For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd

The HXR-NX3 combines leading lens, sensor and LSI technology to achieve impressive image quality.  Sony’s  Exmor™ 3CMOS Sensor system with three 1/2.8” sensors provides 1920×1080 Full HD effective pixel count. As a result red, blue and green light are independently and accurately captured by separate image sensors, contributing to high resolution, high sensitivity and wide dynamic range that creates extraordinary natural colour reproduction. A newly developed LSI that includes advanced noise reduction and several distortion correction technologies handles image processing, allowing clear, low-noise recordings to be captured even in low light.

Sony’s G Lens delivers stunning image quality as well as a wide zoom range that offers a 28.8mm angle of view at the wide end, with a 20x optical zoom range that will easily cover most shooting situations.

In addition, the newly developed LSI contains cutting edge 40x “Clear Image Zoom” technology which offers 1152mm(*1) focal length with virtually the same quality as optical zoom. The LSI also includes advanced noise reduction and several distortion correction technologies to handle image processing and deliver notable improvements in image quality. The recorded images are remarkably lifelike in both texture and detail, as a result.

The HXR-NX3 records video in AVCHD 2.0 format, which includes 1080/50P, for smooth, natural subject motion. 50i and 25p modes provide playback compatibility with Blu-ray players. The HDMI connector provides uncompressed 8bit 4:2:2 while shooting and allows users to record stunning images on a generic external video recorder. The ability to record in DV format is also provided for users who prefer a DV workflow and who need to work in a DV compatible non-linear editing environment.

As well as outstanding imaging capabilities the HXR-NX3 can connect effortlessly with other devices to be controlled remotely or transfer footage. iOS (versions 4.3 through 7.0) and Android (versions 2.3 through 4.3) smartphones or tablet computers can be used to remotely control the HXR-NX3 through a WiFi connection and video files can be transferred from camcorder to smartphone(*2). Remote control features include:

●     Monitoring of camera material on the smartphone display

●     Record start/stop

●     Zoom

●     Iris

●     Touch AF (Auto Focus) function

The HXR-NX3 is capable of light MP4 file simultaneous recording. The MP4 (720p, 3Mbps) is a network friendly file that can be transferred wirelessly from the camcorder to a smartphone or tablet computer with the PlayMemories™ Mobile smartphone application(*3). Once transferred, the MP4 file can be uploaded to a cloud server, social media, video share site and other platforms (*4). PlayMemories™ Mobile can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or App Store.

The HXR-NX3 also has a cutting edge NFC (Near field communication) chipset which allows users to establish a WiFi connection simply by touching an NFC compatible smartphone or tablet computer on the camcorder.

The HXR-NX3 also comes with a number of additional features for versatility when filming and to minimize the need for additional equipment. The camcorder can capture footage in both slow and quick motion in full HD quality, with 2x slow motion and 50x quick motion easily achievable. Elsewhere, Dual media slots allow simultaneous recording to two SD memory cards in ‘Simul’ mode, while ‘Relay’ mode switches recording automatically to the second memory card when the first is full. The two cards can also be controlled independently from two recording buttons. This flexible control allows users to start/stop recording on one memory card, while continuing to record on the other, for proof recording (*5).  A built in LED video light is also included above the camcorder microphone for convenient illumination for a wide range of shooting situations (*6).

Kanta Yamamoto, Strategic Planning Manager, Sony Professional, Sony Europe, said: “The HXR-NX3 is a fantastic addition to the Sony NXCAM line-up especially for filmmakers working for corporate, event, wedding and education videos. We also expect the MP4 function to make it a hit with web journalists who need to share images with colleagues as quickly as possible, while the WiFi remote and built-in LED video light can make filming interviews easier. The HXR-NX3 is destined to become the ‘go to’ camcorder in the handheld field. As you would expect, it includes outstanding imaging capabilities that allow videographers to capture rich, detailed footage in a range of environments. A wide range of additional features make the HXR-NX3 the perfect camera for the videographers looking for high quality performance, adaptability and ease of use.”

Sony Professional Solutions Europe will deliver the HXR-NX3/VG1 which comes with Sony’s high quality ECM-VG1 shot-gun monaural microphone. The HXR-NX3/VG1 will be available in Europe from end of January.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd

Strangely many “professions” don’t like talking about rates and a daily wage as it’s still taboo…in their heads. Next time you visit your doctor ask him/her what their take home pay is each month, you will get the “not as much as you seem to think” chestnut  ?

Freelancers like ourselves are in a better position when it comes to daily rates but things become confused when you get part timers charging for their services…let me explain.

For years the thorny subject of “money” and what someone is worth seems to be a grey area till you are threatened by the under cutter …the part timer is a person that earns a wage so anything he or she makes on top is a bonus. The classic example is weddings, part timers don’t need to charge a lot because they are happy making an extra £200 at the weekend, its a hobby and they get paid for it.

Today its not only the part timer that threatens your livelihood its more likely to be the person engaging you to film and edit the job, times are hard so your client takes advantage of this by cutting you down to the bone, your no sooner sitting enjoying their hospitality when your walking out their office £100 per day worse off, they are looking for a deal and you reluctantly give them one.

There is no easy answer to this other than to have set daily wage you are prepared to work for let me give you an example…

Recently I noticed a web advert for a job in the media filming and editing for £20,000 per year thats £83 per day before taxes !

So you are worth £83 per day in that particular employment…not a lot.

Taking that example most decent posts pay £40K upwards so the person employing you to film is on about £166 per day, that was my pay before tax 15 years ago working for Scottish Television news as a freelancer without kit.

Your worth,… in your mind, is also equated to equipment used, if you have £20K worth of gear you will command a lot more per day than someone with a DSLR…but here is where the waters become somewhat muddy.

If you decide you are worth “x” amount per day, possibly 2.5 times your competition you also have to bear in mind what someone is willing to pay for your services…remember if the person you are working for is on £350 per day themselves they are not expecting to pay you much more than they earn per day, its all about competition.

What are your competitors charging for filming and editing, forget about kit at the moment remember most companies don’t care what kit you own nor do they have the savvy to judge beyond your “pitch” and initial filming costs per day, to them you are all on the same boat.

“Oh but my gear cost £20K” who cares, your client certainly doesn’t unless its for broadcast use…, most cars cost £20K upwards but you only get 35p per mile if you are able to factor that into the job.

Broadcast work in general is fairer as the daily rates are set in stone, the crews above are using mainly Sony PMW-500s, Digi Beta, Panasonic P2 and one DVCPRO camcorder, depending if its the broadcasters kit or yours will determine your daily rate.

Working for broadcast you will certainly be able to factor your kit into the equation with a Canon C300 plus lenses etc you can expect £650+ per days filming in the UK, note broadcasters in general are looking for Sony PMW-500s or JVC HM650s with FTP capability.

The two factors in a good days pay is time served and a good track record, the media industry is changing, equipment is a lot cheaper than it was 15 years ago, you can now shoot 4K for £2500 plus lenses, fantastic shallow depth of field HD for £1000 plus lenses, editing is a whole lot cheaper than even 7 years ago… so don’t be fooled by your equipment costs.

There are a ton of people coming into the video business every year, I get a flurry of CVs at the completion of every media course, these young adults are keen and willing to work, they are the future, they may not have the experience but they come with fresh ideas and more importantly are a lot more willing to work for less pay to build up the experience.

Back to the question “How much are you worth” or putting it another way “How much is someone willing to pay you” …every job is unique and so are you, if someone really likes your style they will pay your going rate but if you are up against an unknown competition for the same job its likely to fall on the cheaper quote no matter how good you are.

There is no set daily rate unless you work for a broadcaster or a client who decides what you are worth from day one.

Its all about how hungry you are for the work and keeping the overheads down, its not easy but I enjoy my work and that’s a major bonus in itself, I don’t sit in traffic jams to get to work for nine o’clock and enjoy my dogs, so work in general is a bonus in itself and like everyone else strike deals with clients.

Bottom line : Some of you may have credit agreements for £20K worth of gear which even at 0% interest is £1650 a month so the minimum you need to earn just to keep your head above water is £55 per day, frightening… not to mention other banking commitments so what you charge has a bearing on not only your finances but your wellbeing in general.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd

I put this article up in good faith as I assumed that by giving an embed code it would remain watchable after the event !!!

Live streaming video by Ustream

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd

Having talked to a few of my peers over the filming of the media covering the helicopter crash its become very apparent that this was not appropriate so the footage will not be used in the the review of the Sony AX1.
Don’t know what I was thinking of, sorry if I offended anyone over this post.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd

REGISTER to attend the event on the evening of December 4, at the Prince Charles Cinema in London, to see the 10 best entries shown on the big screen with a full lineup of guest speakers and cinema presentations. Please note : Entries to show your films are now closed but we still have a few seats available.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd

A rather controversial plugin has just been announced by CINEFLARE, “hand held” is a plugin that aims to make you footage look more…amateurish, at least thats one of the few comments that underpin the You Tube video.

“So bad. All that hard work to make something look like no thought was put into the camera work.” 

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Company Ltd