Best Standard Def 24p camera?

dglasgal

dglasgal

Active member
Does anyone use the Panasonic AJ-SDX900 ? It shoots DVCPRO-50 with 24p to tape. Rental costs are similar to the HVX200 with gear. Do you think this is the best SD camera that shoots 24p? Do you think it's worth it, quality and cost wise, to shoot in HD or DVCPROHD and downconvert if delivering on SD?
 
since the 900 cost what 20 grand or more ud figure it be a great cam and it would have to beat the dvcpro50/24 that the h200 can produce? im only guessing of course.
 
I love the SDX900, and am even considering buying one. I've shot several projects with it including at TV pilot.

You can rent one from private individual starting at around 400 a day with sticks. I've gotten prices of cam and op as little 500, though 600 to 1000 is more common.

Every one I've used has had great lenses on them. I prefer the wide - you can always get closer to your subject, but you can get so far away in interior shoots.
 
A friend of mine just shot with the SDX for the rollergirls show on A&E - he absolutely loved it. It's definitely a great camera, and makes gorgeous images.

EDITED TO ADD:
Rollergirls was shot primarily using Varicams and SDX's as "b" cameras, as far as I know.
Just didn't want to give the wrong impression if someone watched the show.
 
Luis Caffesse said:
A friend of mine just shot with the SDX for the rollergirls show on A&E - he absolutely loved it. It's definitely a great camera, and makes gorgeous images.

EDITED TO ADD:
Rollergirls was shot primarily using Varicams and SDX's as "b" cameras, as far as I know.
Just didn't want to give the wrong impression if someone watched the show.
Click to expand...


LoL, Luis.

Isn't it funny when you give the right information, and someone still goes back and hollers "THIS SHOW WAS SHOT WITH A DV CAMERA!".
 
Kholi said:
Isn't it funny when you give the right information, and someone still goes back and hollers "THIS SHOW WAS SHOT WITH A DV CAMERA!".
Click to expand...

:)
Well, they did actually use DVX's when shooting the games themselves.
It was a mishmash.

The show looks great - which is why I added the disclaimer.
It should be a credit to the SDX though, that when I watch it I can't really tell what was Varicam footage and what was SDX footage.

Then again - it's not the camera as much as the lighting.
(yes - sorry to break the illusion - reality TV still uses lighting)
:thumbsup:
 
Thanks!

So does anyone know a better quality SD camera that will do 24p? Does anyone know if there is a differece in image quality between the HVX200's DVCPRO50 and the SDX900's DVCPRO 50?
 
The codecs are identical, but the SDX is going to give a better looking image because it has bigger chips and you can put a great lens on it, plus it'll have shallower DOF.

Another premium SD camera that does 24P is the SPX800. It's the exact same camera as the SDX900, but it records to P2 instead of to tape, and as such it costs about $7,000 less than the SDX900.

Another to consider is the new Sony DSR450. It's also 2/3", and has 24P, and is less expensive than the others, but it doesn't offer 4:2:2 recording; it's 4:1:1 DVCAM.
 
Spx800

Spx800

I bought a used spx800 for weddings and horse shows. My thought was to shoot dvcpro50 at 16:9 24p and burn DVDs
for progressive scan DVD players. So far I am pleased with it
but yearn for a used varicam too. I am not that big on tape
transports though as I had much trouble with them when shooting tv news with the DVCpro25 cams. I thought of a HVx200 for b-roll stuff and close qtr shooting. And might do that if they continue to offer a free 8gb P2 card.

If lighting is good, I'd say the hvx200 looks better than the spx800 next to it. If you shoot into a dark area, the 2px800 is superior (at dvcpro50).


Patrick
 
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