Would You Use DVX or HVX? Feature Documentary

[flatoutfilms]

I'm shooting material for a fundraising trailer over the July 4th weekend. I have access to an HVX, which I've used and enjoyed with (so far) no badness in the P2 field transfer workflow.

But I have a perfectly good DVX of my own, and I find the handheld work much easier with it. I have seen some pretty good blow-ups to 35mm and a great projection from Digi-Beta (MFA Boston).

I would shoot in 24P ADV if using the DVX. That's how I shoot and edit everything (I know, I know, there are reasons not to... Adam Wilt, etc.), and DVD would probably be the main result and means of distribution, though I'd go Digi-Beta for festivals, etc.

So the question is, for shooting a production over the next year, would you filmmakers out there go standard def or future-proof with HD?

Hell, if I could afford it, I'd shoot this on 16mm, but I don't have the discipline for all that film changing, nevermind the budget for processing, etc.

Thanks for you input. I'm now going to search and probably will find out this question has been asked and answered 14,000 times in these forums...

[Jeff Anderson]

After working with the HVX for a good solid year now I would never go back to tape. Just the quick ability to ingest, backup, and manage your footage is invaluable IMO. If you have the capabilities to work with p2 I would in a heartbeat, resolution aside. Since you've had good luck with the p2 workflow in the field (and I assume in post too) so far I say go for the HVX unless you just happen to enjoy capturing hours and hours of footage via tape :)

the only reason I'd go DVX is if you were shooting the entire thing handheld, the weight savings could be beneficial.

[Captain Pierce]

I'm now going to search and probably will find out this question has been asked and answered 14,000 times in these forums...

Yeah, but the thing about this question is that there's no "right" answer, so the results will probably break down something like this:

8,000 posts will say that the camera doesn't matter as long as the subject matter is compelling and/or the project is well-shot

3,000 posts will say all that and still manage to imply that the HVX is better

2,000 posts will say all that and still manage to imply that the DVX is better

950 posts will say all that and say screw the Pannies, get an XH-A1

50 posts will say all that and say screw anything above $1K, shoot with an HV20

*the preceding numbers are not based on any sort of scientific polling. The margin of error is 100%. :D