big question: hmc40 vs 5d/t2i/gh1

M

Mkvackay

Active member
I am starting off and i am looking into filming sports (extreme mostly) /commericals/music videos. I am looking into the hmc40 and almost 100% getting it this coming fall, but here is what i have been told. My colleagues feel that getting the t2i which is roughly half the price would be much better because then i could afford a very nice lens and also a glidecam/indislider. I feel that for what i want to get into that the hmc40 is better (manual controls for instance). the only upside to a dslr is the light (low light isnt very great in hmc40 as ive been told). I really do want the hmc40 but i just dont know, through a professional standpoint, what is the better option. I know companies and producers who shoot with 5ds and i also know some that shoot with the hmc150 and sony ex3. I just need some help deciding and some experience from others would help. thanks guys
 
PDR ,brings up a good point ,and you already stated the hmc 40s main (imo) weakness ,its low light performance
i shoot a lot of basketball games .and i can honestly say that its starting to get very annoying being in a perfectly bright gym ,and not being able to go past shutter speed of 60
from what ive seen i would probably pick the t2i
 
Between the T2i and GH1 for me the clear winner was the GH1. It's MUCH more suitable for video work. No 12min limit, no overheating and simply awesome lowlight with cheap fast primes. Nearly any lens can be fitted to the GH1 so you have so many options for fast quality glass at affordable prices. Oh, and if you are shooting sports of any kind, you'll appreciate the much better 720/60P on the GH1 over the Canon.

I use both the GH1 and an HMC40.
I'm very glad I picked the GH1 over the T2i.
 
ATL Media Group said:
Between the T2i and GH1 for me the clear winner was the GH1. It's MUCH more suitable for video work. No 12min limit, no overheating and simply awesome lowlight with cheap fast primes. Nearly any lens can be fitted to the GH1 so you have so many options for fast quality glass at affordable prices. Oh, and if you are shooting sports of any kind, you'll appreciate the much better 720/60P on the GH1 over the Canon.

I use both the GH1 and an HMC40.
I'm very glad I picked the GH1 over the T2i.
Click to expand...


?

Seems like a Panasonic Gh1 advertisement you have there. His question was not a GH1 over a T2i, it was an HMC40 vs DSLRS.

Now if you must go there I will. You can virtually attach ANY lens to the T2i just like the Gh1, the T2i is BETTER in low light than the GH1 and does not suffer from banding like the GH1 does. The T2i uses a better format for compressing it's footage when compared to the Gh1. Overall the image quality is better from the T2i as well.

Now the T2i can overheat and has 12 min recording limits which is something to be careful for. To the op I would suggest you rent a couple of cameras and see which one you like the best.


DSLRS are better in low light than any video/film camera, that's a fact. But if you are shooting outside in the bright sun then it doesn't matter. Personally the best camera IMO for filming sports would be a camera like a Sony Ex1.


peace
 
The 12-minute limit is going to be challenging if you're covering sports that require long takes. The CMOS chips (DSLR or HMC40) going to be problematic in sports, a high-action setting with fast camera moves, due to the rolling shutter (Jell-O vision) artifacts. Both of these challenges can be overcome with careful planning and execution. Plus, with DSLR cameras, you pretty much need to have a complete and separate audio support kit.

DSLR cameras may prevail in lowlight, offer interchangeable lenses, etc. But for versatility, have you looked at the HMC150? Yes, it is a little more expensive, but it offers CCDs (no wiggle) and XLR audio ins for real sound support.
 
Folks, please keep the DSLR vs. DSLR mud-flinging out of non-DSLR sections. Not that we want them in the DSLR sections, either, but we sure don't want them anywhere else.
 
I would stick with your first thoughts and get the HMC40. I shoot an online soccer show and we shoot all are games with 3 hmc40s. We also have two gh1 but we use them for interviews and b roll just for the shallow depth of field. The biggest thing that you benefit from a real camcorder over a dslr is the auto focus and powered zoom.
 
Powered zoom can be nice. Personally, I haven't used powered zoom on my DVX for 95% of what I've done in the last few years.

The original question in this thread is one where we have two completely capable cameras, but each has both advantages and challenges. DSLR cameras are amazing... especially considering the price:performance ratio. It's important to note the drawbacks of each and choose accordingly.

For sports, I really see both the DSLR and the CMOS-based camcorder as a larger challenge just because of the rolling shutter CMOS.
 
C2v had the best answer. Go with the HMC150 If possible. Alot of the DSLR's are still having trouble in the sports department. HMC150 also has great lowlight capabilities. I have a GH1 and a markII and when I test out it against my hmc40 for sporting events the HMC40 seems to me the easiest to follow a ball or a fast moving object.my 2 cents
 
I own a HMC40 and T2i, I think pro-camcorder and HDSLR are very different in terms of shooting style.

A real camcorder can continuously shooting for a long time, so it is perfect for event's filming, such as sport game or a music concert. The only way to boardcast professionally is using a real camcorder.

As for HDSLR, it is perfect for movie's making, it is very rare for a sense in a movie last longer than 12 mins. HDSLR has the ablitiy to interchange different lens, unlike a camcorder, it requires a lens adopter.

Well, on the other hand, I am looking to upgrade my HMC40 to a HMC150, I am selling my HMC40 with all other goodies on http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=213790
maybe we can work on a deal that fits your budget!

Good luck!
 
I believe the GH1 just "took over" with the tester13 hack. So I would wait just a little bit more and maybe pick up a GH1 before they get sold out everywhere.
 
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