Benefits of HVX200 (old) vs. GH1

[Kamizanate]

Last year I purchased a used HVX200 (not the 200a) and have loved it to death. There are so many things about this camera that makes it still such a great tool.

However, I do not have the money, nor the access, to a 35mm adapter. This creates many issues for me, the lack of a shallow depth of field being obviously the main issue.

I have been researching many of the market's new HD cameras, and have never been convinced that I should think about turning over my HVX for something else.

That is until today, when I discovered the GH1.

It seems as if everything about this little wonder is superior to the out-of-the-box first wave HVX200. Bigger chip, interchangeable lenses, portability, price, and the list goes on. I looked at the footage taken on this camera, and I was blown away by its resolution and depth of field capabilities.

My question is, is there something I am missing? Is there a reason for me to keep my naked HVX, or would it be in my interest to sell and purchase a GH1 with bells and whistles?

Forgive me if this has been discussed at length, I used the search function and could not find any topics that answer my question.

Thanks!

 

[Barry_Green]

The problem with a GH1 or 7D or 5D or anything like that is: they're still cameras, that have video "grafted on" to them. They're not, first and foremost, video cameras. The GH1 comes closest to video-camera operation, but even then... it just isn't.

So think of the things you'll be losing: XLR ports for audio, phantom power, four channels of audio recording, a headphone jack to be able to monitor your audio, component video output, the ability to actually monitor your video while shooting on a monitor, variable frame rates, 4:2:2 color sampling, DVCPRO-HD editability, power zoom, tape recording, firewire output to a computer or tape deck or firestore or OnLocation/DV Rack, repeatable precision focus ring, variable frame rates, intraframe recording at all HD sizes, DVCPRO50, and ... on and on and on, but those are just the things I can think of off the top of my head.

If you don't NEED those things, then sure, grab a GH1. It's incredible for the price, and I really like it a lot. But it isn't, by any stretch of anyone's imagination, a professional video camcorder. It's a still camera with video grafted on, just like the 5D and 7D.

 

[Kamizanate]

The problem with a GH1 or 7D or 5D or anything like that is: they're still cameras, that have video "grafted on" to them. They're not, first and foremost, video cameras. The GH1 comes closest to video-camera operation, but even then... it just isn't.

So think of the things you'll be losing: XLR ports for audio, phantom power, four channels of audio recording, a headphone jack to be able to monitor your audio, component video output, the ability to actually monitor your video while shooting on a monitor, variable frame rates, 4:2:2 color sampling, DVCPRO-HD editability, power zoom, tape recording, firewire output to a computer or tape deck or firestore or OnLocation/DV Rack, repeatable precision focus ring, variable frame rates, intraframe recording at all HD sizes, DVCPRO50, and ... on and on and on, but those are just the things I can think of off the top of my head.

If you don't NEED those things, then sure, grab a GH1. It's incredible for the price, and I really like it a lot. But it isn't, by any stretch of anyone's imagination, a professional video camcorder. It's a still camera with video grafted on, just like the 5D and 7D.

Out of the things you listed, I think I would only miss a few. I have access to mixers, sound recorders, even other cameras with XLR inputs, so shooting sync sound wouldn't be a problem.

Editing GH1 footage seems like a process. I assume it is not as simple as put in the card, upload the footage, and edit? Is there a conversion process necessary before cutting in Premiere or Final Cut?

As for variable frame rates, was it the GH1 or the 7D that can shoot 60FPS in 720p mode? I like having that option, but I am not even so sure I would miss it for the image quality upgrade.

What do you mean by no repeatable precision focus ring? You can still attach a follow focus and rack/track, right?

I heard that the GH1's LCD is absolutely amazing. Is there really a need for an external monitor with such a capable LCD?

And finally, what is the color space on the GH1? Though the HVX has 4:2:2, not many other cameras in the price range do. I am not so sure I will really miss it for the increased DoF and image sharpness.

Thanks for your reply, Barry. And I am asking so many questions because I want to make sure that I make the right choice.

 

[Barry_Green]

Editing GH1 footage seems like a process.

Certainly moreso than DVCPRO-HD.

I assume it is not as simple as put in the card, upload the footage, and edit?

Depends on what editor you use, and what computer hardware you have. If you're using Premiere Pro CS4.1 on Windows, with a powerful graphics card that supports nVidia CUDA technology, then yes it really is that simple.

If you're using FCP, or you don't have the requisite graphics card power then no, you have to convert first.

And, if you want to use 1080/24p footage as 24p, you'll have to strip out the pulldown first using something like NeoScene.

As for variable frame rates, was it the GH1 or the 7D that can shoot 60FPS in 720p mode?

Yes the GH1 has 720/30p and 720/60p.

I like having that option, but I am not even so sure I would miss it for the image quality upgrade.

Sometimes the image quality is substantially better, sometimes not. The GH1 can be a tricky beast. It usually looks jaw-droppingly good, but you can get it into scenarios where it looks pretty bad.

What do you mean by no repeatable precision focus ring? You can still attach a follow focus and rack/track, right?

Depends on what lens you have mounted to it, and you may or may not be able to rack with repeatable focus marks. I haven't tried that on the stock lens, I don't know if it's repeatable or not. With manual lenses you should be able to have repeatable marks.

I heard that the GH1's LCD is absolutely amazing. Is there really a need for an external monitor with such a capable LCD?

Of course -- what if you want to have someone else monitoring the footage, while you have the camera up on a jib arm or on a dolly move or you have it mounted outside a car or ... there's a million scenarios where you'd really wish that you could be seeing what's going on. But with the GH1, no monitoring is possible.

And finally, what is the color space on the GH1?

Though the HVX has 4:2:2, not many other cameras in the price range do.

None do, other than the HPX170.

 

[David Saraceno]

I know the GH1 records to the AVCHD color space, which is 4:2:0.

But doesn't it record to QuickTime Motion JPEG as well? For the life of me, I can't remember that color space.