Considering selling my HPX170 for Canon DSLR

[RJ_Ortiz]

Hey Guys,

I've been considering this for a while now and the more time goes by, the more I am considering selling off my HPX170 kit in favor of a Canon DSLR kit.

I currently use:

Panasonic HPX170
Letus Extreme with HVX200 optimized Achromat (Nikon Mount)
Letus v2 Rails
Sennheiser MKH416P48 w/ Complete Blimp System and dead animal.
Glidecam HD-4000

I feel extremely lucky to have these tools in my possession and am pleased with the quality of video and workflow.

However, I find that most of my work nowadays is in music videos and that in comparison to other videos I see made, mine feels lacking. Not in editing, but in appearance. I want that sharp look you see nowadays. This may seem silly to consider getting a DSLR over (Possibly Canon 5D Mark II or successor), but I could really use the look, the weight difference, and the low-light capabilities.

I would have to get a few things to cover the needs not met by the DSLR (mainly an IO device for audio), so I have to weigh the pros and cons of a possible switch.

In a perfect world, I'd have both. I would love to make shorts and would love to keep shooting for long periods of time, but portability and look are becoming a major concern. I feel that if I need something to shoot long term, I could rent something for that purpose. Please let me know your experience in switching and if you have any regrets. I don't regret buying my HPX170 as I have learned a lot from this camera, but every day it feels more and more like I should move on. I appreciate any feedback from you bunch of pros.

Thanks

 

[pulpfiction007]

My vote would be to keep the HPX for shots where it will destroy the DSLR....(there's plenty of them) ditch the Letus and get a 60D or T3i and use that for your shallow dof shots and low light.

I really think it's a mistake to get rid of a camera that beats the DSLRs on deep dof shots, tracking shots with fast motion, shots with complicated detail, etc. Unless you're moving up to an FS100 or AF100, keep the HPX.

 

[RJ_Ortiz]

Thanks for the fast response. That's the biggest thing I'd miss. I really love being able to pick up this thing and run and gun. Yes, it's heavy, but the fast motion capture is fantastic. Ditching the Letus is happening either way, so it does really come down to either selling the camera or not. The other tools show what I have available to me for any other camera.