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AVCHD vs HDV
yeah I know this has been covered, but as time goes by…things change.
Could I get peoples input on going to AVCHD….I have used HDV for years but will be upgrading cameras soon. I use Sony FX1’s and love them…but the newer cams with AVCHD are looking really good. I would probably re-encode to edit if I went with AVCHD…just want to keep things looking good. Thanks ahead of time for input.BEFORE anyone recommends a camera I HAVE to have the following:
LANC control….Sony Canon…NOT an option to go without
COMPONENT OUTPUT…again with my setup..a must
MANUAL
W/B, Shutter, and GAIN/exposureYES EVERYONE LOVES THE TM700, but NO WIRED REMOTES…so unfortunately not an option…
Thanks again!Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions -
22 Replies
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Is MXF out of the question? From an editing perspective, I work occassionally with MXF format and is easy to work with in SVP compared to AVCHD.
Camerawise, you might want to consider the Sony EX1 or EX3 cameras, but I would recommend against mixing their footage with HDV on the time line unless you are prepared to do some serious gamma correction. As I do weddings which tends to have lots of silk fabrics, my FX1, HC3, Z1P and Canon HG-10 match up very closely, but it has been a nightmare matching them up to EX1 footage. Even after all that, the silk dress segments of the EX1 footage still looks ‘flat’ when compared to the other cameras.
I have only worked with an NX5 once (which produced both MXF and NXCAM files), and they tended to match the EX1 in terms of look and warmth. You need SVP10 to work properly with NXCAM.
I believe the NX5 and EX1 have Sony proprietary controllers, memory cards and firestore drive add-ons. How deep are your pockets :-)?
Intel i7 920, 12GB RAM, ASUS P6T, Vegas Pro 10 (x32/x64), Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, Vegas Production Assistant 1.0, VASST Ultimate S Pro 4.1, Neat Video Pro 2.6
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My pockets are not that deep, I am looking to replace two HC1’s with something else. I have 3 FX1’s and could look into used ones of those (I LOVE how they look) but I also want to stay up to date as well. Canon has some new one’s coming out that are AVCHD that are in the $1500 range that look REALLY interesting and they would also give me 24p native as well, which some of my clients would like. I have looked into some of the sony ex cams and have used some as well, they are cool, but I think they are out of my $ range.
Canon HFG10
Sony CX700V
Canon Vixia HF S10
These are the ones I am currently looking at, They all have LANC inputs ( I already have 10 controllers (some custom))…SO for the most part I want to update my B-roll/secondary camsScott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions -
[Scott Francis] “I have 3 FX1’s and could look into used ones of those (I LOVE how they look) but I also want to stay up to date as well.”
If you need to replace your FX1’s I would take a serious look at the Sony HDR-FX7. They are HDV which, as you know is a dream to edit, so your workflow will not change. They are very similar to your FX1’s and are “up to date” with new features.
When my Sony HVR-Z1U dies I will buy another HDV camera or an XDCAM EX1/3. I own an AVCHD camera and the format is just too difficult to deal with so I wouldn’t even consider one.
So to answer your original question: AVCHD vs HDV? HDV gets my vote.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Thanks John…I had an FX7 and had so many issues with color matching, noise, connectors and the like that I sold it and got another FX1….
So you feel HDV is better quality video as well as being easier to edit?Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions -
John,
I have still not taken the plunge with a new camera. I have been sorely tempted by the Sony AX2000e, but have seen the HDR-FX7. The FX7 seems to be quite a bit older, and does not appear to record at the higher resolution of the AX2000.
Would you have had any experience to be able to compare the two? I understand your comments about editing with AVCHD – I have tested some in Vegas 10, and I certainly would need to upgrade my machine as well…
I am also concerned about ‘future-proofing’ my investment – and so was wondering if the 1080 vs 1920 issue would limit me in the future..
Thanks
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[Scott Francis] “I had an FX7 and had so many issues with color matching, noise, connectors and the like that I sold it and got another FX1….”
Wow, that’s interesting. I wonder if it’s the CMOS vs CCD? I was thinking of getting one of those. Now you got me thinking.
[Scott Francis] “So you feel HDV is better quality video as well as being easier to edit?”
I would say it’s the same quality and easier to edit. That makes it better in my book. XDCAM is gorgeous quality too and not that hard to edit.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
[Stewart Bourke] “The FX7 seems to be quite a bit older, and does not appear to record at the higher resolution of the AX2000.”
Well all of the HDV cameras are going to be older and by definition HDV uses wider pixels at 1440×1080 so less information is recorded. They both equal 1920 x 1080 in the end but the AX2000 not only records full 1920×1080 but it also records at 24Mbps which would be even higher quality than HDV.
[Stewart Bourke] “Would you have had any experience to be able to compare the two? I understand your comments about editing with AVCHD – I have tested some in Vegas 10, and I certainly would need to upgrade my machine as well…”
I don’t have any experience with either camera but if I were you, I would try and get your hands on some of the footage from an AX2000 before you buy one. See how it edits with your computer. There is no doubt that the AX2000 is a better camera than the FX7 but then it’s quite a bit more in price so it should be. I just don’t like AVCHD for editing. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have to like it. 😉
Alternative workflows could be used to get around the AVCHD editing problem. You could buy CineForm and convert all of your footage to that. You could buy VASST GearShift and edit with DV Widescreen on your existing computer. So the fact that it’s AVCHD should not stop you from buying it. Just make sure that you have your workflow thought out first.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
I often have to color match my HC1 to FX1’s primarily in the reds (HC1 is more magenta than the fx1) have presets I made for them, no issues.
The FX7 was a BEAR…all colors were quite different(I ALWAYS W/B every camera with a large 3’x2′ card on stage and it didn’t matter), terrible noise in low light (even with gain balanced correctly) I learned to hate that camera!! In normal light it was great..but get it in a theatre setting…no way!
I think it was more than CCD vs CMOS, since HC1 is CMOS and FX1 is CCD, and I have gotten those to play well together…
Just looking at some footage from a CX500…I was impressed with the look, hence my thoughts on AVCHD..Thanks John!!
Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions -
John,
When you say AVCHD is a bear to edit, what types of problems do you mean?
Computer speed? Color correction? I’m still new to this but I want to buy a Pro camcorder this summer. Now I’m using a Sony CX-520V which is ACVHD and I don’t have problems editing. My field is professional photography. -
John,
Good advice as always – thanks. A local shop here rents a number of these cameras by the day/week, and so I plan to try a couple of them out before committing (including the AX2000)….
Thanks again
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