HD vs SD for a wedding.

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Xactsound

New member
Hi,
I know that DVX100 is a popular camera to shoot weddings.
What could present challenges if using HVX200, if recording onto fs100 for example?
Is there any advantage of using HVX200 is SD mode versus DVX100?
I'm getting married in September and would like to choose the best format for the future viewing.
Thank a lot for any advise.

sasha
 
Yes, the HVX200 looks better than the DVX100 even in SD.

First of all, it's got a higher rez chip and sharper lense so even in SD the footage is going to be sharper. Second, you have the option to shoot DVCPro50 which gives you twice color resolution. First off, this leads to a sharper and cleaner image than you'd get from mini-DV. It also means that you can push it much farther in color correction without having the image break up. Finally, if you're willing to use 720p at a few points, you'll be able to do some nice slow mo shots that those young couples are sure to eat up.

The only reason to really go with the DVX is that it's going to get you better low light performance so that's something to consider if you're going to be in a dimly lit church.
 
Thanks for your replies.
How bad do you think HVX200 will perform in low light comparing to DVX100?
The reception will be in a restaurant with no single window. The only lighting will be from tungsten lamps mounted on the walls and scattered ceiling tungsten lamps.
The room has intimate, soft, yellowish lighting. Is it too dark for HVX to handle well?
How will the picture degrade besides added noise?
Also could you recommend the most suitable recording format for the wedding?
Does it make sense to shoot at 24 frames? Or is it appropriate only for "film look" productions.

Thanks again for help.

sasha
 
I highly recommend NOT shooting weddings with the HVX200, as it's low light will totally ruin your reception footage. Even with an on-cam light. In our test just using Mini-DV, both HVX and DVX looked the same, no gain in image quality.

Also, as someone who used to shoot weddings, and the last phase of that with a DVX100, even the DVX100 is not the best camera for weddings. If Wedding and event videography is the bulk, or only work you do, go with one of the other more popular cameras for that work. The DVX and HVX, in my years of experience doing weddings and events, are not the best choices for that type of work.

I got the DVX100a originally cause I was leaving wedding and event work. Had I planned to stay, a PD170 or VX2100 would have been my first choices. 24p does nothing to make weddings look better.

Just my two cents...
 
BenB said:
The DVX and HVX, in my years of experience doing weddings and events, are not the best choices for that type of work.

I got the DVX100a originally cause I was leaving wedding and event work. Had I planned to stay, a PD170 or VX2100 would have been my first choices. 24p does nothing to make weddings look better.

Just my two cents...
Click to expand...

I disagree. The DVX is a fine camera for weddings. 24p is killer. The "low light problem" has never been a "problem" for me. What is a "problem?" Your customer complains.

I've never heard, "it was took dark. I hate that film look."
 
I'm planning on doing a wedding and just got my HVX, (previous cam PV-GS120). I hope I didn't make a mistake, I plan on shooting in SD and there will no doubt be some low light situations. I thought the HVX shooting in SD was similar to the DVX?
 
I disagree as well, the dvx and 24p make weddings look a whole lot better. My last two years of college were paid for by shooting weddings, in that time I shot over 30 weddings, all using 24p, and even in low light. While I will say that yes, the dvx does not perform as well as the sony cams in low light, who cares, the footage looks alot better. In fact, I had more weddings because the families would tell other bride and grooms "if you want your wedding to look like a movie, use this guy". The dvx I feel gives you a nice edge over all those "videographers" who use interlace cameras.
 
I've had the complaints from clients. And I personally was not happy with the amount of grain in dark shots. Just my two cents.
 
I agree with Pooh and Scharky.
Two years I'm shooting weddings (about 20) with DVX100A and even in dark conditions customers were always satisfied and me too :-)
I was affraid of shooting 25P from beggining but if you use DVX like film camera (moving. panning, ...) then you get really film-like picture motion.
 
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