Panasonic HVX 200 vs. JVC 110

[SweetFilm]

New member, first time poster. I'm in the market for a quality HD camera, looking for some comparison info. I own a DVX100a and have shot with HVX200, but not in love with P2 workflow and hate the zoom control. A friend has the JVC and loves it. Must admit, I like the ergonomics of it, the shoulder mount, and the fact you can adapt film lenses to it. Wondering what are drawbacks. Anything out there on on the Panasonic vs. JVC HD cams?

[Jim Carswell]

They really are two different animals. One is HDV the other is DVCPROHD. Different codec and different specs. The HVX produces much more robust video. Specifically 4:2:2 and 100mbps. That's twice the chrominance and four times the data rate. Thost two pints alone sold me on the HVX. After all it's the video on the screen that really matters. The ergonomics you can get used to. The workflow you can get used to.

Just my two cents worth.
Jim

[SweetFilm]

Afraid I'm an old film guy, still learning HD and all its variables. Ergonomically speaking, are there adapters for the HVX zoom control to make it better/friendlier?

[Barry_Green]

The HVX has a true manual zoom. Just turn off the power zoom and use it manual.

Its power zoom is not competitive with the servo zooms from other manufacturers, but its manual zoom is true manual. It'd be nicer if we could find a longer zoom pin though.

For HD110 info, we recommend you check out the JVC forum on DVInfo, it's probably the largest JVC HDV forum on the web and has some great information and good solid members who will be able to advise you about that product.

[SweetFilm]

Thanks, Barry, I'll check 'em out. Definite likes about both cameras. Do like the ergonomics and zoom of the HD110, but that DVCProHD is nice. Any comments re: motion artifacting and/or edit stumbles using HDV?

[Barry_Green]

Lots and lots and lots and lots of that information has been posted here before; dig through the archives and you'll find many articles and perspectives from both sides.

[wgzn]

i absolutely hate EVERYTHING about the HDV format (the HD format the JVC shoots) i have totally written it off as the "8-track tape" of video. wont work with it unless im absolutely FORCED TO

[Barry_Green]

Blanket proclamations are only useful in your particular circumstance, or to your particular standards, but don't apply to all users.

Many of us feel similarly to wgzn, and there are also many on the other side who are thrilled that they now have a way to record high-def footage on a $4 tape. For some of us the limitations of HDV are enough that we avoid it, for others they don't even see a limitation at all, all they see is that they're empowered at an unheard of price point.

Each point of view is valid, and each user's proposed usage should evaluate the pros and cons to HDV before making a commitment as to whether to use the format, or avoid it. The format is capable of producing brilliant-looking footage; we have enough examples from A1s and HD100s that that particular point should be put to rest. But whether you're comfortable working with the footage and its particular requirements and its potential restrictions: that's where the decision comes in.

[SweetFilm]

Agree with Barry's comment about blanket proclamations, but would be curious to know exactly what wgnz hates about HDV.
Part of my unknown vis-a-vis formats is not knowing what particular requirements I'm going to need, as most of my work is handed off to post houses. Is one format better if you use post houses vs. editing yourself, for instance. Same variable question applies to ergonomics, to a degree. I will be digging through archives!

[wgzn]

HDV doesnt handle rapid camera or subject movement well. one symptom ive seen in EVERY piece of HDV footage ive ever seen is what i call a "hiccup" but ive also heard it called judder or jitter. like if you pan a scene - one particular example i saw from a canon test was a pan with a bicycle from above on a bridge. every couple of seconds there was a very brief stop - almost imperceivably brief, but still there, in the video. then there is the compression artifacting, motion ghosting and of course the limited colorspace.

if you are doing locked-down, feature type work then HDV may be fine. but for anyone who does run and gun or shoots a variety of subjects, i suggest strongly AGAINST HDV

it also is a pain to get a good quality SD, DVD from hdv source footage. and it doesnt integrate well into a graphic situation like aftereffects

i tested all three higher end HDV cams at that time, the sony, jvc and canon and they all exhibited the same issues.
thats why when i got the demo footage disc from panasonic and tried it out in my workflow i sold all my SD gear and bought he HVX the next week. made one of the best SD DVDs id ever seen outside of a major production studio. and graphics in from aftereffects lay in with zero problems!