The true lifespan of hdv...thoughts?

Chris Light

Chris Light

Veteran
SxS/P2/HDD/AVCHD, etc.....the technology's all good, great in fact, and it's getting even better. And as our computers get better, we may be dragging and dropping right along with it. But why does it seem like just when HDV began to get pretty easy to work with, it suddenly became passe'? TAPE?....people scoff at the very mention of the word....I love reading the Panasonic forums (naturally because of where we are posting) and reading everyone's 'professional' opinions about how HDV is a dinosaur...is it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and projections for the future of HDV, because I have opinions just like everyone else, but there hasn't been much of a thread completely dedicated to this...

I've owned my XH-A1 for only a few months, yet I notice HDV is still a huge seller, even among networks, entering their 3rd year of production....not bad for a fancy VCR with lots of buttons, eh?


-Chris
 
Well, I think you've got two issues going here -
One is the lifespan of tape itself, the other is the lifespan of the HDV codec.

I'm not certain they'll die out simultaneously.
 
It will hang around, and I highly doubt you will suddenly see hdv tapes disappear from shelves, nor will you see NLE's stop supporting it.

But, I also doubt that you will see very many more, if any at all, new HDV cameras coming from the major manufacturers.

AVC-HD is kinda meant to be the next step in the evolution as far as HDV is concerned. Still long GOP, but much more efficient, next generation MPEG-4 compression. Whatever the formats, you can bet that solid state will become the norm and tape will not be a common feature of new cameras as time progresses.

So, as far as it's continued use and availability and the support of the format, I don't see that changing anytime soon. But, when it comes to new cameras coming out... releasing an HDV camera now seems... not a wise business move and certainly not a progressive one.

Later,
Jason
 
Jason Ramsey said:
I think he is upgrading to the HPX170.

later,
Jason
Click to expand...

Yup.

And as far as the lifespan of HDV - I think Jason hit the nail on the head.

But the most important point to remember in these cases is that in the end it doesn't really matter how long it hangs around, as long as you have a solution and workflow that continues to work for you.

Panasonic could announce tomorrow that they will no longer continue with DVCproHD products and are moving everything in a new codec direction - and my HPX170 would still serve me just as well ... making great images for years to come (hopefully).

So yes, HDV may be on it's way out... but in this business it seems everything is "on its way out" from the moment it's released.
 
would it be ironic if Axl Rose shot his first music video for Chinese Democracy on the RED Scarlet, since neither one is likely to come out this decade?
 
Luis Caffesse said:
Yup.

And as far as the lifespan of HDV - I think Jason hit the nail on the head.

But the most important point to remember in these cases is that in the end it doesn't really matter how long it hangs around, as long as you have a solution and workflow that continues to work for you.

Panasonic could announce tomorrow that they will no longer continue with DVCproHD products and are moving everything in a new codec direction - and my HPX170 would still serve me just as well ... making great images for years to come (hopefully).

So yes, HDV may be on it's way out... but in this business it seems everything is "on its way out" from the moment it's released.
Click to expand...


nicely put, sir... i feel that way about my A1....VERY useful for me and my purposes, and may very well be years from now...so i guess it doesn't matter, does it?


by the way, it's fairly known that the producers for the "Guiding Light" soap (2nd or 3rd longest running soap i think) are using a fresh arsenal of 18 XH-G1's in their current season....that's what made me start this thread....a camera that is thought to be in the twilight of it's life being bought 18-fold for a current TV show....well, "current" is up for debate, but you get my point...
 
HDV will continue to sell as long as people continue to buy it.

BetaSP was "obsolete" about 12 years ago, but Sony only formally discontinued the last BetaSP equipment a couple of years ago because, heck, some people kept buying it. And I'm sure there are plenty of cable stations and such that are still using it.

People are trying to say that SD is "dead" already, but that doesn't stop networks like MTV and Turner Studios from using their DVX100s every day. Cable broadcast is 4:3 SDTV in the USA, and a DVX does fine with that. Heck, the DVX is still sold new to this day and will continue to as long as people continue to buy it.
 
Ah, even more reality here. I can remember the day the HVX200 entered the market and people claimed tape as dead, and even today Sony and Canon sell tape based HDVcams. Sometimes a EOL tech can stay long because the technology has been accepted, optimized, and brings money for the manufacturer.
 
Just because there are better things out there, it doesn't mean that your equipment (camera, codec, etc.) is any worse than the day you got it.

I think when HDV is scoffed at, it's by people who try to mask a lack of skill with expensive equipment. I'm just choosing HDV because it's the subject of this thread.
 
Drew Ott said:
Just because there are better things out there, it doesn't mean that your equipment (camera, codec, etc.) is any worse than the day you got it.

I think when HDV is scoffed at, it's by people who try to mask a lack of skill with expensive equipment. I'm just choosing HDV because it's the subject of this thread.
Click to expand...

And anyway "better" is hotly debated (and not just HDV vs AVCHD). It's nearly always a question of which set of compromises suits you best
 
wonderful replies sofar everyone...didn't think this one would breathe much life when i started it...thanks, and i am ever hopeful at the choice i made in getting the XH-A1, and Drew and Nick both make a great point....hope this thread continues....

chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top