save for HVX or buy DVX?

M

mrbrycel

Well-known member
I currently have a Sony vx1000, which I love. It's been great for the past 5 years as I've only been shooting for skateboard videos. But now even the skate industry is starting to switch over to HD, so some of my footage is starting to get turned down. I'm 3 quarters into my video production courses at the art institute, and now it's been tough to record good audio. The vx1000 has no xlr inputs, so I've had to check out the DSR-250 from school for a few projects. I tried buying the beachtek adapter for my vx1000 but the audio has this terrible hissing noise when I use it.

I've already started saving for another camera, but I'm trying to come to a decision. I'll probably have enough for a DVX100 soon. It would be a step up from my vx1000 (xlr inputs, 24p, LCD, etc.), and I wouldn't have to worry about checking out the schools equipment.

But I'm gonna need to go HD eventually, and I really want to get an HVX200. If I buy a DVX now, I can use it for now and sell it later and put it toward an HVX, but I tend to get really attached to my cameras, and I have a feeling I won't want to sell it later.

A part of me is impatient and wants to get a DVX now. But another part tells me I should just stick it out for about a year and save hard for the HVX. What should I do? Get a DVX now and an HVX in a few years, or save hard this year and try to get an HVX by the end of the year?
 
the dvx (as is any SD camera) is losing street value pretty quickly, i say even forget the HVX and get an hpx170 in sept/oct
 
Save for an HVX or HPX170. It improved the "production value" of my work greatly and it is so versatile what with the different frame rates and recording formats etc.

It shoots real slow motion which is so good for skate videos! With real slow motion you will be able to get shots that 90% of other skate video guys can't do.

Plus since it's recorded on a P2 card if you're hanging out for an hour filming run after run of someone trying to land a hard trick and they just can't stick it, you can delete each clip individually which saves so much time, so pretty much you'll have only the good takes saved on your camera instead of 60 minutes of tape with 4 good shots on it ya know?

So yes save for the HVX or the HPX170, even consider getting a federal staffard student loan through your school for a couple grand. You don't have to start paying it back as long as your enrolled in school, and the federal government pays the interest until 6 months after you are finished with your college carrier. It's one of the best loans you can get for sure. And they have pretty low interest rates.
 
thanks for the feedback! That's what I was thinking too, but I wanted to get some more opinions.

What's going to be better about the HPX170 than the HVX200? When it comes out will the retail price of the HVX200 drop at all?
 
SD is at its last breath. Just get an HVX200a dont worry too much about the 170 you might still want the tape function if you cant afford p2 yet.
 
hands down the hvx200. but if you are going to be doing a lot of skateboarding stuff you might want to hold off for the 170, it wont be as bulky as the 200.
 
I'm with Barry I think the HMC150 is going to be the unsigned hype for that type of filming. And it HAS to be more than a $500 price difference.
 
I didnt read all of your message if your doing skateboard filming I wouldnt go with any of these I would get the sony pd170 with a .3x fish eye. youll need the low light
 
lairhair said:
I didnt read all of your message if your doing skateboard filming I wouldnt go with any of these I would get the sony pd170 with a .3x fish eye. youll need the low light
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They let us check out PD170s from school as well. But without a doubt, the vx1000 has always been known as being the greatest standard definition camera for skateboarding. I've known people who've sold their vx1000s to get vx2000s/vx2100s, and then ended up selling those to buy back a vx1000. vx2000/vx2100/pd170s all are way better in low light, but the vx1000 has the widest available fisheye (the .3x for the rest is still not as wide), and the colors are richer in daylight. The only other SD cam that could compare with the vx1000 (in the skateboard filming industry) is the DVX100. Thats why i was considering it. But i think i'm going to hold out for the HVX200.
 
barnapkins said:
hands down the hvx200. but if you are going to be doing a lot of skateboarding stuff you might want to hold off for the 170, it wont be as bulky as the 200.
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Weight kinda works well for skateboard filming, it helps keep it pretty steady while filming lines/runs.
 
lairhair said:
I didnt read all of your message if your doing skateboard filming I wouldnt go with any of these I would get the sony pd170 with a .3x fish eye. youll need the low light
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Let me suggest if your doing skateboarding go with a VX1000/Century MK1. Light kit is a must if your gonna be doing night filming. Or if you wanna get artsy shots, and great quality go with the HVX
 
I appreciate all the feedback from everyone. Does anyone know if the 170 will bump the 200s price at all? Or do you think there will be a lot more used h
200s available when the 170 comes out?

Buying a used HVX200 seems LESS risky than buying a used DV camera is that true? I guess I figure that if the previous owner shot only to P2, you wouldnt have to worry about how many hours are on the heads right? Or would it be better to just go for a new one with a warranty?
 
Film it said:
Let me suggest if your doing skateboarding go with a VX1000/Century MK1. Light kit is a must if your gonna be doing night filming. Or if you wanna get artsy shots, and great quality go with the HVX
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Yeah that's the set up I've been using for the past 5 years or so. It's been great, and I don't think I'll ever sell it. But the deeper I get into my video/film interest, the more appealing 24p and 60p are becoming. True 16:9 is definitely great, and I'm really excited about the P2 cards.

But yeah I read an interview with a skate filmer the other day who has both the vx1k/mk1 and the HVX200 and he still uses both. Each is better for different situations.
 
dantewaters said:
Wait a moment what is the 150? Is there a huge difference between that and the 170?
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The HMC150 is coming out in October. It's basically the same camera as the 170, but without the variable frame rates or the HD-SDI port. However, it's $1500 cheaper and it uses the AVC-HD codec, and it records to cheap SD memory cards instead of P2 cards.

The HMC150 is the high-def successor to the DVX100.
 
sony vx2000 = arguably most popular skate video camera out there, cheap and good low light
sony pd150 = vx2000 but with xlr inputs
sony pd170 = slightly bigger than the pd150 not too many major changes as far as I know
panasonic hpx170 = the new smaller cheaper hvx200 does all the same stuff but has no tape deck saving space, weight, and price, but then you can only shoot p2.

I would totally go with the hpx170 it seems like the best bet for you. Don't go standard def if you can afford an HD + 24p camera trust me, I'm glad I didn't. Plus you can always shoot SD on an HD cam, and who knows you won't always be shooting skate videos, the 170 is a great camera for the transition between amateur and prosumer/professional camerawork.
 
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