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MacBook Pro Edit workflow and Sony EX3 vs. Panasonic HPX170
Has anyone used the new Panasonic HPX170 or Sony EX3 to EASILY edit in FCP specifically using a Mac Book Pro?
I’m going to be producing two projects and am trying to determine which camera to use based on workflow with the MBP. I’m fine with the image quality of either camera. The first project entails editing a series of short interview profiles from several 20-minute captured interviews (handheld and tripod) blended with graphics, music and text. I might be using a 35 mm adaptor. The second project is an Internet cooking show with two tripod and handheld mounted cameras on a single subject (chef), music, graphics and text.
My editing tools include a Mac Book Pro (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/4 GB SDRAM) and a 2 TB G-Tech FW800 external HD.
Can I use either tapeless cameras (P2 or SxS) as my deck without having to purchase additional hardware? Are there any issues with using FW800 to capture and store my footage and to use for editing? Other than more P2/SxS/Firestore media storage, is there any other hardware I’ll need to purchase for seamless editing? I don’t think Firestore offers a drive for the EX3. Does the Sony’s PHU-60K works well with FCP?
I’ve been warned by loyal Panasonic shooters that the EX3 uses HDV’s long-GPO MPEG2 format and takes more horsepower and longer encoding times. Seems like there’s a lot more positive press on the P2 vs. SxS (same for DVCPRO HD vs. HDV)?
Thanks for your input!
Tim
MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive -
13 Replies
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The EX3 has the BIG advantage of using SxS cards that fit right in the ExpressCard slot of your Mac Pro. MUCH faster transfer time than using Firewire form the camera.
I’ve compared footage from the EX1 with the 170 and I found the EX1 to be sharper and less noisy. The EX3 is essentially the same camera as the EX1, so I think it’s safe to extrapolate.
Spend some time reading the Sony CineAlta forum and you’ll learn that all of the excessive hand-wringing about the long GOP compression is basically unnecessary. XDCAM EX != HDV.
In short, I’d cast my vote for the Sony.
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Well, no really HDV. EX-1 is 35Mbps so like a 40% higher data rate than HDV. The difference is noticeable.
And although the Long GOPs structure files are three folders smaller than DVCPro HD. Something o consider as well if you intend to archive your rushes.
rafael -
I just wanted to add some more to my original post.
The HPX170 might be a better choice if you do a lot of handheld run and gun type shooting, as it’s lighter and a bit easier to manage as a handheld camera.
However, after spending some time with both the EX1 and the HPX170, I’d say that the EX1 definitely has a more solid, substantial feel than the 170 – less plastic, heavier body, better lens focus and iris controls. The EX1/EX3’s full-manual focus mode, in which the focus ring has set stop points, is an excellent feature that allows you to do a perfect rack focus or use a follow focus if needed. To me, the HPX170 just feels cheap next to the EX1.
The EX3 would be far superior to the HPX170 for use as a shoulder-mounted camera.
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FYI, != means “does not equal.” My point was that XDCAM EX is superior to HDV.
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You want easy? DVCPRO HD is much lighter on your system…less processor intensive. NO GOP to deal with or transcode (nor rolling shutter to deal with…this is a 3CCD camera). DVCPRO HD is a 100Mbps codec opposed to the 35 or 50MBps codec of the EX series. By using Raylight or HD Log or Calibrated or MXF4QT you can access the P2 card MXF files directly, so no transcode time there. Plus the HPX-170 allows you to load metadata onto the camera (shooter, location, custom clip name, reporter…slew of others) that these third party options can then read and bring into FCP (some of them).
The HPX-170 allows for direct connection to the computer via firewire for offload, or if you get the Duel Systems adapter ($120) you can then connect the card to your MacBook Pro for direct offload (yes, another piece of equipment).
So without going into the imaging differences (no to DVXUser and search the forums for all the arguements in favor of both), in post, DVCPRO HD is a much easier codec to work with. Faster renders, near zero import time (with third party plugins)…or the ability in Log and Transfer to name the clips how you want, mark IN and OUT and only take what you want. Stitch together footage that spans onto other cards…ability to read metadata that might have been recorded onto the footage (VERY helpful on the Discovery series IDITAROD where they had multiple cameras and multiple checkpoints).
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
I just booked a job for late October and realized, in addition to not having a new camera yet, that some clients like to get the RAW footage captured during a shoot unedited. What’s the going process now for tapeless shooters who need to hand off something to say an advertising agency? Would I just convert the footage to .mov files in FCP and export to a DVD?
MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive -
[Tim Ryan] “What’s the going process now for tapeless shooters who need to hand off something to say an advertising agency?”
Give them the raw card dumps…in the EXACT file structure as on the card. One folder for each card.
[Tim Ryan] ” Would I just convert the footage to .mov files in FCP and export to a DVD? “
What if they don’t use FCP? Then the files you gave them would be useless. Give them the raw dumps…this way they can use it on whatever system they decide to use it on. Basically you are giving them the shoot tapes, or dubs of the shoot tapes.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
“What if they don’t use FCP? Then the files you gave them would be useless.”
Amen to this. I just recieved files from a shooter in Asia. I explicitly told him that we were’nt a FCP OR HDV shop and that we needed QT files on a hard drive. What did he send back? HDV tapes and Quicktime files that use the Apple Intermediate CODEC… (he assumed we also used Macs) 🙁 We will NEVER hire that shooter again. Don’t let this happen to you… listen to Shane. 🙂
Shawn
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When u say its not equal to hdv, does this mean the ex3 requires more horsepower to process on a mbp? Or that it’s actually more efficient?
MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive -
Thanks shane. Does this mean I’ll always need to have a computer with me to serve as the conduit to dump the footage out to an external hard drive for clients? How great would it be to transfer from camera to thumb drive bypassing computer? Same as tape I guess?
MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive
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