Should I buy a Panasonic AG-DVX100B or the AG-HMC150 with AVCHD format?

[coolrat33]

Hi

I'm doing some research in China and have decided to replace my Panasonic NG-GS100 with something more professional. I'm going to make an anthropological documentary and although I started with the NV-GS100 I don't think its up to the task. I'm worried about sound, and its lousy low-light ability.

So my question is this.
1. Should I buy a Panasonic AG-DVX100B and just use conventional standard format definition? Cost: approx $2300 USD
Or should I spend more and get a High definition camera like the newer AG-HMC150. Cost: $3300

2. Is the High definition format really SO necessary? Are a lot of filmmakers still using standard definition? If so, I'll just go with the DVX100B as funding is quite tight.

I will be interviewing people, and shooting festivals and will shoot many hours of film. I will want to keep most of it for archives and for later research. If I use the DVX100B, the video is safely stored on cheap tapes. But if I use the HMC150, I will have to download the SD cards to harddisks (rather costly)

(i guess this question has been asked many times, but I must make a quick decision, get a camera and start shooting a festival next week)

If anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it. I have to get up to speed on this stuff asap as the festivals I want to film are all taking place in the next few weeks.

Thanks for your advice and patience!

[DPStewart]

I have 3 words for you -
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
www.iraqinfragments.com

Nominated for an OSCAR. And WON best Documentary at SUNDANCE.

The website details the production tools. It was all shot on DVX100 & DVX100A.
They shot 300 hours of material - a vote for being tape-based.
IT LOOKS AMAZING -
Spend that extra 1000 on a great microphone, lights, and other mandatory tools for creating great imagery.
The huge file size of HD footage will require you to have a MUCH more powerful computer and a LOT more RAM and storage space.

From the Iraq In Fragments website:
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS was shot with Panasonic DVX-100 and DVX-100A cameras, using 24p Advanced Pulldown mode, letter-boxed. All sound was recorded on the camera.

300 hours of material were recorded in Iraq between February 2003 and April 2005 for the production. 1600 pages of typed, time-coded, translated transcripts were used in editing.

The film was edited by Billy McMillin, James Longley and Fiona Otway using Final Cut Pro software running on Apple Macintosh computers.

The film was blown up to High Definition size and color corrected at Modern Digital in Seattle.
Dolby Digital sound mixing took place at Bad Animals studios in Seattle.

File-to-Film recording was done at Alpha Cine Labs in Seattle.

[Mike K]

he also said he shoots in 24P advanced in letter box mode.

I shoot squeeze, he shoots letter box, his footage looked amazing for a DVX

Should I shoot Letter Box?

and when I export me clips shot in squeeze to After Effects I squeeze it veritcally from 100% to 70%, is this correct or wrong?

and how do you go about blowing up footage to HD?