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Sony PMW-EX1 vs Panasonic HVX-200 Shootout footage online
Hey Everyone,
Just wanted to give a heads up that we’ve posted a bunch of footage and stills from a shootout we did over the weekend between these two cameras. It’s not all encompassing or completely scientific, we just put both cameras next to each other and pointed them at the same scene, with out of the box presets on both cameras. I think what we got is pretty interesting, so check it out!Here’s the link:
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30 Replies
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Just out of curiosity- what are your overall conclusions? That’s a lot of downloading and your server looks a bit overloaded right now.
Noah
Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, Apple Color and now the HVX200!
https://www.callboxlive.com -
Overall I think the EX1 wins. Definitely more light sensitive, looks about 3 stops more sensitive, definitely sharper and picks up more minute details (check out the little gold reindeer on the site), vertical resolution is better, it seems to have a lot less noise – especially when using gain, and I loved the lens on it being fully manual – it felt more like using a film camera. I also like the fact that the codec is actually 1920×1080 instead of 1280×1080, although it is a bit more of a pain to import into Final Cut.
I think the HVX probably has slightly better color reproduction (although our white balance seems to be off on the HVX in the tests we did). It may have a more “filmic” look, being softer and more saturated, but that’s up for debate.
Either way I think both cameras are great, and both will be used for a long time.
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dude thats hecka cool man
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What’s that? The EX1 has less noise than the HVX?? Its about 3 stops faster???
From that alone I’d say it wins over the HVX… nevermind the amazing improvements of sdi and timecode out…
2 Questions
1.) You mentioned problems importing. what is the workflow like with FCP?
2.) How well do you think the two cameras could be cut together?
thanks for posting.
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[Chris Baldwin] “1.) You mentioned problems importing. what is the workflow like with FCP?”
The workflow is pretty simple, actually. First you need to upgrade to FCP 6.0.2 if you haven’t done so already. This is because the EX1 uses a slightly different approach to the way it stores files on the SxS Pro memory cards. It uses an .mp4 wrapper that is removed during the capture /transfer process. You also need the Sony Transfer software which is a free download from the Sony site. Or if you buy the camera the software is included on disc. The Sony transfer tool works within FCP. As soon as you choose: Import>Sony XDCAM from the import menu the transfer tool starts up and you can choose one or all of the media files and then transfer them. The media files become .mov files and can be editied natively in FCP 6.0.2. You can also use QT Pro as a stand-alone app to play back any of the media.
[Chris Baldwin] “2.) How well do you think the two cameras could be cut together?”
This should be dirt simple because the EX1 has a 720p mode just like the HVX200.
More here concerning the EX1 and FCP:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/greening_don/ex1.php
– Don
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Correct me if I’m wrong but it looks to me like the Panny camera was not focused on the same objects (the scenery shot with the hedges in the fg is a good example of this). Even the test pattern looks like the Panny sample was shot off-angle or something.
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It is so hard to do a fair test.
As a long time user of HVX and after looking at your footage I say that it wasn’t use correctly.
I don’t think that there no doubt that the EX-1 is brighter. There is even a test done by DV magazine that report that the EX-1 and the HVX are both rated at 320 ASA. I have tested it and I know that the EX-1 is brighter. Not 3 stops brighter as you said (1240 ASA) but brighter.
If we agree that one camera is brighter than the other when doing the other test sharpness and motion we should set each camera at their best best setting for that particular test.
In order to get the best resolution out of the HVX the exposure has to be from perfect to 1/3 f stop over expose. It is obvious that in your test the HVX is under exposed while the EX-1 is about 1/3 f stop over exposed in all the clips that I saw.
The EX-1 should be sharper than the HVX according to their specs., but I have other HDV cameras with higher specs than the HVX that don’t even close.
There are other features on the HVX that I don’t think that the EX-1 has. For example I can shoot at 18 fps like a super 8 and still get sound and not under cranking. I can also shoot 720p 24 @ 60 fps and get both over cranking regular motion and sound. I personally didn’t try on thee EX-1 but the Sony rep doing a presentation couldn’t do it.
The EX-1 a great little camera and I am sure that you could find great features. I like the sharp LCD, low light, comfortable grip adjustments, HD-SDI, etc. I don’t think it will replace the HVX as the camera of choice for INDIs but it is a good contender.
I personally own the Sony FX-1, Canon A1 and HV-20 as well as the HVX. They all have different uses.
May be the best way to compare cameras is to have owner of each cameras that know the camera inside out be the user. I would ask each one what the best features of each camera is and include those features in the comparison.
That won’t guarantee a perfect comparison, but at least one wouldn’t be favored.
It is even hard for me to test my own cameras because I have an emotional attachment to justify the expense of the latest camera I bought. 🙂
Douglas Villalba
https://www.dvtvproductions.com
G5 QUAD 4.5 GB RAM, Decklink HD Extreme, HVX200, FX1, A1 & HV20. Letus Extreme 35 mm adaptor, Rails, GlideCam
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“Correct me if I’m wrong but it looks to me like the Panny camera was not focused on the same objects (the scenery shot with the hedges in the fg is a good example of this). Even the test pattern looks like the Panny sample was shot off-angle or something”
Like I said the test wasn’t entirely scientific. We just placed both cameras next to each other and shot the same scenes with “close-enough” framing. Nothing too serious, it was just so people could see the general differences. This is why the angle is different for each shot, but I think the test still shows a good general comparison of the EX1 looking a certain way compared to the HVX. We aren’t trying to discredit either camera here.
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Nice footage – the EX1 seems to produce a nice picture without much effort. I would really be interested in seeing “over and under cranked” footage from the “Mini-Alta”. 🙂
Thanks,
Shawn
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Maybe people in this forum are afraid to venture over to the Cine Alta Forum.
Go here and look.
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/142/856479
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