Comparing noise on HVX200 vs. DVX100A

L

Lenilenapi

Carbonite Member
I just did an interview job on a DVX 100A today and brought along my HVX200 just to get a nice comparison in a typical interview lighting situation.
We had talent in front of a dark grey textured backdrop with a broken up purple gel pattern. We were shooting 4:3 24P in ordinary miniDV tape mode so this should be an apples & apples comparison. (I am not sure if we had the same fstops or shutter speeds as I just wanted to get the same exposure quickly and I don't think that wouuld affect anything.)

First the HVX & DVX on identical scene file setups (SD Normal in this case) in 3200K preset - the color match was virtually identical. I only had to raise the HVX +1 point on color sat.

The noise issue though is what blew me away. The HVX200 was way cleaner than the DVX100A. Made it appear sharper as well though I wouldn't want to claim that.

The HVX @ +6 gain was cleaner than the DVX @ 0.
(All the detail settings were at 0 in both cameras.)

I was expecting the opposite. I do understand that the HVX100B is considerably cleaner than the 100A, but the 100A is what we have all gotten used to as a standard for miniDV.
This suggests that even if you have to push the HVX in low light its not going to be worse than the DVX100A.

Its going to make me sleep alot better tonight.

Now to be honest I briefly compared these two camera in a bright garage awash in mixed light and didn't notice this difference, so I would be interested in anyone else having a different experience.
 
As a none-owner of a HVX it seems to me that some people just want to turn it on and want to get lost in that parallel world of HD. Well, it´s HD but it´s still a cam.....................
 
Lenilenapi said:
I just did an interview job on a DVX 100A today and brought along my HVX200 just to get a nice comparison in a typical interview lighting situation.
We had talent in front of a dark grey textured backdrop with a broken up purple gel pattern. We were shooting 4:3 24P in ordinary miniDV tape mode so this should be an apples & apples comparison. (I am not sure if we had the same fstops or shutter speeds as I just wanted to get the same exposure quickly and I don't think that wouuld affect anything.)

First the HVX & DVX on identical scene file setups (SD Normal in this case) in 3200K preset - the color match was virtually identical. I only had to raise the HVX +1 point on color sat.

The noise issue though is what blew me away. The HVX200 was way cleaner than the DVX100A. Made it appear sharper as well though I wouldn't want to claim that.

The HVX @ +6 gain was cleaner than the DVX @ 0.
(All the detail settings were at 0 in both cameras.)

I was expecting the opposite. I do understand that the HVX100B is considerably cleaner than the 100A, but the 100A is what we have all gotten used to as a standard for miniDV.
This suggests that even if you have to push the HVX in low light its not going to be worse than the DVX100A.

Its going to make me sleep alot better tonight.

Now to be honest I briefly compared these two camera in a bright garage awash in mixed light and didn't notice this difference, so I would be interested in anyone else having a different experience.
Click to expand...

THANK GOD! Thank you for the reasuring news.
 
Seriously--all that macroblocking noise was starting to become a major downer. But that was under CC circumstances, so I don't know.

Either way, anything is better than my current camera, so i'm not gonna be picky.
 
Did you, by any chance, try switching the HVX into DVCPro50 mode? I have a feeling I'll be using that a lot when I get mine. Curious.
 
I'm not sure you would see any difference when monitoring E to E when switching to DVCPro50.
Playback will show the differences but I had no time for that. Certainly that will be even cleaner yet.
 
I am also glad he pointed out it was being supplied in composite, which we all know is worse case scenario.

It's only going to get better.
 
I agree.

I had a DVX100, a DVX100A, a DVX100B, and finally bought a HVX200.

The noisiest was the DVX100A, then the DVX100, and finanlly the DVX100B the cleanest of the DVX series.

But the HVX200 is much much cleaner than the DVX100B, no doubt.

Not perfect, but much better.
 
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While I'm happy as a clam about this report, it seems to go against earlier reports that suggests the HVX is noisier.

Perhaps someone should do a definitive study that will settle the question.

Either way, I'm glad I've got the HVX.
 
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