dvcpro50 vs. digibeta

[janzie]

dearest dvxusers,

i´ll direct/shoot a very nice project for tvbroadcast in september. i´m currently working with a dvx100a and never had a problem with resolution, quality etc.

my client now suggested to shoot the new project on digibeta (for picture quality and easier workflow) which would cost me a lot of money (rent the camera, get a digibeta player or let someone else shoot and edit while i´d be reduced to "just" directing.

my idea now is to shoot on the hvx in dvcPro(50) on p2 card or firestore,but i´d have to convince them to take the risk (they´re used to tapes and edit on avid while i´m a FCpro user...so here are some questions:

1. it´s basically a run´n´shoot situation (and i´m working with kids) so i don´t have to much time for setups, transfering and other stuff (and i´ll be on my own) so i´d have to rely on pushing the rec button and capture the scenery on the firestore - does anyone have experience with that ?

2. their main concern is quality: how does dvcpro compare to digibeta (and how is dvcpro 50)?

3. postproduction: is there anything i´d have to worry about with editing?

4. is hvx and firestore the best solution available right now?

5. can you think of other reasons to go hvx (except for HD option in near future)

i´m sorry to bother you with that, but i simply never shot on dvcpro...

any help is highly appreciated

thanks,

jan

[Jim Carswell]

Hey Jan,
I'll just touch on one of your questions... the one regarding the difference between digibeta and the HVX. The main difference will be an optical one. Digibeta utilizes 2/3" chips while the HVX is 1/3". And more than likely the glass in front of the digibeta camera will be superior to that of the HVX. That being said a lot of folks are getting great DVCPRO 50 images with the HVX.
Jim

[oogabooga]

I has a simmilar dillema some months ago.
It was for a corporate vide at a private school.

Supposedly DVCPRO 50 compares vary favourably to DigiBeta. However, if you are shooting windowless interiors without lights, I'd reccomend against the HVX. It doesnt have the sensitivity of a 2/3 chip camera. I have an HVX and love it but I dont think it would give the best results in dark interior run and gun situations.

If you have light though- go with the HVX all the way.

Editing isnt a problem. Backing up footage can slow you down a bit. However if you have an assistant, I would say ditch the firestore and just get a laptop and a couple p2 cards. If you have someone unloading them its plenty fast enough to do a continous swap. I donwload p2 cards in about 2 and half minutes. Just realize if you are doing longer than 10 minute takes you might get a bump in the camera when you swap p2 cards.

The again- if you are going the p2 route- might as well shoot 720pn DVCPROHD instead of DVCPRO50. You only get a bit more time on the cards in DVCPRO50 format and the 720 will look superior even when downrezzed.
Furthermore you;ll have the option to produce a HDTV copy.

So that's my 2 cents.