the truth about XDCAM

[David Smith]

[Nigel Cooper] “I think it is impossible to write up an article with such enthusiasm for a product that doesn’t raise suspicions. I’ve only had about 8 weeks total experience with shooting and editing with an F350, but I’m totally hooked and am going to be buying one with a Fujinon lens later this month or early Feb.”

Nigel,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us and best of luck with the new camera! I’m also a Fujinon fan when it comes to video lenses. There’s no doubt Canon makes some fine glass, but it sure would be a good idea for them to actually talk to people who use their lenses. Their ergonomic designs are decades behind Fuji. A simple example: they STILL put the return button on studio lens zoom controls on top so it’s almost impossible to check the return feed while you’re zooming. Incredible.

And Nigel, thank you for responding in such a calm and informative manner after my rather snippy post. You’re a gentleman and I will try to take a lesson from you.

Best,
David

[Pete Bell]

This was in response to a question about bringing the F350 to a HD Cinematography workshop.

Just checked in with our tech staff. Here is their response:

“Interesting camera. But it’s not really HD – almost, certainly, but not
quite. He should certainly bring his camera, but it will likely not be used
as a ‘class’ camera. Sony actually markets this camera as a migration path
from SD to HD – admitting in a way, that it’s not a true HD camera. The
fact that it’s max bit rate is only 35Mbps is the real damning feature,
though. HD is typically 100Mbps, such as for the Varicam, the Sony F900 and
F950 and the HVX-200. Again, he should bring the camera as it would be a
valuable tool for him to have with him, but it will very likely *not* be
used in class.”

So, it looks like the camera is not one that would be available for
obtaining the tuition break.

[Ron Exalto]

There’s always something better out there, but as long as it’s broadcast legal (Discovery and Animal Planet accept its 35mbp/s signal as such when used with a proper HD lens) it at least performs at an currently unbeatable pricelevel and outperforms any HDV based camera.
But, of course, it can’t outperform a BetaHD or HDSR system.
Comes pretty close though :-))
Guess I’ll just have to skip that workshop…

Cheers,

Ron

ELVIC DVD PRODUCTIONS & HOMECINEMA
Editing on Axio 2.5
Aquisition with Sony PDW-F350 XDCAM HD

[Nigel Cooper]

Pete

It would appear that there is a lot of snobbery attached to the whole HD debate. Sony have popped in with the mid-priced F330 and F350 and have badged it CineAlta, this has put a few noses out of place.

The HD Cinematography workshop guys are not being 100% truthful and their response does sound a little snobby.

They say that HD typically uses 100Mbps and they even mention the HVX-200 in the same breath. How on earth can they write off XDCAM HD, yet welcome the way inferior HVX-200 with open arms????

Fact is the HVX-200 does NOT record at 100Mbps, those guys have been reading too many brochures I think. This 100Mbps includes audio etc. Fact is in reality is actually runs at around 46Mbps.

If you do a side-by-side comparison with HVX-200 and an F350; it ain’t no competition at all. F350 wins by a mile in virtually every respect.

Discovery HD did NOT approve HVX-200, they put it in the same camp as HDV and only allow 15% acquisition of the programme to be shot on it; and no more than 60 seconds in any one go.

Sony’s XDCAM HD on the other hand has been given the full stamp of approval for 100% acquisition purposes.

I know who’s fastidious testing procedures and advice I’ll believe.

[Jason Starr]

Interesting discussion. But has anyone compared the 330/350 to Panasonic’s HDX900? That is a much more balanced comparison price wise than HDV or the HVX200. The HDX900 has 2/3 inch imagers, records 4 channels of uncompressed audio, uses tape (not P2 cards), can shoot 1080i, 720p with lots of frame rates including 24p. Of course it records in a DVCPRO HD codec which is beautiful and when editing on FCP is rock solid. You can capture clips using firewire but without deck control (capture now). With viewfinder and a pre-packaged Fujinon HD lens (not the greatest) it will cost you about 35K. 10K less without lens. You have the pluses and minuses of tape and the softer, yet gorgeous look of native 720 progressive imagers. I have not been able to do a side by side with the HDX900 and an XDCAM (using the same lens is only possible with the 2/3 inch adapter for the XDCAM) but would love to hear from someone who did.

[Fcp Pro video var]

I would suggest similar lens but native 1/2 for the HDXDCAM. There are some real HD lenses with 1/2″ mounts now available.

Last I tried to compare the PDWF330 and the Panasonic 900 they would not use that as a comparison as the prices were not close enough. They wanted the F350 against the 900 but the features were not equal for others. I have seen both seperately and like the XD better as the workflow is incredible.

[Scott Sniffen]

I’m a shooter in NYC. I have the 355 now. Former F900 owner. At the end of the day, the picture you are looking at is what counts. I’m right in the middle of a major doc for A&E which includes interviews with people at the highest levels in the motion picture industry. These are big time filmmakers and they are very impressed with the image right on set looking at a 24″ monitor. I suppose if you brought in an engineer and pointed out this or that when looking at the monitor 6 inches from the screen, you may find flaws. The pictures coming out of this camera are extrodinary for the investment and the archiving issues are solved. One can fuss over compression and the rest. Most of these issues certainly won’t be noticed by the casual viewer and I would argue some professionals. Every time I show this camera to a colleague, they are blown away by the picture. Blow the picture up to a 40′ screen and you are going to see some deficiencies in a compressed format. Even with the low investment aside, the camera puts out a great image and people can tell me about GOP or LOP or whatever. The pictures are pretty. The only issue I have had is the depth of field using the 1/2″ chips. I can get around that usually with ND. It’s a nice format that delivers on many levels.

Scott Sniffen