No Hard Disk? ...no video...
I started off with a BTS LDK391 camera, the first Betacam camcorder SP found in the south of Italy. For tripod I had a Vinten; batteries, videocassettes.... ....climbing the vulcano with all this gear on my shoulders was a real fatigue, a natural gymnasium.
And then, the technical problems, the climatic conditions, ashes, snow, rain and also the hidden dangers.....
....I am filming, in presence of numerous tourists, the beginning of a new eruption, when suddenly the situation evolves: from simple outlet of vapours to the release of molten lava material. An unexpected explosion throws in the air streams of red hot lava. Someone gets hurt.....
.....The lava surrounded the house built in cement end slowly lifted it and turned it over. Noone notices though that on the ground floor there is an electric transformation cabin. The transformer contains oils that are needed to cool it.
The lava, after having destroyed the house, arrives to the transformer; a few seconds later two enormous explosions are heard, and streams of red hot lava are thrown in every direction. It's a living hell and many think that in that spot a new crater has opened. There are many hurt, and my hired car is in flames together with other two cars and a restaurant nearby is destroyed....
.....In 2001 I bought a DVCam, but the problems with the ash that created drop out on the tape, the condensation
on the heads, the low temperatures on the camera and the attention that you must keep in changing the tapes continued.
Now, all these problems have been resolved. Today I use Panasonic P2 cameras: the images are truly fantastic, the camera is light but sturdy at the same time, I no longer have problems either with the heat or the cold.
I do not use P2 cards though, instead I use the new and powerful Hard Disk Recorder. It has no limits, whatever formats I am asked for, whether it is Pal or NTSC or SD or HD, it is ready almost straight away. I now go up on Etna, decide whether to use HD, SD, Pal or NTSC, I press REC and I'm ready to shoot. I have the possibility to tape 135 minutes in HD 720p 50fps and/or 1080i 50fps. I have two Hard Disk Recorders (it's always best to have one as back-up) When I come back down, I connect it all to my MACBOOK and immediately I can view the filming. I am
ready to edit: no time lost. Then in about 30 minutes I do a back-up on an external Hard Disk. Back in my office everything is downloaded in our raid server. It is important not to lose any of the material!
Everything is reviewed with the journalist, the producer, the director, all in real time and quickly.
A satisfied client means continuity of work.
