HVX900 – arguments for and against (moved post) Jan?

[Tony]

Well a true apple to apple would be more accurate when all the units you are interested in are actually available for a real world shootout.

It’s senseless to compare cameras based on paper specs.

The only thing you can really answer ahead of time is what format will 80-90% of your clients demand and be willing to pay for. Your ROI will be based to a major extend on what your client’s requirements are.

Tony Salgado

[Pat Mcgowan]

Which is why we need to know what the HVX900 will represent in terms of uptake in the market.

Jan?

[Tony]

Pat,

I think you missed my point. You should be interviewing your clients first before getting all hung up on tech specs on a camera that has not even been released yet.

Sort of like which came first “the chicken or the egg”.

Tony Salgado

[Pat Mcgowan]

Tony, we know our market space quite well and there should be a tolerance for this format. The decision will be between the HVX900 and Sony XDCAM HD. Sony wins in our market for nameplate, I’m trying to determne whether or not there is a sufficient quality and features argument to justify the purchase of a Panasonic “HD” camera in the mid-price range.

We are going through the same exercise with the purchase of a smaller camera (HVX200 vs some flavour of HDV).

Thanks for your suggestions. I’m hoping a product specialist will step up and make the key arguments for the HVX900 vs. Sony XDCAM HD.

[Jan Crittenden livingston]

Hi,

I am not the product manager for this camera and therefore I am going to redirect this to Jeff Merritt who stops in here on occasion. Overall, I would say that the DVCPRO HD codec is at least more standardized out there in the production market in as much it has been delivering for now 6 years. The fact that it is I-Frame only 4:2:2 and the HDX900 camera sports a 2/3″ imager.

But I think you will be best served by a demonstration of both cameras and use them both in the types of shooting that you do, and then bring that footage all the way through the editing system.

Perhaps Jeff will also join in.

Best,

Jan

Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, AG-DVX100
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems

[Pat Mcgowan]

Thanks Jan, looking forward to hearing from Jeff.

[Wes]

Hi Pat,
Would love to hear how you go with your decision making. We’re in a simialr boat looking at the HD camera market – I lot of different choices, formats and budgets. We are looking at the XDCAM HD but also interested in the possibility of a smaller camera to hold us over for a while (HVX200 or similar). And then ther’s RED as well!! so many choices.
My email is wes@naluproductions.com
cheers
wes

[Thomas James]

I think the Panasonic HVX900 is better than the Sony XDCAM-HD. With the Panasonic you get the full 2/3 inch chips but the Sony only has half inch chips. And both the Sony and Panasonic gives you 1080p24 but only the Panasonic gives you 720p60 which is the best high definition for the fast action sports.

[Michael Brennan]

On paper the Panasonic wins in progressive mode and for slomo as it is likely to be higher res in these modes.

But the xdcam has more pixels so shoul dbe better in interlace mode… but uses 1/2 inch lens.
No question DVCPRO codec is better.

I dont subscribe to the theory that all clients dictate what format we shoot.
We can educate so they choose the best format for the job.

But this advice often flys in the face of many giving advice who can afford to own or operate only one format camera type and shape the client to the quipment they have.

Mike Brennan