HPX500 for broadcasting

[Gary Parkinson]

Does anyone use the 500 for general broadcast applications, TVC's, Doco's, or any type of program?


Gary.

[jxdemaio]

I bought the 500 to shoot a nationally syndicated kids show called "Real Life 101" which was previously shot with a Sony 600 BetaSP camcorder. The producer wanted to go HD and we researched a way to keep our costs down on both the acquisition end and the post production end. Not having to purchase a deck pushed us in the P2 direction. Our reason for going with the 500 instead of the 2000 was cost . . . we are still delivering SD to all of the networks but we want to have the option of HD for the future. The 500 was really the only logical choice.

So far, everyone has been happy with the decision! I don't think I could be more thrilled with the way the camera responds to our very tight shooting schedule and the P2 workflow is definitely better than I ever imagined. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'll be glad to help.

John

[Gary Parkinson]

Thanks for the reply John. Funny you mentioned that you produce a Kids program on the 500, We produce 2 childrens programs that keep us pretty busy, one inparticular that gets aired nationally here in Australia.
That one we shoot mainly on Digibeta with a DVcam570 as our backup second camera.

Im finding it difficult to get a look at the 500, cant find anyone local who has one. More of our clients are starting to ask "when are we going HD?" So this is why I started looking at the 500, which is in our price range.
The best thing I like about the Digibeta is the color,
How do you find the color on the 500 compared to the 600 betaSP?

Gary

[Jan_Crittenden]

We have had a number of TV stations buy them for news and production.

Color on the camera would be closer to your DigiBeta as it is a 4:2:2 Digital product. Best SP is strictly analog and it is hard to compare the color of analog to the digital domain, but it is similar to the DigiBeta when in DV50. Obviously it is HD color when in HD and is still 4:2:2.

Hope this helps,

Jan

[Gary Parkinson]

Thanks Jan,
Are you saying there is a difference in color from DV50 to HD? If so what sort of difference?

Is there anywhere I can obtain some pal test footage taken from this camera?

Gary

[Christopher Barry]

You might want to look into Rec. 601 (SD) and Rec. 709 (HD). link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminance_(video))

[Gary Parkinson]

Thanks for the link. As far as I can make out from that, are they saying the color in HD as opposed to SD is just different not necessarily better or worse?


Gary.

[Jan_Crittenden]

Hi,

Yes Gary, they are both 4:2:2 but they are different. I don't like to say that the HD color is better that SD color, virtually in all cases with 4:2:2 is is, so that really isn't meaningful, I think. Like comparing Apples and Oranges and saying that Oranges are better.

But the 4:2:2 in DVCPRO50 is like and as good as DigiBeta, that is more the same level of stuff. Now you had mentioned the 600 Beta SP, that is an analog device and can't really be compared other than the DVCPRO50 and the Digital Beta both have more resolution and color is more stable.

As far as PAL test footage, I woudl say check in with your Pana folks in Australia, they should have bunches of stuff by now.

Best,

Jan

[Gary Parkinson]

Thanks Jan, that's great feed back, I love my Digibeta footage, and if I can get somthing simular in HD with the 500 I'd be a pretty happy boy. We do a lot of childrens programs so nice strong colors is really important to us.

I only mentioned the 600betaSP because John (who was the first to reply to this thread) told me he used to shoot on that camera before going to the 500.
So I was interested in what his thoughts were.

I'll be contacting Panasonic next week.
Thanks for your all your help.

Gary.