Any networks accepting HPX500 as main cam?

Mister Big

Mister Big

Well-known member
I know some of the big HD networks can be very fussy about the tech specs of deliverables -- they tend to accept only small amounts of footage shot on handycams in a given show. My question is whether the majority of them will accept HPX500 footage or if an even bigger gun is generally needed? Thanks as always.
 
Im sure 99% of networks wouldnt have a problem with it at all. Most of the hdtv content you see is a mix of hdv, betasp with hardware conversion, 1/2" xdcam, and 2/3" piped over triax. They will just want a tape of preference, Some may take a harddrive. This is something that is network specific...you just gotta ask.
 
Some networks will also have a **** sheet on what their requirements are, so good idea to grab it for future reference if you can.
 
In my experience, it is different if you walk in and say "I want to produce something for you, and I'm using whatever" vs if you show up with a good finished product.

I've found that many times the guidelines are put there to provide a solid reason for people (who usually really don't know the difference) to say no... that's not a put down, why would they know the difference? They're not filmmakers - and there is a LOT of crap out there...

Also, nature oriented shows tend to want pristine HD images for obvious reasons. If your film is about the underworld of skateboard competition (like Z BOYS...) or conditions in a red light district in India (BORN IN TO...) they're not going to worry so much about pristine images...

If you have a finished product that they want - and it satisfies technical review (the scope guys) - and it looks good - and you can deliver on D5, they're not going to ask what you shot it on...

But, in answer to your question, no - so far no network or cable company that I'm aware of has nixed the 500.. Many are actually pretty open to the HVX as a matter of fact.
 
Not quite a TV Network, but the german "Bundeswehr" (military land forces) just invested a whole lot of money into Panasonic P2 and bought 17 HPX500. (yes, seventeen)

Also the private french network "TF1" has announced to use P2 in the future, so the usage of the HPX500 is just a matter of time.

Furthermore the german public network "ZDF" bought some P2 stuff in late 2006, as did RTBF (Belgium) and the whole Olympic Games 2010 will be recorded on P2...

So, at least in central Europe it'll be less of a probem to find networks, that accept P2 and the HPX500.
 
Blood Angel said:
Furthermore the german public network "ZDF" bought some P2 stuff in late 2006, as did RTBF (Belgium) and the whole Olympic Games 2010 will be recorded on P2...

So, at least in central Europe it'll be less of a probem to find networks, that accept P2 and the HPX500.
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By Olympic games I assume Winter Olympics, since the Olympic Games are happening this year... (2008)
 
One of the trade magazines (Videomaker or Indie DV Film Millimeter Filmmaker) magazine had a good story this month about the guy in Florida shooting a high end fising show (they travel all over the world) that he shoots with two HPX-500s. HPX is a 2/3" camera and has a great picture, I seriously doubt many television outlets would have a problem with accepting footage from it, although you may have to dub your P2 camera masters to tape if you are shooting for one of the outlets that require you to turn in camera masters. But most I have dealt with (A&E, TCM, Discovery) just require you to turn in your edited master and a safety copy.

I don't think they care if it's DVCProHD, they care if it was shot on a 2/3" chip camera and that it looks good.

Dan
 
i have happened to run into MTV crews on a couple different occasions. once with some 2/3" shoulder cam, once with an HVX. I see HVX's and HDV cams being used alongside big cams all the time even on HD shows.
 
cheezweezl said:
i have happened to run into MTV crews on a couple different occasions. once with some 2/3" shoulder cam, once with an HVX. I see HVX's and HDV cams being used alongside big cams all the time even on HD shows.
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Yeah, but I wouldn't hold MTV to be the pinnacle of HD content. They use cameras like the HVX for a very intentional purpose - to get that "real life" look, handicam but not, raw but refined. Many of times you can't get the same looks with a larger camera than you can with a smaller camera. But I would definitely choose a shoulder mount any day of the week.
 
Kit Hannah said:
Yeah, but I wouldn't hold MTV to be the pinnacle of HD content. They use cameras like the HVX for a very intentional purpose - to get that "real life" look, handicam but not, raw but refined. Many of times you can't get the same looks with a larger camera than you can with a smaller camera. But I would definitely choose a shoulder mount any day of the week.
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Kit is right. Don't use MTV as a guide. I created and exec produce a reality show for MTV called Fear. We shoot with a whole bunch of weird cameras that nobody else would accept, and in the editing room, even downgraded the image further.
 
I agree. In relation to most cable outlets, MTV's video quality is pretty bad. Which considering a large portion of their content is shot and edited by unpaid/low paid interns seems about right (no offense intended to Martin - I know some of their shows are shot by pros, but a lot of them aren't.)

Dan
 
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puredrifting said:
One of the trade magazines (Videomaker or Indie DV Film Millimeter Filmmaker) magazine had a good story this month about the guy in Florida shooting a high end fising show (they travel all over the world) that he shoots with two HPX-500s. HPX is a 2/3" camera and has a great picture, I seriously doubt many television outlets would have a problem with accepting footage from it, although you may have to dub your P2 camera masters to tape if you are shooting for one of the outlets that require you to turn in camera masters. But most I have dealt with (A&E, TCM, Discovery) just require you to turn in your edited master and a safety copy.

I don't think they care if it's DVCProHD, they care if it was shot on a 2/3" chip camera and that it looks good.

Dan
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That is true. Discovery treats the HVX, because of its 1/3" chip like an HDV camera. This means that any show can only have 10% of the finished show shot on it.
 
puredrifting said:
I agree. In realtion to most cable outlets, MTV's video quality is pretty bad. Which considering a large portion of their content is shot and edited by unpaid/low paid interns seems about right (no offense intended to Martin - I know some of their shows are shot by pros, but a lot of them aren't.)

Dan
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No offense taken. Fear was entirely shot by its contestants.
 
Man, that was one screwed up (in a good way) show. :zombie_smiley:


You guys must have had a blast setting up all that stuff to scare the poop out of those kids. :2vrolijk_08:


- Mikko
 
"Flip This House" on A&E is not the pinnacle of HD quality either but I'm good friends with some of the guys on the show and they use HVX's to shoot it.
 
I've produced and shot two epsiodes of "Biography" for A&E and although their delivery specs are stringent, they didn't care what we were shooting it on. One episode was mostly DVX-100 and one was HVX.

Nice to shoot with the small, light stuff sometimes although I am still dreaming about an HPX.

Dan
 
mcgeedigital said:
MTV is the BET of quality.
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:undecided Ouch....

Yes, the network specific stuff can be crazy, but I've seen them all air video shot from cell phones before, go figure.

And the craziness is good for a few... I know of people who pay their bills by duping footage to hdcam all day.
 
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