4-cam comparison -- initial response

joe 1008 said:
I´m glad to get that much information out of this forum. I spent hours here and every minute was worth reading all these posts. The last and ultimate point I still can´t find is how well the codecs held up in Barry´s comparision. There might be some clear information in this thread but there are already too many posts to work through, sorry. So if anybody can tell if there already is some information or when it might be postet I - and I suppose I won´t be the only one - would be very regardful.
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Nope. The jury is still out.

We're all holding our breath and bying KONA/BM cards to be able to truthfully reproduce the results when they come in. -;)

I only hope they come to the forum and not in the form of a book. I'd LOVE to see the images (both SDI and tape/P2) with a consice writeup of the cameras configurations. But I guess this is moore book-stuff.

Anyway. Cheers to the mad scientists. This is highly appreciated from Norway!

Gunleik
 
Barry_Green said:
I despise the lens controls on the Canon.
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I'm guessing that's a typo, Barry?

EDIT: yes, it was a typo, I've now fixed it in the original article an in your quote here. BG.
 
Barry_Green said:
Audio: hands down, no question, hand the trophy to the HVX and don't let the others even get on the podium. Four channels of uncompressed audio beats the daylights out of two channels of 4:1 compressed audio, and anyone who says otherwise is just not being honest. And four channels of uncompressed audio beats the living snot out of four channels of 8:1 compressed audio. No doubt, no question, no argument. It would be more usable if the four channels could come from four XLRs though; hopefully there will be a modification soon so we can use additional XLRs instead of the onboard mic for channels 3 & 4.
.
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Like you say, channels 3&4 are pretty much worthless on the HVX until unless a mod is made to allow a proper input.

About the compressed audio, give me 4:1 compression linked to a decent preamp and wiring over uncompressed and poor hardware. The difference with that level of compression is all but undetectable, even by an audiophile.

So the trophy certainly can't go straight to the HVX as you say. Sure, I'm not saying it isn't the best, but there are more important aspects to be considered.
 
mmm said:
About the compressed audio, give me 4:1 compression linked to a decent preamp and wiring over uncompressed and poor hardware. The difference with that level of compression is all but undetectable, even by an audiophile.
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Pre-amp testing must be conducted. But I'd say that any audiophile should be able to detect the difference between uncompressed PCM and 4:1 MPEG-1 Layer II. Oleg tested the Z1 when it first came out, and he said in DV mode it was quite competitive with the DVX, which would imply it had comparable preamps. But in HDV mode, he said "forget it, stick to double-system." For dialogue it may be adequate, but it'll never be as good as uncompressed. Assuming the hardware is comparable, uncompressed will always be better than compressed, all other things being equal.
 
I'm saying that I'll be fair about what does what and give props where props are due, but -- when it comes time to buy just one of them... dude, no question. It's night and day in what they do. The features are there, the workflow is there... I'm not saying that people won't do fantastic work with the other products. Of course they will. But the HVX is the stuff, and it just does things the others wish they could. And that's the difference.

I geek out with the best of 'em, I read charts and set up tests and obsess about this and that. But at the end of the day, that ain't what it's about. I use these products, I make a living with 'em, and the HVX is in a different class. A better class.

And yeah, I'm saying I LIKE it! :)
 
Barry, I'm surprised you didn't mention the varible frame rates. We finally get film-quality slow mo, not an interpolated NLE thingy.

Maybe you didn't mention it because the other cameras don't even have it. :)

Cheers,
Chris
 
I'm curious - why didn't Panasonic really make the product shine by offering HDV in addition which could be recorded to tape like the DV fomats?

It would seem this would allow those that need more HD recording time than they can afford with P2 and remote storage to record to tape and at least get a usable HD image.

TIM
 
Steve Connor said:
Well that clears that up!

Now if Panasonic can reconsider their outrageous price for the HVX in Europe, I'll think about buying one.
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It's ridiculous. Is anywhere even selling without P2 cards? With them is is over DOUBLE the price of the HD100!

If Apple will sort their HDV1 support in FCP, I'm getting the HD100.
FullRez said:
I'm curious - why didn't Panasonic really make the product shine by offering HDV in addition which could be recorded to tape like the DV fomats?

It would seem this would allow those that need more HD recording time than they can afford with P2 and remote storage to record to tape and at least get a usable HD image.
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I can see only 2 reasons. Maybe one or the other, or both.

1) It would restrict P2 card sales.

2) It would cost them to use the technology and they didn't think it was worth it.
 
Barry_Green said:
The others are like variations on the typewriter. The HVX is a word processor.
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Indeed. I dig that analogy.
Thanks for taking the time to provide your review Barry.
When does the HVX book come out?
 
FullRez said:
I'm curious - why didn't Panasonic really make the product shine by offering HDV in addition which could be recorded to tape like the DV fomats?
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This has been discussed at length; search the older trheads for more than you could possibly want to read, including a statement from Jan about it.
 
Cees Mutsaers said:
Will it only be available in the US or can we in europe also order it? and how (via this site, will there be an ISBN number available?)
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It'll be offered here, and on Amazon, and on ebay; there'll be a UPC code for it too.
 
Haakon said:
You had mentioned providing coupons for the book for early HVX buyers at one point; is that still the plan?
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Well, I don't really know -- that was an idea that was tossed around, yes, but as to whether that will happen, that would be a marketing decision made by Panasonic US. Right now I just have to focus on getting it done.
 
Barry_Green said:
Probably towards the end of February.
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It is very sad that the book may actually be out before most get the camera. I am looking forward to the book however but really wish Panasonic would start filling the orders a little faster. Being in the top 10 on a list and still wondering if I might see it any time soon is frustrating.
 
Ice-
at least you are on the top 10
...I probably wont see mine until April.

The only consolation in waiting so long for this is is that there may be something else announced by then.
(Which will put me back to a year ago, when I began waiting for this camera)
Most probably I will finally get my hands on this beast right before they update it

Life a funny Thang
 
Barry_Green said:
Probably towards the end of February.
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A question about the format of the book + DVD:
Will the accompanying DVD contain tutorials with u explaining & showing stuff or is it a vehicle to carry demos footage & files.

I hate reading (except have it as a reference) - I love watching tutorials... a moving picture is worth 10,000 words :)
 
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