DVExpo NY Report

G

galt

Well-known member
I just got back from DVExpo. I went for one day, took the HD class and the Audio Post class by Jay Rose. Both excellent, learned a lot about editing from Jay. I also went to a seminar by Jan about the Panny HD solution (P2, HVX, and more). Not much new, but I got another chance to learn more details and ask some questions. Jan says:

HVX200 still on target for Nov/Dec 2005.
Firestore-type device should be available by then.
Capture to PCs with DVCPRO/HD codec is an option.
Tape is dead.
Camera can downrez HD footage from P2 cards to DV tape in realtime.
720p is the bomb.
Controls have been improved.
82mm filters
HVX200 not for everyone, just smart people.

I also met project mgr for DVC-30 and learned about it. This is one cool little camera for a handhelf form factor. 3CCD, Awesome ergonomics, zero light mode, all main controls of DVX except 24p, servo zoom, iris/focus/zoom ring as well as auto/manual modes, and smooth/slow zoom motor. Anyone looking for a vacation camera or low-profile form factor should take a serious look at this camera. It is a pro camera in a small form factor. Uses DVX batteries too. $1700 at B&H, and $200 rebate available. An entire level above the gs400.

Also, for anyone still reading, B&H s havinga bunch of "show specials" thru end of July. Send me a PM if you are thinking of buying something major like a camera or Senn ENG kit and I will look up the discount code for you. Significant discounts available (like $150 on DVX camera and $50 on Senn kit).
 
galt said:
Tape is dead.
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Hang on... how many people are still using it? 99.9% of cameras!?

Now P2 users raise your hands.

It will die one day, but definately isn't yet! Tape isn't the future, but that doesn't mean it is dead. We don't yet know if P2 is going to catch on.

galt said:
720p is the bomb.
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That's interesting... are they suggesting the HVX is more of a 720p camera??

There has been a bit of discussion (often by me) about how much better 1080p will be on the camera. Can you expand on that?

galt said:
HVX200 not for everyone, just smart people.
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Hey, did Jan say this? Is she trying to get an Emperor's New Clothes thing going or something!?


Many thanks for the info galt! :thumbsup: :huh:
 
720p use 40% of the storage that 1080 does. When you get to this level of resolution, 20 min per card is better han 8 min. Disk storage, post time, everything is affected... And 720p60 will smoke 1080i for clarity. You may still want 1080 anyway, but 720 still the bomb....

She had a heckler who complained that HD was so much more expensive than HDV (mostly he harped on cards and having to buy disks, etc) So she finally admitted that not everyone in the world would want a pro-level HD cam, and that many people are perfectly ciontent to shoot consumer-cams like the Fx-1. :) This guy had about 10 stupid complaints, and most of them proved he wasn't even there for her presentation. He had all the earmarks of a troll.
 
I was wondering that if they aren't bigging up the 1080p feature, it may not be much better than the 720p. I would have thought they would be shouting that this is the ONLY camera to offer 1080p unless you pay around $50,000+.

If they are concentrating on saying how great the 720p is, I suspect that the 1080p doesn't look that much better and has all the other datarate/no 60fps limitations.

Just speculating...
 
Wild speculation, I might add. :) My own guess would be that they're emphasizing the 720p because it looks damn good and is more bang for the buck on pricey P2 cards. As for the difference between 720p and 1080p--we'll have to wait for the cam to be released. I'd guess it won't be anything like the difference between 480p and 720p, but will still be noticeably better.

mmm said:
I was wondering that if they aren't bigging up the 1080p feature, it may not be much better than the 720p. I would have thought they would be shouting that this is the ONLY camera to offer 1080p unless you pay around $50,000+.

If they are concentrating on saying how great the 720p is, I suspect that the 1080p doesn't look that much better and has all the other datarate/no 60fps limitations.

Just speculating...
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galt said:
Tape is dead.
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I concur with mmm that tape will still be a viable option for many years. The death of U-Matic (3/4" tape) has been predicted since the late 1970's. Although its usage has definitely diminished, there are still boxes of that tapestock being sold every day and those machines are still being serviced and sold.

Having said that, I can't wait for the tapeless future! :)
 
mmm said:
this is the ONLY camera to offer 1080p unless you pay around $50,000+
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Make that $100,000+. This is the ONLY camera offering 1080/24p and/or 1080/30p on this side of $100,000.

I believe 1080/24p should be substantially better, based on specs, than 720/24p. But there's no denying that 720p will have its fans -- something like 90% of the HDTVs in the world are 720p native. And you get variable frame rates in 720p. And 2.5x as much recording time on a P2 card. And the excellent frame-based slow motion.

But with that said, we could also say "the DVX is an excellent 60i camera". It is. But I'd bet 90% of DVXUsers set their switch on 24p and epoxied it there. I expect with the HVX that I'll put it in 1080/24p mode and never look back.
 
Just came back from DV Expo East...they had some reallly nice stuff there. To start off..I went to the Panasonic area..they had some nice cameras there..and they hot a hot model sitting infront of all the cameras. I messed wit all the cameras and i came across the DVX. I had a sudden flashback when i held that camera in my hands...it was verry scary...ne ways.

Then i moved onto the JVC area to check out their shizzz..they had some really nice TV studio cameras but i wasnt all to impressed..the focus rings were wayyy too small and slippery..no grip wat so ever.

I then carried myself off to Canon. They had about 8 XL2 cameras lying around...i picked one up and for the first time of holding an XL2..i wasnt really impreseed...yea...its a nice cam cuz of the ability to change lens..but the feel was wayyyyyyyyyy off..my dad tried it..he didnt like it either.

Later on i swooooped over to Sony..they had some nice cameras too. The studio cameras were phenominal. The lens were so sensetive to touch it was crazy. I barely turned the focus ring and zoom and they jus turned blurry and zoomed in like mega fast. Very good quality for HD cameras.

Then behind those cameras...i had to check out Vegas 6.0...the exibitor thats supposed to be there was on break..so im sitting there onthe computer..playin around with Vegas to see what kind of clips are on the computer...and i had a badge on my shirt..so I looked like an exibitor..and some guy comes up to me and asked me questions about it...thinking I was there to teach people about the program. Well...i schooled him and like 6 other people on Vegas...then the exibitor came back and told me to get the hell outta there. haha.

Then on to EZ FX..they had 2 jibs/cranes there. Those things are the coolest things to play with..and they had the Varizoom controllers hooked up to them so you pan, tilt, and zoom the cameras...i was spying on the unsuspecting hot model from Panasonic above her. haha...cuz the crane was right next to the Panasonic station.

Then off to the Apple area...they had the biggest booth of all. They had the work station there of like 20 computers. Giving like some new features of their new softwares..i didnt really pay attention..but I did notice the Mulitcam editing...that seems really cool..you click on certain clips that are playing and it cuts to those clips on the timeline...and they are all synced thru timecodes.

Then i cameby these really cool looking screens...they were like 4 inches big...some had 10 too..and some HD. Check out the site... www.LCDRacks.com

Then we checke dout Serious Magic Ultra's booth...i saw that dude Karl Miller or w.e his name is from the website who gives those presentations about Ultra...him and some other bald dude were there infront of green screens. They had some pretty impressive stuff. The DV Rack is pretty cool software if you need on field color, gamma, etc. adjustments to your picture..and it does live capturing too.

Then after walking around for about 4 hours, we left. They had some really cool stuff...I suggest anyone whos free tomorrow..to really go check it out....and the DV Expo West is coming to L.A. in December.
 
blckhawk542 said:
They had some really cool stuff...I suggest anyone whos free tomorrow..to really go check it out....and the DV Expo West is coming to L.A. in December.
Click to expand...


Wish I could, but wrong country :(

Cheers for the info blckhawk.
 
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