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Help a site newbie with a camera decision?
I’m looking to get two HD cameras for a total cost of less than $20,000. (I’m posting this in the Sony forum, as well, since I can’t find a thread specifically appropriate for camera-wars debates).
I shoot the following, with a very small crew:
* Ultra-low budget, semi-improv features
* Short films — comedies and documentaries, including many for timed film competitions (48 Hour Film project, etc.)Given the improvisational nature of much of our material, having 2 (or 3) cameras is a must, and because we like to shoot a lot of takes (for editing in FCP), the cost of media is a legitimate consideration, though we definitely want to go tapeless.
We know a thing or two about lighting, sound, etc., but HD is new to us. We would like to elevate our game past the DVX-100As we’ve been using.
We do a fair amount of shooting with DVrig Pros (not the DVrig Pro HD models), so compatibility with those would be ideal.
Helpful links, advice, tips on credible rumors of new models to be released soon, etc. will be appreciated — anything that would help a new purchaser make a wise decision.
Is the AG-HPX170 hands-down the ideal choice, or should I consider another vendor/model, waiting for a forthcoming model, etc.?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
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8 Replies
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If you are familiar with the DVX100, I’d go HPX170 if you want to stick to handheld, unibody cameras.
For $20,000 you could get a couple of HPX170s, a nice handful of P2 cards (along with the free one you get with the camera, if that deal is still running), a PCD20 or PCD35, a 2 drive SATA drive system for archiving, a copy of ShotPutPro, and a copy of MXF4mac for super easy media access.
I can’t speak much to the Sony cameras as I have never been on a shoot with them, but I did just finish my first edit with them about a month ago (it was an EX1 and EX3 shoot). The edit process is totally terrible, especially when I am used to the speed of P2. The LongGOP situation is a mess in FCP. If you are on tight turn around and tight deadlines (48 hour film festivals et al), P2, FCP and MXF4mac will be a totally sweet combo for you, in my opinion.
But it’s just that, my opinion. I am sure on the Sony forum, the people that have sunk money in to Sony will say, buy Sony. Make sure you talk to some editors too. I’ll say it a different way, editing with P2 is much much better than editing HDV (or XDCam, whatever the kids are calling it these days).
As far as the camera itself, I have only edited the footage from it a couple of times now, but it is a great upgrade to the 200 (if you have seen pictures from the 200). The HPX170, is faster, sharper, and generally just a better overall picture. It is also more ergonomically similar to the DVX100. If you can, I’d go and get a demo of the camera you are thinking of buying, shoot a little footage and compare.
Jeremy
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Check out the HMC 150 and 170 from Panasonic too, the cheaper media may be of interest to you. FCP will transcode the AVC HD format to Pro Res 422 for you, which makes cutting more enjoyable.
On the Sony front, the EX series of cameras are good, but to get the best out of them you have to commit to using native EX codecs in FCP, and has been stated, the long GOP stream is an issue in comp’ing.
There are some new HDV camcorders from Sony such as the new Z5 and Z7, but you are stuck with HDV.
Ultimately you have a lot of choice now, but make a well informed decision, get hands on demo with all the cameras you like, and cut the demo footage so you are sure of your final decision. -
Jeremy why does MXF sound familiar to me.
What is MXF4mac?
What is it used for?
Thanks
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Thank you, Jeremy, for the helpful advice!
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Thanks!
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[carlos castro] “What is MXF4mac? “
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/garchow_jeremy/dvc_pro_hd.php
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Hey Jeremy thanks for the Tutorial, it breaks it {MXF4Mac} down very nicely. I can’t believe its free software. It seems to be very useful. I’m going to download it ASAP before P2 gets wise, lol.
Hey did I hear correctly that this software can take P2 footage edited in Avid and convert them in QT ot fcp files and vice-verse?
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P2CMS is free. MXF4mac costs money.
[carlos castro] “Hey did I hear correctly that this software can take P2 footage edited in Avid and convert them in QT ot fcp files and vice-verse?”
No, it can read Avid MXF media. So that means you can have Avid native media and use it right in FCP. Avid already reads native P2 media. Basically, MXF4mac avoids the need to make Quicktime movies as it ‘translates’ the media in way that FCP understands.
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