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KONA 2 with Panasonic SDX 900
So I’m looking at putting together a new system. My business model includes a Panasonic SDX 900 camcorder and an AJA Kona 2 card running on FCP.
I’m just wondering (and I know this might be a dumb question, but I’m stepping up from a DV reality) Will I need a deck?
I know that panasonic has that AJ-SD93 that is a DVCPRO 50 deck. But I’m wondering If we just get the SDI option on the camera, can we just capture right off of it through the KONA 2?
Is this a bad Idea? Will I mess up the 30K camera? if I do it this way, how do you control the camera transport? Is it Rs-422?
I appreciate any help, I’m a bit of a newbie in the uncompressed realm.
Oh, by the way, I know that the SDX is SD and the Kona2 probably overkill as an HD card, but I want the HD capability and $2500 seems like a steal.
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11 Replies
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Yes. A camera is just that, a camera. The jog/shuttle innards are not made for the constant back and forth that is required of editing.
You will also need a deck for mastering and bringing in footage that has advanced pulldown through firewire.
Earlier this year we up-converted a project shot 24p (Normal) to 720p through the K2 that was shot on SDX900. It looked awesome and ended up being much cheaper than renting a Varicam. The K2 will be good to have for this feature alone.
I am also working on a SD project that was shot on the SDX (16:9 24p normal) and we kept it all SD and it looks fantastic as well. This is my first foray in to using the DV50 codec (a game time decision made because we needed to conserve storage space) and it looks great. Good luck on your endeavors, that camera will get you through the SD to HD transition nicely, and you’ll be able to profit from it as well.
Also remember, buy the deck (with firewire option)
Jeremy
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G5 Dual 2Ghz <> 4GB RAM <> FCP 4.5 <> Kona 2ATTO 42XS <> Huge Systems 1.25 TB 4105 Fibre
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Hey Jeremy,
Thanks so much. That’s pretty much what I needed. Appreciate the encouragement. I feel like I’ve got the knowledge and chops, but 30k on the camera kinda makes the heart pound.
thanks again,
David
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Sure it does, but look at your alternatives. You can get a digibeta, Varicam, Sony HD Cam (different varities), or lower end HDV/DV. All of the higher end stuff will probably run close or over 100,000 bucks when you get it all rigged up and this doesn’t include the decks. HDV is pretty new and ‘unproven’ all though I’m sure getting better everyday, and dv is….dv.
The SDX is nice. You won’t be disappointed. It’s when you purchase the Varicam and something better/cheaper comes along that the disappointment starts to set in. The SDX is a very versatile camera and looks great to boot.
Jeremy
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G5 Dual 2Ghz <> 4GB RAM <> FCP 4.5 <> Kona 2ATTO 42XS <> Huge Systems 1.25 TB 4105 Fibre
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Is this a consideration?
Since you are going with an HD card you may want to think about the New P2 panny camera that is coming out. It will give you HD capability, technically you will only need a DV deck. I know that the chips are smaller, but you will get 24P performance plus Varicam style 4 to 60 FPS and all the cinelooks of the SDX and Varicam.
It might be a bit early to jump, but I have been looking at the P2 stuff and the huge drawback with the camera is a lack of interchangable lenses, but it is a bit smaller risk than the 30K for the SDX. With about 15K you could get 4 P2 cards and a field drive that downloads the P2 cards when they are full. tape on the other hand is just plain old reliable.
If you are looking at this kind of investment you might want to talk to your panasonic dealer to figure out just what kind of workflows you can do in P2 land, of course none of it will be released for a few months but it will be interesting to see if P2 hits.
David
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the standard editing deck for the SDX-900 camera is the Panasonic SD-930 which is an amazing product. It’s $15,000, but when you consider this is the Panasonic equivalent of a Sony Digi Beta VTR, it’s cheap. As you may know, there is no SD camera made by Sony or Iki that even begins to look like the SDX-900.
Bob Zelin
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I’m pretty commited to an ENG camera. We’ll probably pick up the HVX as a second camera down the line. But I want the big Fat pretty camera and the big fat interchangeable lens and the big fat pretty pictures.
Just ready for it.
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What is the benefit of the 930 over the 93? Seems like even with the analog and SDI option boards on the 93 We’d still be coming in under 10k.
Why spend the extra $?
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Well…it’s a consideration, but we have no idea what this camera is going to bring yet.
Mr. Garcia is spot on about the ENG style. Better optics, better lens, proven format (dv50) and don’t discount more client impressions (ENGs have the visual presence of professionalism, whatever that does for you).
If we could all afford it, I think we’d all get the best camera we could afford. if Mr. Garcia is in the market I would go for it if I were him. Also at this point the HVX is still vaporware to the general public.
I am curious to find the abilities of the HVX as well, but until then the SDX is a great camera that shoots great SD pictures and uprezzes (up-converts) pretty well into DVCPro HD (through the K2) in the transition from SD to HD.
Good luck to us all,
Jeremy
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G5 Dual 2Ghz <> 4GB RAM <> FCP 4.5 <> Kona 2ATTO 42XS <> Huge Systems 1.25 TB 4105 Fibre
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I’d check the insert/assemble edit capabilities with the SD-93 vs the 930.
It could be like the difference between the HD1200 & HD1700. The 1700 is a true editing deck, while the 1200 is not.
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G5 Dual 2Ghz <> 4GB RAM <> FCP 4.5 <> Kona 2ATTO 42XS <> Huge Systems 1.25 TB 4105 Fibre
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I agree. Going with the SDX is a great idea because it is a great camera, and the comments about vapourware are ture. The stuff has to be out and in peoples hands for a while. We have to see workflows and hear the good a nd bad stoies of using this format.
You will not go wrong with the SDX 900.
David
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