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HVX-200 Vs. Varicam- What do you think?
I’m trying to get an idea of what a side by side comparison of footage shot on the Varicam vs. the HVX-200 would be like (even though the HVX isn’t out yet)… but let’s be theoretical.
-The Set Up-
Same experienced DOP, same 20 second spot, lighting, 24 frame rate, rez (720p) ect. (everything is IDENTICAL except for camera).
Everything is digitally projected on a big screen to the same audience before the movie they’re about to see (it’s a pre-movie car commercial)… none of them know of this test.Now, what do you think the major differences are going to be? Differences that the AUDIENCE is going to see? If there are any? (I know all audiences are different… but lets pretend that it’s your “typical” audience just going to see a movie) and NOT a cow member who’s trying to identify frame rates and formats. Also, I know you can’t read the minds of the audience members… I’m just trying to get a general consensus.
Next: What if we did the same thing as above but the HVX is now shooting at 1080p 24fps and the Varicam still at 720P 24fps.
Now what are the major differences that the AUDIENCE is going to see? If there are any?
Is the HVX-200 MORE compressed than the Varicam? Something is not quite adding up for me here. The Varicam is a 65K camera and the HVX is a 10K cam (with P2 Cards)… so other than the fact that you can record onto tape with the Varicam and that it has a removable lens what are the BIG differences? I know that the P2 storage is limited.
When taking into consideration the test above is the audience going to see a difference worth my $55K?
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48 Replies
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A few years back when Beta ruled, if you took a $14,000 (list) UVW-100 with it’s 1/2″ chips cheap glass and compared it to a $60,000 (list) BVW-600 with 2/3″ chips and great glass, you’d see an enormous difference. Now take a $6,000 HVX-200 with 1/3″ chips and inexpensive lens and, well… you see where I’m going with this.
Ed -
Bigger chips, better glass, on the Varicam should lead to more creative control of DOF, better low light, better dynamic range, more details in picture. We don’t know enough about the HVX200 and how it works to know what the impact of it’s chips will be on it’s 1080 performance.
Graeme
– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects for FCP
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You seem to have overlooked the quality of lens available between the HVX and the Varicam, this will make a big difference to image quality even when viewed on a large screen.
I’ve shot side by side tests with the Sony F900 version 3 (1080 25P) and the Varicam at 720P using Canon and the results compare favourably, the HVX with its cheap lens won’t come close to either of these.
You need to consider the marketing strategy for the HVX camcorder, Panasonic or Sony could get together with a major lens manufacturer and make a smaller camera with interchangeable lenses, furnished with all of the functions of their larger counterparts but where would that leave the sales of the F900’s and Varicams?
I like working with my Sony HDV, it’s small light and cheap, but I’d never consider it as a replacement to a larger camera with real lenses, I just don’t think the HVX will be as good as everyone is anticipating.
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I don’t know though. What are people anticipating? I guess people are anticipating a baby Varicam, and I think that’s what they’re going to get, and I don’t see why not. It should produce better looking pictures than the available HDV cameras, and be easier to edit with less system resources used.
Graeme
– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects for FCP
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Nick,
I didn’t overlook the lens issue. It’s right there. I asked what else “other than the lens?” Someone pointed out that the chips are bigger…
Overall I agree though,there will be a difference.. It’s hard to say how big the difference will be with out SEEING it. I’m hoping it won’t be so much. I have high hopes for the HVX… certainly higher than HDV. HDV seems like one big giant compression on top of a compression.
I’ll bet that in unison with the mini-35mm convertor (PS Tecknik), a nice set of super speed primes and proper care taken when shooting/lighting the difference between the two cameras will not be astounding. Just the other day someone on the cow (a Varicam owner) said that he was planning on using the HVX-200 as a 2nd camera for his shoots.
I don’t know…I’m really excited for this camera and P2 technology in general.
Thanks for your reply. -
The mini35 should level the playing field a lot as it will drop the resolution of both the Varicam and the HVX200 to the same lower level, and equalize any DOF issues.
Graeme
– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects for FCP
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I do too. I’m willing to lug an external drive around too (I hope they sort that all out soon), because I don’t think that P2 is going to be cheap enough, or storage enough for my long-form shoots (90% of my shooting). If the quality is good enough, the weight difference from my big rigs will make the HVX feel like a toy.
Ed[Michael Totten] “I have high hopes for the HVX… “
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If there hasn’t been any revolutionary in ccd sensivity, 2/3″ chips still have four times the area and hence 2 stops more sensivity.
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If you shoot a spot on the varicam you will be able to charge the client more money which means you should be able to get a % of that increased fee.
renting a good camera for the day is not that expensive compared to the budget of a good quality commercial so why bother with a cheap camera on a proper paying job.
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Nick-
Maybe the commercial scenario wasn’t quite right… it’s all theoretical anyway. There is no commercial… I’m just posing a question for the sake of getting some opinions on what the HVX is going to look like. It’s clear that you’re a Varicam fan… that’s great, so am I. I’ve used it to shoot several projects, however I’m looking for a camera to buy that will give me a great image, could be cinematic (if utilized properly) and that won’t break the bank… and I feel like the HVX is the FIRST camera that really fits that bill. I’m not looking for a rental camera to make a buck on… I’m looking for a camera to OWN and to shoot my projects on. The last couple years have given us some great dv cameras (with 24P and now HDV) which was/is great! But…this seems different to me. This seems like a much bigger step. This is DVCPRO HD 1080P @ 24 FPS recording onto a couple cards that will fit into your wallet. That’s a big change;
Thanks for the reply-Michael
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