Image vs Convenience

[iakeij]

Hi all,

First of all, I am not here to start any flaming war or another camera comparison thread, just it happens that I am choosing between HVX200 and the EX1, over very specific criterias. I owned a NTSC HVX200 for a year. Im moving to PAL land, so I'm thinking of either switching to a PAL HVX200 or the EX1.

I love the HVX200's image over the EX1, I think it is a matter of personal taste, and I really like the soft look of the HVX.

I also like EX1's PAL/NTSC Switchability, it's more light sensitive chips, as well as it's longer recording time.

I wanted opinions from people on how they balance and decide between Image and Convenience when it comes to choosing camera. Personally I use the camera to do freelance jobs and personal films (short or feature). I also like to go light and shoot without lights at remote places by myself, in which the EX1 functions better.

Any feedback will help! thanks.

Jiekai

[kubalsky]

I spent a long time torn between the HVX and Ex but my story is different in that I had never used either before buying. Im an amature coming from Super 8-old school.
I chose EX1 for following reasons;

LCD Screen is amazing. No need for external monitor.

Low Light capabilties, Collateral look!

SxS cards, I thought newer meant better, plus I figured third party cards would lower price eventually. *I could be wrong on both those points!

SxS cards slip straght into my Mac Book pro. Match made in heaven.

The deal clencher was when a friend told me HVX isnt true HD because it scans and stretches image. Am I wrong?

Plus, had spent 4 hours in store with both cameras and was starting to annoy the staff so had to buy something!

I also like the look of HVX footage Ive seen, better out of the box as they say, more organic somehow....but Ex can be tweeked to match, if not surpass it.

If youve already got a HVX, why not keep it and convert footage to pal later. Buy the Ex as well?

[iakeij]

well, I guess I just want to bypass the hassle of converting NTSC to PAL. Especially in freelance gigs where time is an issue, and also to just not have to deal with possible image degradation issues during conversion.

jiekai

[Arrik]

I got a chance to see an Ex-1 today, and I was wow'd. That lcd is crisp for an on-board, and the 1/2" chips are too tempting.

The only reason keeping me from getting one is that it doesnt seem to work with the sg pro (nonflip). But bare cam, it's definitely impressive. If they can work something out maybe I'll change my mind. Maybe my brevis (nonflip) may work.

[lawriejaffa]

Iakeii - good luck on your choice mate, there both excellent cams, i don't go for the 'oh its sharper its better' argument of the EX, theres more colour and mojo for the hvx image (subjective opinion.) I think if i was wanting to upgrade it would be to a 2/3 cam rather than a 1/2 cam with highs and lows.

Folk are just gonna repeat what they love about their respective cams, and probably chip some noses of other folks etc, i think in all honesty there is enough info here for you to make a comparison between these cams.

If your coming to the UK mind visit me in Scotland!

[boydmcc]

Iakeli, do you need to sell your NTSC HVX to buy the new camera? If not, why not get the EX-1 and have both? There may be some opportunities for an NTSC HVX, i.e, where an HVX is needed and NTSC doesn't matter. Also, I recently saw a job posting/equipment request elsewhere looking for an NTSC HVX in the UK. So you may get enough work to justify having both cameras.

[someday]

Hi all,

First of all, I am not here to start any flaming war or another camera comparison thread, just it happens that I am choosing between HVX200 and the EX1, over very specific criterias. I owned a NTSC HVX200 for a year. Im moving to PAL land, so I'm thinking of either switching to a PAL HVX200 or the EX1.

I love the HVX200's image over the EX1, I think it is a matter of personal taste, and I really like the soft look of the HVX.

I also like EX1's PAL/NTSC Switchability, it's more light sensitive chips, as well as it's longer recording time.

I wanted opinions from people on how they balance and decide between Image and Convenience when it comes to choosing camera. Personally I use the camera to do freelance jobs and personal films (short or feature). I also like to go light and shoot without lights at remote places by myself, in which the EX1 functions better.

Any feedback will help! thanks.

Jiekai

I spent a lot of time trying to decide between EX1 and other cameras and i ended up that the EX1 was too expensive for the quality to me.
The XHA1 had to me enough resolution, almost the same noise ratio, and costed one half. With the rest i could buy the LEX, follow focus, lights.

[Stevet]

Good choice man! The A1 is an excellent camera.

[William_Robinette]

The deal clencher was when a friend told me HVX isnt true HD because it scans and stretches image. Am I wrong?

Yes you are. The HVX has a 1080p capable pixel block. It does not have HD resolution chips, but then no one chip makes up the image. The sum of the parts are what matters and in that case it is in every way an HD camera.

[iakeij]

Iakeli, do you need to sell your NTSC HVX to buy the new camera? If not, why not get the EX-1 and have both?

I need to, for cost reasons. For me the two biggest reason to get an EX1 is its PAL/NTSC compatability, and its light sensitivity (I tend to get into a lot of documentary situations where I have no lights with me and have to get the image)


If your coming to the UK mind visit me in Scotland!

I was in scotland, two years ago. Travelled in Glasgow, Inverness, Ullapool and Isle of Lewis. I had a Nikon R-8 Super 8mm camera with me, together with 12 rolls of ektachrome and the most unfortunate thing happened -> my camerabag slipped off my shoulder at the airport, dropped onto the floor, and the camera totally stopped working, when I have not shot anything yet! T.T


I love my HVX200, had made a short film titled, "Clouds in a Shell" with it that is premiering at this year's Singapore International Film Festival, and will be screened at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago in mid April. Also used it for a few other short film gigs where I was the DP.

So it is definitely heartbreaking to want to part with it, but at the same time, for realistic reasons of needing to have a PAL camera. Which makes it really tempting to just get the HVX200E.

But again, the EX1 had certain specs that made me consider it seriously as well. At this stage, Im still battling it out between the two.. T.T

Jiekai

[Grug]

They're both great cameras, the Sony is newer and would be my pick between the two (the Pannie's codec, and colour reproduction are pretty much the only things it has going for it over the Sony - but depending on what you shoot they can make all the difference).

The Pannie can be had for approx 2/3 of the price of the Sony though, which gives you headroom for other hardware that can often make more of a difference to your footage than the camera can.