AC130/160 for Television show?

[firehawk]

Are these cameras good enough to use for a Television show to be produced and then sold to cable networks or must I go with intra100 that the HPX250 shoots? I've been writing a comedy series and it's "possible" I may try to produce it with my own resources in the future, so I'm trying to think ahead.

[scapsinger]

Your safest bet is the HPX250. AVC Intra is not about to be beat out by even the best implementation of AVCHD.

You COULD go with the AC160 if you utilize the HD-SDI output. Likewise, for about the same price, you could get the AF100 and have more lens choices, assuming you needed them. For comedy, you might not really need anything but the standard lens that is on the AC160.

[firehawk]

Thank you. It's comedy, but it's not a sit-com setup. It's on-location physical comedy with action/accidents with some stunt work (people and vehicles) mixed with depth of drama and deeper meaning.
Is AVCHD an acceptable broadcast format?

[Barry_Green]

AVCHD may or may not be accepted by certain networks. I'd say the odds of it being acceptable are pretty high; a TON of network stuff was shot on DV, for cryin' out loud. But if you want to be absolutely sure, go with the HPX250, its AVC-Intra will meet any broadcaster's standards on the planet.

[Mike Warren]

But if you want to be absolutely sure, go with the HPX250, its AVC-Intra will meet any broadcaster's standards on the planet.

Or cheat and transcode to AVC-I. :)

Back in the stone age, the TV station we dealt with would only accept U-Matic. We had a couple of the first portable JVC VHS-C recorders and regularly got away with submitting short items after copying the VHS-C to U-Matic. Admittedly, these were very short duration clips for the news. Oh, but the VHS-C recorders were bliss to carry compared to the U-Matic ones. :)

[Barry_Green]

There's a pretty big difference between a local station and a network like Discovery's quality control department.

I doubt there's a local station, and probably very few cable networks, that would have any sort of problem with the AC160's AVCCAM footage. All I'm saying is that if it's a major concern, get the HPX250 and don't worry about it.

[firehawk]

Thank you, everyone. That helps me feel better. Sounds like AVCCAM footage is generally accepted most places.
Haha. I still have a couple U-matic Sony 3/4 decks I keep in case someone needs tape transfers.