HVX-200 or JVC hd110u
- Thread starter raw911
- Start date
DV.com has a great article on this
MikeCurtis
Well-known member
personal choice
personal choice
they are different cameras for different needs, there is no "this one is better"
The JVC has interchangeable lenses, nice balanced overall performance, and records to inexpensive tape, but lacks native NLE support (at least in FCP)
The Panasonic has a preferable compression format, for records to expensive media, good color, low optical resolution (compared to the others), easy post workflow, flexible shooting modes
Neither is perfect, it is all about what are the tradeoffs you're happy with.
But do go read Adam Wilt's writeup - if you know what's important to you, by the time you're done reading you should be able to decide.
personal choice
they are different cameras for different needs, there is no "this one is better"
The JVC has interchangeable lenses, nice balanced overall performance, and records to inexpensive tape, but lacks native NLE support (at least in FCP)
The Panasonic has a preferable compression format, for records to expensive media, good color, low optical resolution (compared to the others), easy post workflow, flexible shooting modes
Neither is perfect, it is all about what are the tradeoffs you're happy with.
But do go read Adam Wilt's writeup - if you know what's important to you, by the time you're done reading you should be able to decide.
TwistedLincoln
Veteran
I considered the JVC at one point, but decided to go with the HVX in order to get:
1) 4:2:2 color space for chromakey
2) Solid State P2 recording
3) Variable Frame Rates
4) No worries about SSE (split screen effect)
5) My choice of DV, DVCPRO50, 720p, or 1080i (among other combinations)
6) Single frame recording for stop-motion work
7) Easy to use and very flexible time-lapse ability
Of course, these weren't the only reasons why, but they were the big ones.
1) 4:2:2 color space for chromakey
2) Solid State P2 recording
3) Variable Frame Rates
4) No worries about SSE (split screen effect)
5) My choice of DV, DVCPRO50, 720p, or 1080i (among other combinations)
6) Single frame recording for stop-motion work
7) Easy to use and very flexible time-lapse ability
Of course, these weren't the only reasons why, but they were the big ones.
redindian
Well-known member
I considered the HVX at one point, but decided to go with JVC in order to get:
1) True cost of ownership - JVC was $4100 ($5100-$1000*) vs HVX $6300-$7000 ($5300+$1000+)
2) Hours of recording on $2.99 tapes (free archiving)
3) Interchangable REAL MANUAL lens
4) For my eyes, didnt see any difference in quality between JVC and HVX - they both can be tweeked pretty much to do anything... (I am a big tweaker on image anyway)
5) PC Guy - HD100 is PC friendly, HVX was mac friendly
6) Same DTE advantage - just as you can mount a Firestore to HVX (most cost effect route to IT workflow), you can mount a Firestore to HD100 as well.
7) Good ergonomics, shoulder mounts.
of course, there werent the only reasons why, but they were the big ones
* They are giving away Free Anton Bauer Batterypaks ($1000 value)
1) True cost of ownership - JVC was $4100 ($5100-$1000*) vs HVX $6300-$7000 ($5300+$1000+)
2) Hours of recording on $2.99 tapes (free archiving)
3) Interchangable REAL MANUAL lens
4) For my eyes, didnt see any difference in quality between JVC and HVX - they both can be tweeked pretty much to do anything... (I am a big tweaker on image anyway)
5) PC Guy - HD100 is PC friendly, HVX was mac friendly
6) Same DTE advantage - just as you can mount a Firestore to HVX (most cost effect route to IT workflow), you can mount a Firestore to HD100 as well.
7) Good ergonomics, shoulder mounts.
of course, there werent the only reasons why, but they were the big ones
* They are giving away Free Anton Bauer Batterypaks ($1000 value)
Last edited:
redindian said:
Redindian, I wouldn't consider recording to a portable hard disk device "Solid state"... The firestore is made with a portable spinning hard disk inside.
Some other points for consideration. HD 100 and 110 cannot record anything above 30p, which means no News or Broadcast Show type of imagery. No Sports coverage, or documentary "reality" look. Some people are pretty happy with that, but I like the option of being able to go there in HD. THe JVC can record 60 or 50 fps in SD mode (dv)
I wouldn't consider the JVC on the same league as the HVX YET. But if we're talking about the HD 200 and 250, that'll be a completely different game, and a really difficult one to call...
filmmaker1977
Carbonite Member
i would say..SPZ said:
i wouldn't consider the HVX on the same league as the JVC.
androbot2084
Carbonite Member
Yes one advantage of the HVX is that it can record 720p at 60 frames per second.
DavidBeier
Veteran
My reasons for chosing the HVX200 over the HD100:
1. Better colors, gamma curve, and motion make for a more pleasing and filmic look.
2. More natural look do to less edge enhancment as JVC gets all its extra sharpness from edge enhancment.
3. Variable frame rates.
4. 4:2:2 color space that is a freaking dream come true. It's simply ludicrious how much more you can push the footage in CC than you could on a JVC.
5. P2 -once you use it, you realize how amazing it is. Expensive yes, but still amazing.
6. Sleaker-handheld design.
7. More sensative.
8. Higher lattitude.
Not sure where you are buying from. Perhaps you have access to some great deals but the average price for a HD100U is $5200 and the average price for a HVX200 $5500 (+$550 for a 4 gig making it $6050). HVX is certainly more expensive but not to the extent you're saying.
Mmmmmm....not so sure. You can tweak the JVC a lot but you're not gonna be able to get around the 4:2:0 color space and interframe encoding of HDV no matter how much you mess with stuff. It's simply something you can't escape.
Not sure why you'd say this. I'm a PC and I love my HVX200. There's this myth that Avid doesn't like MXF files but this simply isn't true. Avid is built on the MXF file format. All you have to do is drag the clips off the P2, put them in your media folder, and find them with the media tool. Avid will even recognize the clips strait off the P2 and let you mess with them from there. I've actually edited a whole sequence without ever importing the P2s on my HD.
FCP, on the other hand, makes you convert the MXF, in some versions requiring another program like Raylight and ultimatly making duplicate files that take up a ton more space.
Firestore is nice but not the same thing as P2.
1. Better colors, gamma curve, and motion make for a more pleasing and filmic look.
2. More natural look do to less edge enhancment as JVC gets all its extra sharpness from edge enhancment.
3. Variable frame rates.
4. 4:2:2 color space that is a freaking dream come true. It's simply ludicrious how much more you can push the footage in CC than you could on a JVC.
5. P2 -once you use it, you realize how amazing it is. Expensive yes, but still amazing.
6. Sleaker-handheld design.
7. More sensative.
8. Higher lattitude.
Not sure where you are buying from. Perhaps you have access to some great deals but the average price for a HD100U is $5200 and the average price for a HVX200 $5500 (+$550 for a 4 gig making it $6050). HVX is certainly more expensive but not to the extent you're saying.
Mmmmmm....not so sure. You can tweak the JVC a lot but you're not gonna be able to get around the 4:2:0 color space and interframe encoding of HDV no matter how much you mess with stuff. It's simply something you can't escape.
Not sure why you'd say this. I'm a PC and I love my HVX200. There's this myth that Avid doesn't like MXF files but this simply isn't true. Avid is built on the MXF file format. All you have to do is drag the clips off the P2, put them in your media folder, and find them with the media tool. Avid will even recognize the clips strait off the P2 and let you mess with them from there. I've actually edited a whole sequence without ever importing the P2s on my HD.
FCP, on the other hand, makes you convert the MXF, in some versions requiring another program like Raylight and ultimatly making duplicate files that take up a ton more space.
Firestore is nice but not the same thing as P2.
Flash Beaver
Well-known member
Hey there raw911!
So many of the other users here are just awesome for good input. I'll just throw my bit in too.
You know, either of these cameras would be a great choice for you! FCP may not support 24P for that camera, and that may be a big deal for you.
We started out in January with a Sony HVR-A1U. In the hands of the right person this camera is marvelous. I tried both Z1U and A1U but when it came down to what we were up to, what was up ahead and for the kind of shooting I would be doing, the A1U was the winner, and we did our test show with it.
The dealer balked at us when we got it over the Z1U, but we made the right choice, and I loved that little camera, except for the bottom loading tape mechanism.
But I didn't like the HDV format one bit. On a maxxed out iMac G5 we were running at the time, it took 2-3 hours to capture every 1 hour of footage. A real pain in the a$$!!!!
When I used cheap/inexpensive tapes I experienced dropouts and what looked like TBC hits. We bought whole boxes of $12.99 Sony HDV rated tapes. We never saw the problems again.
When an HDV tape gets a hit or dropout you sure no about too because it takes a whole set of frames with it. The JVC may be a lot more tolerant of such things, but that was my experience with A1U.
I was really drawn to the Canon and JVC. The shoulder mount was welcome. They're both lovely cameras, but the HDV thing just turned me off.
The firestore option was there, but it wasn't practical humping through the woods and up slippery creeks with a flimsy cable tethered to a hard drive.
The HVX, 3 P2 4GB cards and a P2 store all strapped up to a Tortlerig are what make the day when we're out in the woods. Its a joy to just drop that footage in from P2 store, but beware, P2 is definitely a change in workflow and it does take getting used at first.
So try'em out. Kick their tires at a showroom if at all possible, and see which one you click with as a photographer. Bring it up to your eye, push the buttons, gleen through the menu interface, and just get a feel for which is the right fit. After all its going to be you who has to become close and personal with it, and nobody else.
The right camera to get is the one that feels right to you.
Good luck and happy shooting!
So many of the other users here are just awesome for good input. I'll just throw my bit in too.
You know, either of these cameras would be a great choice for you! FCP may not support 24P for that camera, and that may be a big deal for you.
We started out in January with a Sony HVR-A1U. In the hands of the right person this camera is marvelous. I tried both Z1U and A1U but when it came down to what we were up to, what was up ahead and for the kind of shooting I would be doing, the A1U was the winner, and we did our test show with it.
The dealer balked at us when we got it over the Z1U, but we made the right choice, and I loved that little camera, except for the bottom loading tape mechanism.
But I didn't like the HDV format one bit. On a maxxed out iMac G5 we were running at the time, it took 2-3 hours to capture every 1 hour of footage. A real pain in the a$$!!!!
When I used cheap/inexpensive tapes I experienced dropouts and what looked like TBC hits. We bought whole boxes of $12.99 Sony HDV rated tapes. We never saw the problems again.
When an HDV tape gets a hit or dropout you sure no about too because it takes a whole set of frames with it. The JVC may be a lot more tolerant of such things, but that was my experience with A1U.
I was really drawn to the Canon and JVC. The shoulder mount was welcome. They're both lovely cameras, but the HDV thing just turned me off.
The firestore option was there, but it wasn't practical humping through the woods and up slippery creeks with a flimsy cable tethered to a hard drive.
The HVX, 3 P2 4GB cards and a P2 store all strapped up to a Tortlerig are what make the day when we're out in the woods. Its a joy to just drop that footage in from P2 store, but beware, P2 is definitely a change in workflow and it does take getting used at first.
So try'em out. Kick their tires at a showroom if at all possible, and see which one you click with as a photographer. Bring it up to your eye, push the buttons, gleen through the menu interface, and just get a feel for which is the right fit. After all its going to be you who has to become close and personal with it, and nobody else.
The right camera to get is the one that feels right to you.
Good luck and happy shooting!
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
In the beginning I held out as optimistic regarding the JVC and Canon compared to the Panasonic offering of the HVX.
I was wrong. The HVX just is it for Narrative filmmaking. Going with any other camera brings me back to the DVX -vs- everyone else situation.
For narrative filmmaking ? Go HVX.
I was wrong. The HVX just is it for Narrative filmmaking. Going with any other camera brings me back to the DVX -vs- everyone else situation.
For narrative filmmaking ? Go HVX.
The HVX looks like a really nice camera for many of the reasons stated above. However, we have been very happy with our JVC for narrative and documentary style shooting. I couldn't imagine shooting documentary with the HVX without a million P2 cards.
As an SD camera the JVC is excellent - shoulder mount, 24P/PA, manual, everything that you might with the exception that its not a handycam (which is useful at times). The same goes for HD, though you do lose faster frame rates (50/60i). The ability to shoot relatively cheaply with tape has been really nice. I can't say enough about the focus assist either.
We shot a short recently that took 3 full days to shoot. We've been in post for about 2 months. Capturing it in FCP (with a silly workaround to get 24p), labeling clips, and syncing the sound files took about 5 hours total. Compared the days/weeks of pre production/production/post production, that part was a blink of an eye. This is not a career for us, but more of a serious hobby, so there aren't the "I need the footage on this drive in 5 mins" kind of deadlines to meet.
I can't wait for a real tapeless workflow where I can carry several hours of media (a whole day even) in a small bag and have it cost $100-200 When there is a relatively convenient and cheap archiving strategy as well, I'm there. Of course, we didn't buy our camera for just narrative; I think you can get by easier with the limitations of P2 in that realm.
Just make sure you like the workflow of any camera before you purchase, because to be honest, they all produce about the same (nice) picture in my mind.
As an SD camera the JVC is excellent - shoulder mount, 24P/PA, manual, everything that you might with the exception that its not a handycam (which is useful at times). The same goes for HD, though you do lose faster frame rates (50/60i). The ability to shoot relatively cheaply with tape has been really nice. I can't say enough about the focus assist either.
We shot a short recently that took 3 full days to shoot. We've been in post for about 2 months. Capturing it in FCP (with a silly workaround to get 24p), labeling clips, and syncing the sound files took about 5 hours total. Compared the days/weeks of pre production/production/post production, that part was a blink of an eye. This is not a career for us, but more of a serious hobby, so there aren't the "I need the footage on this drive in 5 mins" kind of deadlines to meet.
I can't wait for a real tapeless workflow where I can carry several hours of media (a whole day even) in a small bag and have it cost $100-200 When there is a relatively convenient and cheap archiving strategy as well, I'm there. Of course, we didn't buy our camera for just narrative; I think you can get by easier with the limitations of P2 in that realm.
Just make sure you like the workflow of any camera before you purchase, because to be honest, they all produce about the same (nice) picture in my mind.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
I think it goes back to choosing which one is going to work for our own needs. We are all spoiled now whereas 5 years ago the only viable option seemed to be an Xl1 in Frame Mode.
How to choose the right one ?
Now that's the real trick.
How to choose the right one ?
Now that's the real trick.