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HVX-200 & Tape
Does the 200 record HD to tape? Reading Panasonic’s info about the camera, I think they’re saying you can only record to miniDV tape in SD 16:9 or 4:3. If you want HD, use P2. Did I interpret that correctly?
By the way, how does the SD footage look compared to a descent miniDV cam? I’m looking for a new camera, but my clients still require SD — so I have to be able to deliver.
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5 Replies
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[jonereb] “I think they’re saying you can only record to miniDV tape in SD 16:9 or 4:3. If you want HD, use P2. Did I interpret that correctly?
“Yes that is correct.
[jonereb] “how does the SD footage look compared to a descent miniDV cam?”
As far as DV goes this camera is way overkill! However it will do a fine job for you from the get go. If you add some P2 cards and shoot the important stuff in HD you can down convert to sd, When the client comes back 6 months later and says “wished we’d shot that project in HD for release on blue ray or etc etc.”….you know the rest of the story.
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Also, as Shane often points out, this camera shoots something like 81 different formats on P2 media. Just moving from DV to DVCPRO 50 is worth the money. Previously this move would cost about $20,000.00 and up for dvcpro 50 cam, lens and deck. With P2 it is no longer an absolute neccessity to have the deck for the format you are shooting in.
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Thanks, Rennie. I shot with a DVC-Pro several years ago. It was a very nice camera that captured great footage bordering on the holy grail — film look. But I’ve read how some HD cameras aren’t that great when shooting in SD mode. At least initially, I’ll have to shoot SD. But my thinking is the same as yours. ASAP, start shooting HD > downconvert for editing SD projects > but have HD footage available when clients clamor for it.
So you’re saying the 200 can handle SD shots on tape with no problem? BTW, I’m shooting corporate stuff, anything from employee communication to image campaigns to marketing.
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[jonereb] “So you’re saying the 200 can handle SD shots on tape with no problem?”
Yes, the HVX200 is excellent for dv quality on tape, comparable to any 3 ccd camcorder.
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One thing the is sometimes overlooked for DV shooting, you get real 16:9 footage, no extra adapter or electronic cropping then upscaling, the chip is 16:9.
I shoot the DVX for years with the 16:9 adapter and there were some serious compromises that have gone away with the HVX.
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