germany
Hi Philip, in your update on the Sony NX70, with its sticky zoom rocker, you hinted that the firmware update to resolve this might also include the ability for the camera to output a 4.2.2 video stream to an external recorder. I’ve since looked at the Sony website description of the new firmware and it makes no mention of this possibility. Also, there is no SDI output on the camera, which I assume would be necessary. I wonder if you have any further news on this front.
I shall almost certainly get the camera as I would like something small and unobtrusive to complement my GH2 still cameras, with which I have started to shoot small personal documentary films. I have also considered the Canon FX 100, but although this is nominally a broadcast camera, I just couldn’t live with the dreadful viewfinder. I really do like to see what and who I’m shooting!
One other query, which I’d really appreciate your thoughts on.I understand that the sweet spot for sharpness on this camera is between F4 and 5.6. Given that I would like to shoot at 25P with the shutter at a fiftieth, would a set of neutral density filters be needed to achieve this filmic look?
May I thank you for your splendid website which strikes a wonderful balance between instruction and entertainment.
Best regards,
Patrick
Could please revisit the Sony PMW-200, I don’t think you’ve done anything on it since you had to send back the camera to Sony, I think?
Thank you,
Tom Williams
ps I live in the USA and visit your site everyday. You do a great job calling your camera reviews for what they are.
Hi, i like this site! Very interest!
I would like to make you a question…
I have just updated the hm600 to V0105… How can i turn on the Flash band Correction? It appear me in light grey (disabled)…
Hello!
I am a videographer from Russia.
I work in television journalism stringer.
My camera Sony HXR-MC 1500 P
‘ll Blaodaren for your opinion about this camera and a couple of tips for me as an operator.
Thanks in advance!