Sony EX1 or Panasonic HPX-170

[Craig Seeman]

[Laurence Wallace] “1) I’m thinking of getting a new iMac. But it doesn’t have a slot for the SxS card. I heard the new MacBook Pro 17” still has the slot. But I want an iMac with a big screen for editing. If I get a new iMac does this take the Sony EX1 out of the picture for me in terms of a streamlined workflow? “

Sony sells an SxS to USB card reader. If you go the SDHC adaptor route any SDHC reader will work too.

[Laurence Wallace] “2) I’ve heard SxS cards shoot for longer periods of time at the same resolution as P2 cards. If this is the case, and if I have the option of getting either the Sony EX1 or the Panasonic HPX-170, would I be sacrificing video quality by opting for the Panasonic? “

XDCAM codec is more efficient than DVCProHD. It does this by using a GOP based format.
EX also has 1/2″ chips at full 1920×1080 resolution. This means better Depth of Field Control and better low light performance for the EX and more detail in the image (much higher horizontal resolution for example).

Personally I don’t consider the HPX-170 competitive at all. The HPX-300 might be worth an argument but even that’s still 1/3 chips though.

[Jay Gladwell]

You’re trying to compare apples to oranges.

Sony beats the Panny, period.

BTW, the SxS cards hold 300% more for 10% less.

[Nick Righton]

Hi there,

The USB reader is available but is just plain slow. I would encourage a 17″ MBP. The native resolution on the MBP is 1920×1200 the same as the 24 inch iMac but in a smaller package. Using the express card slot on the MBP is way faster than the USB reader.

I wish I was good at one thing rather than average at many, but oh well.

[Jay Gladwell]

Nick, I think you’ve posted to the wrong thread.

[Nick Righton]

No Jay, Question 1 reads…

1) I’m thinking of getting a new iMac. But it doesn’t have a slot for the SxS card. I heard the new MacBook Pro 17″ still has the slot. But I want an iMac with a big screen for editing. If I get a new iMac does this take the Sony EX1 out of the picture for me in terms of a streamlined workflow?

Nick

I wish I was good at one thing rather than average at many, but oh well.

[Jay Gladwell]

Sorry. My bad!

[Yves Chauvel]

I trained 6 Directors of Photography last year on two handheld cameras: The Sony EX1 and Panasonic HVX200 (Don’t know if this is relevant for you as you compare with a 170)

A the end, all of them commented the same way:
The EX1 was the winner, for the following reasons:
– Better resolution
– Better low light capabilities
– Better Depth of field control
– Better ergonomics (yes!)
– Better image ajustements.

This comment comes from a Pal land. quite sure this wont change anything regarding a “ntsc” signal or 30 fps vs 25 fps.

Hope this can help…