Im Thinking of Buying the HVX200 Over the Sony HDV?

M

moviemaykr

Active member
Hey guys Im new to this board and Im a sports and music video director in the LA area. I just shot a friends band with the Sony HDV and threw some effects on it and I must say in the cineframe mode it looked good.
I have the DVX100 when I shoot the AOL Music Sessions and wanted to move up to the HVX200.
Sony or Panasonic, you guys tell me what you think especially if you have shot a music video with the HVX200.
Thanks
Mikey G

http://www.studiorb.com/mike/vaeda32306.mov
 
You thought the cineframe mode looked good???

I find it to be a giant stuttery piece of crap, that sony is trying to sell as "true" 24fps.

But that might just be me...

I would go HVX over the Z1U based on personal experience. Though it depends on the type of video you are shooting, the HVX has a nice WIDE lens on it stock. And can do all the wonderful off speed shooting that takes part in a lot of music videos.

Not to mention the colors and saturation this camera can provide of the Sony's cold and neutral look.

This is all just my 2cents though.
 
Here is a link to a music video AQUARIUSDUDE shot using the HVX.
http://www.dpjasonhafer.com/media/Brad_Cali.mov

You can read more about it in the Screen Grabs/ Clips of HVX footage section. I work with HDV at my full time gig and personally am not a big fan of it. I don't like the footage from the Z1U compared to the HVX. I am even more unhappy with the HDV workflow in post. But its all a matter of opinion.

I am really glad I had a chance to use the Z1U at work before making a purchase. After seeing the footage from work up against the clips the good folks here have posted, I gotta go HVX. But hey, if the Sony works for you then awesome. Try to get your hands on an HVX (NAB) and play with it. Compare it to what you have already experienced with the Sony.

Also, I would highly suggest looking at the Screen Grabs/ Clips of HVX footage section. All the clips posted there are from users on this board and are great real world examples of the HVX's capabilities. Bob Gundu and Richard Darge's clips alone have completely sold me on the HVX.
 
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Nathan_Rodger said:
Nice clip aelent - tho that film clip makes a good case for a matte box!!
Click to expand...

Well, I suppose the lensflares were there deliberately...
Really empressive video, nice use of the slomo abilities!
How did you stay in-sync?
I tried this song-at-double-speed thing once for a friend´s rock band, but it came out like grind-metal - way too fast to play along for the guys...
And any chance of a higher-res h.264 version...?
 
As much as I would love to take credit for that clip, it isn't mine! :)
It was done by another guy here on the board, AQUARIUSDUDE. Here is a link to his thread, where I got the clip from:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=52395

I just wanted to point moviemaykr toward something that would answer his question. But I think AQUARIUSDUDE could answer your questions better since he is the one that actually made the video. Sorry for the confusion.
 
The Sarlacc said:
You thought the cineframe mode looked good???

I find it to be a giant stuttery piece of crap, that sony is trying to sell as "true" 24fps.

This is all just my 2cents though.
Click to expand...

I don't think Sony has every "tried to sell" cineframe as "true 24fps."

I have both cams, and each has advantages. We tend to like the look of the HVX200. We have used both for sporting events.

The clients liked both, but many of our stuff goes to DVD, and Panny wins there.
 
Yeah Im Sure I will buy the HVX200 unless and upgrade comes out this year from NAB. Im hoping they will be announcing bigger cards at cheaper prices. I still dont know why they didnt make it where you could record onto HDV Tape.
I think this camera will help bands that have a small budget and cany afforrd a shooter with a varicam for about $2000 a day.
The band in mine is from NYC and its called Vaeda.
 
Trust me and don't even think about the Sony Z1 unless you want to shoot documentaries that look like really sharp video.

Resolution wise, it's about on par with the HVX200 but everything else is worse. The gamma curve looks totally video-ish and flat. The colors look aren't nearly as impressive. You have very little image control. You're shooting in crappy HDV. It's just not worth it.

If you don't want the HVX200, look to the Canon XL H1 or the JVC HD100. The Sony just isn't worth it.
 
I'll say that I like the Z1U CineFrame 30. I think it looks a bit like 16mm motion. I like the Z1U's bright, bright viewfinder and the placement of same. The Z1U is a nice camera for television - don't know that I'd use it for narrative though.

I've only shot about 40 hours in CineFrame 30 and 300 in 60i, so take my opinion for what it's worth.

e
 
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