AG-HMC150 or AG-HPX170? I need help please!!!

T

thebald27

Member
Hi guys I just got the chance to sale my AG-DVX100B and I'm going to get me some new equipment.
I'm debating between the HMC150 and the HPX170.
money wise the HMC150 gets me closer to it. plus the cheap media and long recording time makes it even more convenient. but the new format makes it scary for me. some reviews say that the detail quality its compromise (to the point were they show a picture sample of AVCHD and HDV and it is significant ) but I don't know how old the review is and if the PH mode on the HMC150 solves this issues



In the other Hand the MPX170 it is awesome (if the money its not a problem because P2 cards are expensive not even mention the short recording time) the ability of over and under crank the footage its excellent plus the codecs are the best out there, but the short recording time and P2 media cost makes the HPX170 a tough (and not cheap) option

How does this two babes behave in low light?

How does compare the AVCHD to HDV?

You guys have tons of experience and knowledge so I really appreciate you're help


I'll be shooting most sports and family event like birthdays ETC

thanks a lot to all for the help
 
They behave the same in low light.

HMC150 AVCHD is better than HDV, unquestionably.

If you had to choose between those two and money was not a consideration, the HPX170 is the better camera. But if money is a significant factor, the HMC150 gets you most of what the 170 has, for substantially less.
 
im in a similar situation to you and decided to order the 150 tomorrow.

i currently have a DVX100a which i never use (have a buyer), and EX-1 (main video cam) and a 5DmkII for my artsy stuff.

i have been researching all cameras that would excel at sports and things with a lot of motion and my first requirement is CCD. i cant live with the EX1 for this kind of stuff. ive tried but i cant accept it.

from what i have gathered, the 150 is almost a no brainer unless you need the P2 workflow to fit to other peoples pro workflow or you need to use P2 for a little more PRO clout. for me its not a factor. before i went with the EX1 i seriously looked at Pansonics P2 options and i just couldnt hang with it plus the HVX200's low light didnt impress me much.

granite all i have seen so far from the 150 is on the web like Vimeo etc, but looks like it will be quite competent in the low light shooting category. i even have the impression that it will keep up and maybe even exceed my EX1 in low light which would be very sweet.

as far as bang for the buck...i dont see this camera being beat for sports unless you just cant live with the 13x zoom. but @ 60fps, CCD, good low light shooting, pretty cheap in my book and almost dirt cheap media i dont know what can beat it.

looking at Panasonic's IQ vibe again on this camera after using my EX1 i have to say that it does have the deep/thick vibe i used to feel from my DVX100a....only much better...and i have really missed the panny look. i am pumped to get this baby in my hands!

i plan to convert the clips to either ProRez LT or XDCAM to match my EX1 if i mix them on a project.

for you...shooting sports and family events....? hmmm.

unless you have lots of extra cash to blow i cant imagine that you wouldnt be pleased with the 150.

good luck
david
www.davidprobst.com
 
I wouldn't say that it would exceed the EX1 in terms of low light performance. It'll be reasonably close, but not better. And the EX1 in 1080/60i mode will be noticeably better than an HMC150 in 1080/60i.

'course, it's half the price, too.
 
First Thanks Mr. Barry Green for the Help (I have you're books ) I appreciate you're comments
the HPX170 will cost me extra $900.00 after the mail in rebate. the tough part it's the P2 Cards.

I'm mostly shutting and editing videos for a local motorcycle track. and birthday parties and stuff like that

I'll love to be able to overcrank my footage because I tend to do a lot of slow motions. Motion has helped me a lot to get better slow motions. but in the other hand money it's always an issue and P2 cards recording time it is a bummer.

When the HVX200 came out I wanted to get it but just more of the same P2 cards high price and low capacity . so I did my research and get a hold of some technical specs on P2 card. and a crazy Idea crossed my mind. was modified my own p2 card for higher capacity, I bought a 4Gig one open it up and took all the 1Gig SD cards inside and replace them with 4Gig ones for a total capacity of 16Gig but guess what it didn't work I format re did the aray and it shows me 4Gig only . at least I tried

I'll buy something today

thanks a lot Mr. Barry Green
 
thebald27 said:
so I did my research and get a hold of some technical specs on P2 card. and a crazy Idea crossed my mind. was modified my own p2 card for higher capacity, I bought a 4Gig one open it up and took all the 1Gig SD cards inside and replace them with 4Gig ones for a total capacity of 16Gig but guess what it didn't work I format re did the aray and it shows me 4Gig only . at least I tried
Click to expand...

Do you have any pics of the opened up card? Just curious to see what they look like inside.

EDIT: Let it record to see if it will record for longer than 4 min in 1080 mode, firmware could be displaying 4 gigs no matter the capacity.
 
So I'll be better of with the EX1 ?
Click to expand...

The HMC150 is an awesome camera, I wanted an EX1 so bad and was already saving for it but after seeing some of the rolling-shutter problems i decided to go with the panasonic... compared the 150 to the EX1 the Sony has better low-light and a stronger video codec, but the 150 has a CCD and a great image, and the AVCHD codec has a really good quality, Only when it comes to editing that things get tricky!!!

If i had the money for 1 EX1, I would buy 2-HMC150s, but if i had a little more I would buy an EX1 and a HMC150...
For sports i think the 150 is better!

I love both cams! (i had a sony before my 150)
 
ChipG said:
Do you have any pics of the opened up card? Just curious to see what they look like inside.

EDIT: Let it record to see if it will record for longer than 4 min in 1080 mode, firmware could be displaying 4 gigs no matter the capacity.
Click to expand...
I couldn't find it i think I lost it in a hard drive. I have some pics that I use when I sale it. it was put together at tat time
but it's a really thin circuit board with four SD cards set up as a raid
but I think the chip in the board have an image of the hardware so if you change it won't be recognized to prevent what i tried to do. at the moment the biggest was 8Gig
thanks
 
ChipG said:
Do you have any pics of the opened up card? Just curious to see what they look like inside.

EDIT: Let it record to see if it will record for longer than 4 min in 1080 mode, firmware could be displaying 4 gigs no matter the capacity.
Click to expand...
That was Back in September 06 when they just wen out. I don't have it any more.
I never got to buy the HVX200 I did all from my PC at the time and I move some files in and format the card plus use one of those partition programs.
at the end just return the SD cards and sale the P2 card
 
Superfresa66 said:
The HMC150 is an awesome camera, I wanted an EX1 so bad and was already saving for it but after seeing some of the rolling-shutter problems i decided to go with the panasonic... compared the 150 to the EX1 the Sony has better low-light and a stronger video codec, but the 150 has a CCD and a great image, and the AVCHD codec has a really good quality, Only when it comes to editing that things get tricky!!!

If i had the money for 1 EX1, I would buy 2-HMC150s, but if i had a little more I would buy an EX1 and a HMC150...
For sports i think the 150 is better!

I love both cams! (i had a sony before my 150)
Click to expand...
Thanks super ok my mistake I'll never go with CMOS chips I was referring to the Panasonic DSLR EX1 that shoots video in AVCHD also never meant to buy an sony fancy x cam I love panasonic what they let you achieve
thanks
 
So far importing and handle AVCHD I'm pretty clear in that aspect I bought a AG-HSC1U the small AVCHD cam from panasonic
I bought it to have a feel for the work flow and image quality. but it didn't convince me so far as the image quality. I got a hold of the work flow in FC6 very well. so I'm fine working with the format. the thing it's how better the image from the HMC150 is? or it looks the same?
I don't know that I haven't test it and i already waste some money in the HSC1U so I don't to use that resource on the HMC150
thanks guys
 
thebald27 said:
I'll love to be able to overcrank my footage because I tend to do a lot of slow motions. Motion has helped me a lot to get better slow motions.
Click to expand...
Well, you can do a limited amount of overcranking on the HMC150 as well. If you're shooting your main project in 720/24p, you can use 720/30p for mild slow motion, or 720/60p for very slow motion.

If you're shooting in 1080/24p, you can use 1080/30p for a mild slow motion effect.

The big thing about the HVX/HPX slow-mo is that you get between 12 and 36 different variable frame rates, and you can see the effect immediately after shooting the clip (you can play the clip back in slow-mo right away, or drop it on the timeline already in slow-mo). With the 150, you'll have to do a tiny bit of work in post to conform the footage to play in slow-mo.
 
Barry_Green said:
Well, you can do a limited amount of overcranking on the HMC150 as well. If you're shooting your main project in 720/24p, you can use 720/30p for mild slow motion, or 720/60p for very slow motion.

If you're shooting in 1080/24p, you can use 1080/30p for a mild slow motion effect.

The big thing about the HVX/HPX slow-mo is that you get between 12 and 36 different variable frame rates, and you can see the effect immediately after shooting the clip (you can play the clip back in slow-mo right away, or drop it on the timeline already in slow-mo). With the 150, you'll have to do a tiny bit of work in post to conform the footage to play in slow-mo.
Click to expand...
Great Info
but how do I do it on the time line, when I'm importing or in the camcorder settings?
thanks Mr. Barry Green

what Microphone you think its good?
thanks a world
 
Depends on what editor you're using. If you're using Vegas, you'd just edit your project in a 720/24p project, and then import your 720/60p footage and set a playback rate of 40%. Bingo, instant perfect slow-mo.
 
Barry_Green said:
Depends on what editor you're using. If you're using Vegas, you'd just edit your project in a 720/24p project, and then import your 720/60p footage and set a playback rate of 40%. Bingo, instant perfect slow-mo.
Click to expand...
I'm Using Final Cut 6 but I have the feeling that it work the same
thanks a lot
 
My favorite aspect of the hmc 150 is that I never have to stop during a shoot to download a
p2 card, and since I rarely re-use my cards I don't have to worry about archiving since I save my cards like they are tapes. I would have bought an hmc 150 even it was more expensive than a 170. The hmc 150 is well .... priceless.
 
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