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I apologize if the information is posted somewhere on here already. I can't seem to get the search function to work today. It keeps switching to New Updates. Not helpful..

Just curious, what makes the PV 500 the standard? Is it usability? Formattting of video? Application? Size? I see some cameras do 500 up to 700 lines. Where does the PV 500 fall on that scale? What would be the minimum? I'm curious to do some shopping. I think I could find something to get good life and record in a format I could at least convert with decent recording if I knew what to aim for.

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The PV-500 does not have the best video quality available, however most clients are not concerned with quality. They simply want to see their employee and hear audio. The reason it is the standard is the low failure rate. It's kind of the nobody got fired for buying IBM affect. A majority of video shops cannot be immediately reshopped by the same shopper, so even if you had a backup of the cheap knock off that doesn't help with the current shop. Most MSCs are not willing to take that chance.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Stick with the PV500. Make the purchase once you have enough in your shopping account - if you are certain that video is for you.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

@prepmaster wrote:

I think I could find something to get good life and record in a format I could at least convert with decent recording if I knew what to aim for.

Also to add, most MSCs want original unaltered video. They do not want video converted. In addition, one of my PV-500s is the HD model. I've had more than one MSC complain about the file size when I've used it for shops that didn't require it.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

But, many MSCs that are PRIMARILY doing video require HD product. And, for low light conditions, it is essential to have the PV-500 HD for any video longer than about 12 minutes. HD product from a glasses cam or a headset cam MAY be acceptable for a few shorter videos, but head turning or just walking motions of the shopper make the product from those air-silkiness inducing in viewers. Stick with PV-500 to meet industry standards for sound and picture. Just be glad that current prices are about half of what shoppers used to pay for those units.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Really? I only know of one client requiring full HD. At 1 gig for a 10 minute file most of them don't want to deal with the file size.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2018 07:55PM by bgriffin.

All of the video parking shops that I have done for SEVERAL clients require HD. Garages tend to be dimly lit.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I still wouldn't recommend HD for a beginner. 1 client that has shops in 10 largest cities only an 1 client they likely will never have access to. Considering the HD model costs significantly more than either and EVO or L3 and many other MSCs prefer not to deal with the file size. Plus the unit is much less user friendly.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Wales, for the dimly lit conditions like garages, would you recommend going with a BU-20 lens if you don't happen to own the HD camera set?

Ask the shop scheduler or, if it is a Servimer shop, ask Scott. All I know is what I have does the job. I have a glasses cam, supplied by the MSC and 2 PV-500s with HD cams, both pre -2010 models. Those were/are industrial strength PVs!!! Both types give brilliant video even in underground garages. I have also heard good things about a particular model of Bluetooth earpiece cams. One garage shopper that I know uses one that does the trick in low light but I was warned that most of those do not. So more research may be needed.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Can you change the settings on the HD unit to shoot at the standard resolution?

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

@walesmaven wrote:

I have a glasses cam, supplied by the MSC and 2 PV-500s with HD cams, both pre -2010 models.

You mean the high quality BU-18 as opposed to the low res BU-18? I was referring to the BU-18HD which is true 1080p. It has a completely different connection and will not connect to the standard PV500. It requires the use of the PV500HD and is a relatively (2 years?) new product.

Edited to add:

There are 3 BU-18 cams. The BU-18 Low Res cam, which is standard with most models but is only 380 lines of resolution and not good enough for most video work. There's the BU-18 High Res camera that is the standard for most video work and is 550 lines of resolution. It also has a better lux rating which gives it better low light sensitivity. Then there is the BU-18HD which only works with the HD model PV-500 and is true high definition with 1080 lines of resolution. There is only a single client that I know of that requires 1080. The outfit runs about $200 more and as far as I know very few mystery shoppers have purchased this unit. Besides being overkill for most shops the unit is much less user friendly than the standard definition units.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2018 11:40PM by bgriffin.

I am NOT up on the specs of any of this, so I cannot comment on your questions. Never claimed to know anything except what the major video MSCs said they wanted; that's what I bought and what I have. Sorry to disappoint. However, my comments about garage video clients requiring HD are valid as specified by the MSCs as of last November.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

That's interesting. I have been under the impression few of those have been sold. Bet they have a hard time finding shoppers.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Yikes! or, as my 3 year old grand-niece says, Holy Moley Cow! What was I smoking yesterday??? I meant HR, high resolution cams. Mea culpa! (Slinks away in embarrassment.) Back in the day we always had to buy a PV-500 unit and separately buy a high res cam to replace the one that shipped with the unit.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I want some!

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Can I get suggestions on video MSC? I signed up with several and only see one shop about 300 miles away...

prep,
Most video MSCs seldom put anything on a job board. You need to contact them and ask where/how to submit a test video so that they can see that you have the equipment and skill set to meet client standards.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

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