Best HD camera to use with FCP for $5000 or less?

[Chris Williams]

I would recommend the Panasonic HPX 200. We use it here at the studio, and you can’t ask for a easier camera to use, for shooting and for transferring footage. We love the quality and convenience of this camera. I would recommend it to everyone in an education setting.

[Akbar Ukani]

Trust me…you can’t go wrong with the XDCAMs EX1…they are a grand over your budget, but the quality is superior than any Panasonics/Canon in its class…if its a long term investment then a 1000 bucks over 4 years is nothing

[Shane Ross]

Panasonic HMC-150. GREAT camera.

Shane

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[Ron Pestes]

I must agree with the EX-1 post!

Apple Certified Master Pro FCS 2
Sony EX-3
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[Walter Biscardi]

Panasonic P2 camera in your budget. Especially if you can afford an AVC-Intra codec camera. And since NAB is just a week away, who knows what Panasonic might announce there.

We have tested the Sony EX-1 and EX-3 in the past and have been sorely disappointed by them. The codec falls apart very quickly in the outdoors, especially when you have a lot of information like trees. We avoid the EX cameras as much as possible and only shoot Panasonic cameras when possible.

Panasonic cameras are true 4:2:2 and do not do any of that long GOP mess that causes more issues than it’s worth. Just my opinion of course, but we avoid all Sony cameras as much as possible.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media

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[Steve Connor]

As usual I will have to disagree with Walter, we having been using the EX cameras since they first arrived, have used them on lots of different shoots with no issues at all. The codec does NOT ‘fall apart” very quickly when shooting outdoors. If that actually happened I don’t think Sony would have sold quite so many EX cameras, also Discovery HD would not have accepted the codec for 100% production.

Easy way to choose is get a dealer who deals in all the different camera makes to give you a demo and then decide for yourself, advice on forums will almost always be partisan.

Steve Connor
Adrenalin Television

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[Walter Biscardi]

[Steve Connor] “The codec does NOT ‘fall apart” very quickly when shooting outdoors. If that actually happened I don’t think Sony would have sold quite so many EX cameras, also Discovery HD would not have accepted the codec for 100% production.”

I’m speaking from my own experience. Actor in front of a forest of trees. The codec fell apart very quickly with a wash of artifacts while the Panasonic camera held up much better.

Also, more color information and higher quality codec (100mbps) without the long-GOP architecture. When running the footage through Color, the panasonic codecs always hold up much better with much more color information than the Sony codecs.

In our workflow here, we avoid those cameras as much as possible. When we do our own productions, we only use Panasonic cameras. Your mileage may vary.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media

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[Steve Connor]

I would suggest there were other issues at play such as camera setup rather than the codec, if the codec simply fell apart when presented with this level of detail then I think the forums would be awash with people moaning about it.

We’ve never had this issue and we’ve pushed the cameras hard.

However you are correct about a 422 codec working better when pushed hard through CC. If we are working on projects that are being graded hard then we use XDCam 422 or the Nanoflash on the Ex cameras.

The long GOP architecture plays NO part in the picture quality as the superb pictures that come from the XDCam700 proves, it simply means if you choose to use it as the edit codec you face much longer render times.

Personally I’m not a fan of Panasonic cameras in my limited experience with them, because it’s limited experience I choose not to mention it all the time on forums

Steve Connor
Adrenalin Television

Have you tried “Search Posts”? Enlightenment may be there.

[Walter Biscardi]

[Steve Connor] “Personally I’m not a fan of Panasonic cameras in my limited experience with them, because it’s limited experience I choose not to mention it all the time on forums”

Our experience is limited to over 100 stories shot for a couple of environmental series and a science series we post here. A few of the shooters for those series shoot with the EX1 and EX3 cameras so we’re still editing with that material a few times a month.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media

“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” featuring Sigourney Weaver coming soon.

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[Mike Raff]

While I’m a fan of the P2 cameras, I’d have to agree with Shane here.

For a university program, I would favor the HM-150 since it records to SDHC cards, rather than the pricier P2 cards. If students are out on a shoot and need additional storage media, they’d be more likely to find–and be able to afford–additional SDHC cards.

(And the university could replace lost or stolen SDHC cards more inexpensive than P2.)

That’s my 2¢, anyway.

Mike Raff
Richmond, VA