ugh deciding between HVX200 and Sony EX

take2visualmedia

take2visualmedia

Well-known member
I was all set to buy the HVX200, in fact planning on buying the $13,000 filmmakers kit from B&H....been planning for the better part of a year as I've preparing to leave my full time studio job and start my own business. Now Sony comes out with the EX and I find myself liking a lot of what I'm hearing about it.

I've read the posts on dvxuser and this is really the reason why I'm having trouble deciding. I don't expect nor want anyone to make my decision for me but I'm willing to listen to arguments on both sides.

--
www.take2vm.com
 
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Long GOP Rolling Shutter 4:2:0 Color Space 35 mbps
IntraFrame Global Shutter 4:2:2 Color Space 100 mbps

EX1 probably a half stop better in lower light.

What else do you want to know?
 
take2visualmedia said:
I was all set to buy the HVX200, in fact planning on buying the $13,000 filmmakers kit from B&H....been planning for the better part of a year as I've preparing to leave my full time studio job and start my own business. Now Sony comes out with the EX and I find myself liking a lot of what I'm hearing about it.

I've read the posts on dvxuser and this is really the reason why I'm having trouble deciding. I don't expect nor want anyone to make my decision for me but I'm willing to listen to arguments on both sides.

--
www.take2vm.com
Click to expand...

More relevant to the moment...

Vignetting debacle
Backfocus issue
Loss of ability to use internal NDs

Go take a cruise to the DVX User EX-1 board and read the threads. I honestly feel really sorry for those new users, MANY of them have cameras that are defective. Sony clearly rushed this product to market to stem the tide of HVX sales and unfortunately, some early adopters are paying the price, which always sucks. I have been contemplating an EX-1 to supplement my HVX as it excels at several things that the HVX doesn't but I think I am waiting for NAB to see what that show brings from RED and from Panasonic.

Not saying NOT to buy an EX-1, it's a very impressive camera, just beware of the myriad initial factory defects that are really inconveniencing a lot of new EX-1 owners. Sony will stand by fixing these issues, they have to or it will be a PR fiasco but the hassle factor makes it no contest for me, at least for the next few months. You might get lucky and get a good one but a lot of people are having major issues.

Best,

Dan
 
I started another thread commenting on friends that asked my opinion when selecting what camera to buy. On that thread I mention the fact that the 2 last people I've talked to opted for the EX-1 although I have clearly sided with the HVX.
There are a lot of information here about the EX-1 and needless to say the HVX. The best way to make your decision is to do an extensive search and read as much as you can, or are willing, and look for similar situation to how you are going to be using your camera. If possible, after that, try to have some real experience with both cameras either renting or borrowing. All comes to your unique experience.
btw. both friends are very happy with the EX-1 so far...
 
puredrifting said:
More relevant to the moment...

Vignetting debacle
Backfocus issue
Loss of ability to use internal NDs

Go take a cruise to the DVX User EX-1 board and read the threads. I honestly feel really sorry for those new users, MANY of them have cameras that are defective. Sony clearly rushed this product to market to stem the tide of HVX sales and unfortunately, some early adopters are paying the price, which always sucks. I have been contemplating an EX-1 to supplement my HVX as it excels at several things that the HVX doesn't but I think I am waiting for NAB to see what that show brings from RED and from Panasonic.

Not saying NOT to buy an EX-1, it's a very impressive camera, just beware of the myriad initial factory defects that are really inconveniencing a lot of new EX-1 owners. Sony will stand by fixing these issues, they have to or it will be a PR fiasco but the hassle factor makes it no contest for me, at least for the next few months. You might get lucky and get a good one but a lot of people are having major issues.

Best,

Dan
Click to expand...

This is THE thing to look out for. Forget all that other stuff, IMO. This is why I decided to keep my HVX instead of going EX-1.

The Camera isn't worth anything if you can't use it because of factory faults.
 
if you go hvx, you may shop around for the stuff in that $13000 kit seperately. you probably won't need some of that stuff and the stuff you do need can be obtained at a lower price.
 
FWIW, I have a big project with TriCaster and it will be worth buying a new camera instead of renting a 3rd camera for 2 weeks.
I thought about getting the EX1 since it's the new baby. But after reviewing everything, I decided to get another HVX 200. Obviously having matching cameras for live switching was a bonus, but I just don't feel the EX1 was worth the money compared to getting another HVX.
JMHO
 
Based on some screenshots of the ex1 vs. the hvx, the ex1 is sharper than the hvx at 1080, and I think it's cause the ex1 has larger sensors. The ex1 is sweet cause it has the manual lens, which I like a lot, but also check out the sony Z7U it actually has interchangeable lenses which I think is better. I read some complaints about the ex1 and one of them is that the microphone on the top sticks out too far over the lens so you have to get special mattebox extender/adaptor things, and if you want to buy something like the Letus Extreme lens adaptor you have to buy an extra thing to make it all fit. That's a minor detail though.

I own an HVX and love it, I am so happy with it, and the quality of the video is incredible! I think it is the single best investment I ever made in my life, and based on the amount of support from this board, and the amount of people here who love their HVX's, that's the choice I would go with. But then again I am biased.
 
I received a Sony EX to test over a weekend and image wise it was a little sharper and the did have more depth of field with the stock lens. I did find that the video didn't play as well in FCP as DVCProHD does.
But the main factory for myself is the consruction of the camera. I am very hard on my equipment and shoot in a lot of setting with tons of dirt, dust and moister. The plastic body on the EX cam scared me. I had the same issue with Z1U, is just feels cheep with its plastic body, exspecially for the cost. I have put my HVX though a lot (getting water sprayed all over the camera with no cover, and taken a big fall with it ) and it still works like a charm.

There is lots of other factors that make the HVX and better camera for me but these re the main reasons I am sticking with it.
 
Just to clarify, the EX-1 has shallower depth of field possible than the HVX because of the larger imager size.

Dan
 
One factor that I think gets overlooked when considering the two cams--

--Smear: Basically having immunity to this issue on the EX-1 is a real bonus. To me, one of the things that SCREAMS video is CCD smear; that lovely stripe up and down the frame from hot, specular highlights. Also, 10 stops of latitude on the EX ain't nothin' to sneeze at either.
 
David S. said:
Long GOP Rolling Shutter 4:2:0 Color Space 35 mbps
IntraFrame Global Shutter 4:2:2 Color Space 100 mbps

EX1 probably a half stop better in lower light.

What else do you want to know?
Click to expand...

The EX1 is more than a half stop faster than the HVX and cleaner too. I own, use and love both and am a fanboy of neither.
 
Elton said:
One factor that I think gets overlooked when considering the two cams--

--Smear: Basically having immunity to this issue on the EX-1 is a real bonus. To me, one of the things that SCREAMS video is CCD smear; that lovely stripe up and down the frame from hot, specular highlights. Also, 10 stops of latitude on the EX ain't nothin' to sneeze at either.
Click to expand...

Give me smear instead of all that CMOS rolling shutter crap any day!
 
filmguy123 said:
Give me smear instead of all that CMOS rolling shutter crap any day!
Click to expand...

Depends on what and how you shoot. In my own work I know that I run into issues with smear more often than I ever would with rolling shutter skew, partial exposure, etc.

I think that we're so accustomed to the flaws of CCD design that they're just shrugged off and forgotten. (and vertical smear is basically horrible with all the budget HD CCD cams)
 
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