are you a knowledgeable hpx170 users? if so, what is the hpx170 "sweet spot"?

[robfilms]

are you a knowledgeable hpx170 users? if so, what is the hpx170 "sweet spot"?

are you a knowledgeable hpx170 users? if so, what is the hpx170 "sweet spot"?

every camera has its strengths.

every camera has characteristics that could be better.

for those who are knowledgeable hpx170 users, what would you consider the camera's spot spot?

"best" recording format-720p or 1080p/i?

the lens' "best" f/stop?

a single attribute that still makes the hpx170 a valuable tool?

does anyone really care that the hpx170 doesn't "really" shoot 1920x1080? (dvcpro hd 1280 x 1080)

lastly, how many hours can the hpx170 perform before needing a tune-up?

i know these are very general questions, but i'm interested in creating conversation about the qualities which make the hpx170 such a lovely camera while still being a camera that is now three years since its release.

thanks in advance to any who care to share their thoughts.

be well

rob
smalltalk productions

 

[David Jimerson]

Most of those questions don't have answers. A sweet spot for any given project may not be the sweet spot for a different project.

 

[robfilms]

david-

i appreciate your insight and i'm not surprised my questions would seem to have no answers, just ask my wife!

most cameras do a few things well.

does the hpx170 720p "look" better than the dvcpro hd 1280x1080?

would you shoot wide open w/the hpx170?

how closed down would you shoot w/the hpx170?

what do you like best about the hpx170?

as you guess-timate, how many hours can the hpx170 operate before possible issues arise?

again, thanks in advance to any who care to share.

(and please, don't mention to my wife that i keep asking these kinds of questions!)

be well

rob
smalltalk roductions

 

[Gary Huff]

The best practice for learning how to maximize the image output from your camera is to test, test, test, and then test some more. Try shooting a wide variety of subject matter in as many different settings as possible, then view that footage on a high quality display and see what you like and what you don't.

 

[Barry_Green]

does the hpx170 720p "look" better than the dvcpro hd 1280x1080?

Of course not. 1080p mode is the sharpest, best-looking mode it has. 720p is a little softer, a little lower color res, but takes up a lot less space. For that purpose, many consider 720p the "sweet spot". But if you're looking for the best, you want 1080p.

would you shoot wide open w/the hpx170?
Sure. The lens is plenty sharp at wide open. It's a little bit softer than it is when you stop it down, but the difference is very minor, certainly nothing to worry about.

how closed down would you shoot w/the hpx170?

I try to stay in single digits, so f/9.6 at the most-closed. F/11 is okay, but a little softer than 9.6.

what do you like best about the hpx170?

It's a real pro camera with a great codec, extremely well-rounded features, and excellent ergonomics. Probably my favorite video camera ever.

as you guess-timate, how many hours can the hpx170 operate before possible issues arise?

A whole lot. No moving parts to wear out, so nothing really to go wrong.

 

[robfilms]

Of course not. 1080p mode is the sharpest, best-looking mode it has. 720p is a little softer, a little lower color res, but takes up a lot less space. For that purpose, many consider 720p the "sweet spot". But if you're looking for the best, you want 1080p.

would you shoot wide open w/the hpx170?
Sure. The lens is plenty sharp at wide open. It's a little bit softer than it is when you stop it down, but the difference is very minor, certainly nothing to worry about.

I try to stay in single digits, so f/9.6 at the most-closed. F/11 is okay, but a little softer than 9.6.

It's a real pro camera with a great codec, extremely well-rounded features, and excellent ergonomics. Probably my favorite video camera ever.

A whole lot. No moving parts to wear out, so nothing really to go wrong.

barry-

as always, you have provided direct, thoughtful and experienced based opinions.

thank you for taking the time to add to the conversation.

be well

rob
smalltalk productions

 

[Manuel]

I also love the HPX170. It is a great camera perfectly balanced. It's great to have CCDs when shooting some live events with some strobo. For short films I put on the sgblade and have a great shallow depth of field. I have 2x 64 GB P2 cards and shoot in 1080p for 97% of the time. The P2 workflow is such simple and efficient.
I will test the HPX250 when it comes out because of the 21x zoom against the 13x of the HPX170, the better lowlight and the sharper image. But I want that new camera with CCDs .

 

[Phenixone]

I've almost always shot in 720-24PN due to the space it saves on the card and also the slow mo looks so much better this way. For the sweet spot of the camera, I'd say it's quite balanced with the iris, just avoid underexposing too much, it gets grainy quite fast.