User feed back on HDX900

[Sada]

This is our first HD camera and we really like it. Nice ergnomics, beautiful images—generaly the SDX900 in HD. I can highly recommend it.

[Pat Mcgowan]

The HDX900 is our first HD camera as well. We have used it on one gig so far and we love the camera and the results.

[Peter Steinman]

I’ve had mine awhile now and I also have a Varicam. The picture is pretty much equivalent to the Varicam. It has slightly lower noise then my F model Varicam but, the H is probably pretty close. The 900 is a great camera for the price. The fire wire out makes direct to disk recording a breeze.

Now for a few cons. The medium tape size only gives you 33min record time. This can be a real pain. It doesn’t have completely variable frame rates or shutter in angles other then 180. No Varicam filmrec mode. All these can be overcome, somewhat, except for the frame rates.

One thing to know is the camera is still very new and there aren’t that many out there. The Varicam rental market is still strong and the HDX900 rental market doesn’t exist yet. I’ve rented out my Varicam 5 times in the last two weeks and nobody has even asked about the 900. It is going to take some time before people start renting these.

There are probably going to be a whole lot more 900’s around then Varicams. I suspect the rental thing is going to be pretty competitive and cut-throat when enough of these get out there.

[Richard Boghosian]

Also my first HD camera-no more renting. I am trying to get more chroma saturation from this camera. After setting up the matrix and color correction using a chroma du monde chart, and setting to high color, I still would like more saturation. Any suggestions?

Richard Boghosian
Bogh AV Productions

[Jennifer]

Thanks for your input. While everyone keeps saying its fantastic value it is still a major purchase for me. We have been exclusively Sony based for years and after trying out the HD-XDCAM we were most disappointed. Actually that is what led us to this camera.

A few more questions, I hope you don’t mind.

Where can I buy the best package deal?

What lens?

Are you using Firestore for capturing?

Can you capture SD using Firestore?

Thanks again, Jen

[Pat Mcgowan]

leaknoil,

If you don’t mind me asking, what are you setting as the rate card rental for the HDX900 package? What’s included? What market are you in?

[Richard Boghosian]

personal camera, and with no replacements in site, I won ‘t even be loaning this to my best friend. I’ll post a local (Boston) rental rate when I see that they have theirs.

Richard Boghosian
Bogh AV Productions

[Sada]

I like Abelcine—they have offices in NYC and LA.

[Peter Steinman]

I got mine from Able Cine Tech in Burbank. Ron Ayers down there is the guy I go too for my Panasonic gear. Best prices I found and they know their stuff. I probably wouldn’t buy from anyone else again. There are lots of dealers out there but, its nice to find one that actually knows about the gear they are selling rather then it just being a part number in the computer. I had some very frustrating experiences with some other Panasonic dealers. In fact Panasonic’s sales system can drive a man to rip out his hair.

I’ve used it with the FS-100 a lot now and I don’t believe there is a way to get anything but, HD out the 1394 port. I honestly haven’t really tried but, I don’t remember seeing anything about down converting the 1394 output. There are a mess of undocumented 1394 ‘config’ modes in the options menu. Who knows what they do if they do anything yet.

There are some downsides to the FS-100. It’s obviously not a pro grade device. It screams consumer electronics. The case is thin plastic and will never survive a drop onto anything hard. The menu/display system is ugly and could be much better designed. After you record you have to take an extra step and ‘organize’ your clips. Battery life isn’t the best. There is a ton of room for improvement and a real need for an actual pro level HD recorder. Something that mounts on the battery mount and uses a full sized hot swap drive or even a bigger heavy duty off camera box with hot swapping. You can, of course, just capture direct to your NLE if you want.

Lens choice is a personal thing. I usually rent what I need based on the project. I have a single Canon ENG/EFP HD lens I own. I like Canon lenses some people like the Fujinon better. One thing pretty much holds true for all lenses though. You get what you pay for. Its not a great place to be looking to save money.

I know nothing about the package deal they have going. The lens may be fine. I just have my tastes in lenses.

[Pat Mcgowan]

We bought our HDX900 packaged with Canon HJ17ex7.6B lens (with 2X). After using the camera on a few shoots it is clear that we will need to rent a wider angle lens for certain situations. The image is so clear that you can’t get away with a two shot in close proximity where the actors are not equidistant from the lens.

Overall a good problem to have but nonetheless I’d go with a wider wide-eye if I had the chance to re-order. We may just buy that second lens anyways….