DVX100A or HVX200?

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Obey_Tarantino

New member
I want to buy a camera soon and i know that both of these cameras are very good but i only have a buget of 5,000. I can afford the HVX with my budget but i also wanted to get a computer to edit. I was thinkin if i go the HVX i could stretch out a little and buy m2 lens adapter and maybe a follow focus, but no computer. i saw a sample clip of the hvx with the adapter and nikon lens and it look pimpin. If i got the DVX100A i could get the adapter and follow focus fo sure, and have some left over so i could save up some money and get a comp, but i dont know what a dvx looks like the adapter. So which one of these should i get and do you guys know any sites that have samples of the dvx with the adapter?
 
5,000.00 won't get you a ready to go HVX-200 package. From a reputable dealer the camera is $5300.00- 5500.00 and the P2 cards will set you back $1100.00 for 8 gb and $400.00-ish for a 4 gb.

For your budget, I'd check out the Canon XH-G1 ($4000.00) before the 100A. The XH-G1 is a much better deal, and a lot more capable. HDV, 20x lens etc...

FWIW- I own a Panasonic 100, 100A and Hvx-200A.
 
Hotchkiss.. You can find the cam from a reputable dealer for less than 5k. I have sent quite a few people to AVS in San Diego. When I got my cam in March I only paid 5600 and it came with a P2 card. My buddy just bought one from them and since I have sent her like 5 people, she sold it to him for 4799. And they are great.
 
Yes, the free 8gb P2 card deal is still going on so the initial P2 investment price is moot.

Go for the HVX200, don't worry about the adapter so much right off the bat, just get a decent computer to edit your footage with first. Remember, the HVX200 can do some nice SD as well so you don't need to go all out on a high-end computer or anything. The adapter can wait, it's the cheapest thing between the computer and the camera.
 
Obey_Tarantino said:
I want to buy a camera soon and i know that both of these cameras are very good but i only have a buget of 5,000. I can afford the HVX with my budget but i also wanted to get a computer to edit. I was thinkin if i go the HVX i could stretch out a little and buy m2 lens adapter and maybe a follow focus, but no computer. i saw a sample clip of the hvx with the adapter and nikon lens and it look pimpin. If i got the DVX100A i could get the adapter and follow focus fo sure, and have some left over so i could save up some money and get a comp, but i dont know what a dvx looks like the adapter. So which one of these should i get and do you guys know any sites that have samples of the dvx with the adapter?
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How much can you "Stretch"? Don't forget, dvcpro HD, at the best resolution, is about one gygabite per minute- you'll need some external HDD for the footage, and you'll want something reliable, since its your master footage. This is going to cost you $. And one 8gb won't cut it. You'll probably need an extra 4 gig and a laptop with pcmia for continuous recording, or a firestore. All in all, if you're not getting a grey market camera, that is, you're looking for a 7000 $ investment.

For that budget, I would second Hotchkiss suggestion- But I would get the Canon A1, and not the G1, which is the high end HD-SDI out model (not the H1) that costs about $7000. The A1 can be bought at 3990. So, with $5000 and some "stretching", you're getting everything: The computer, the mini 35 adapter, a still nikkor or canon lens, and a fine HD camera.

I own a HVX, but I believe you need a much bigger budget than 5000 for a satisfactory HVX package.

EDIT- Hotchkiss, you have to show me your HVX200a! Does it have a better resolution LCD? The FLip? Higher resolution chips? Different body color? :)
 
Obey_Tarantino said:
I was thinkin if i go the HVX i could stretch out a little and buy m2 lens adapter and maybe a follow focus, but no computer. i saw a sample clip of the hvx with the adapter and nikon lens and it look pimpin.
Click to expand...


Believe me..... if you dont know what youre doing, ANY camera will look like shiot.

Before you get ahead of yourslef and spend money on something that may not satisfy your eyes. spend your money on a ROCKIN Lighting kit, and a DVX. The 35mm lens adapters are difficult to use if youre not prepared to deal with the work flow. If you think youre up to it, go ahead and get it, but you will quickly find that your footage looks off, missing that certian something. Unless youre lighting skills are OFF the chain already, in which case go for it.

i know this isnt the cool glamourous advice, of "buy the really expensive camera", but if you learn to light FIRST you will wind up with significantly better finihsed product.

Visually anyway.
 
After you buy the HVX, and its in your possession you will discover real fast how much more $$$ you need to make what you want... It kinda sucks at first, cause it sucks your pockets dry! If I could say one thing is that $5000 is definitely not enough for a decent package, as stated before and if you cant make the rest meet you will just end up frustrated!
 
Once you buy your HVX you'll probably want:

A camera bag or road case - $150-$350
At least 1 extra high capacity battery maybe 2 $79-$140
At least 2 4gig P2 cards preferably 2 8gig cards. $1200 - $2500
tripod with a decent fluid head so you can pan without looking amateur $1200
dolly so you can actually have camera movement $500
lighting kit and assorted reflectors flags and grip gear $1200-$3000
mattebox so your lights dont wash out your contrast $1200
follow focus $500
remote zoom $250
35mm adapter $500-1000
laptop for offloading (more if for editing too) $1000-$3000
at least 1 large external hard drive for footage, maybe 2 (300-500gigi) $600
A few spindles of blank DVD-Rs to back up those hard drives. $60

total: $6739-$12618 depending on lowest or highst cost choices.
conclusion: the camera may be the most expensive single component, but it's a small part of your total filmmaking equipment budget.

(note ALL VALUES ARE APPROXIMATIONS)
 
Arson, there are some things he doesn't "need"to buy on that list, don't you think? :)

The Dolly and the Follow Focus, for example. The rest seems pretty essential, indeed.

Bu the tripod, lighting, 35mm adapter, camera bag, mate box are components you would have to buy for the canon or any other camera too, so its an expense one should take into consideration when buying any camera. Good advice!
 
you can live without a matte box. i have never bought one, nor have i ever felt the need.
 
TimurCivan said:
you can live without a matte box. i have never bought one, nor have i ever felt the need.
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I don't have one, either, and have worked fine with the HVX, but, in a business perspective, after some years in the TV comercial business, I figure its going to be my next purchase: ridiculously enough, not for how it works, but for the looks. Its good for business. Clients are normally suits type of people, and they care more about appearances than the actual benefit or quality of the gear. With a mate box, a typical client just feels impressed with your gear, and you can charge more. Of course, you can also take advantage of what a matte box can give you in therms of adding filters, etc.
 
hotchkiss said:
5,000.00 won't get you a ready to go HVX-200 package. From a reputable dealer the camera is $5300.00- 5500.00 and the P2 cards will set you back $1100.00 for 8 gb and $400.00-ish for a 4 gb.

For your budget, I'd check out the Canon XH-G1 ($4000.00) before the 100A. The XH-G1 is a much better deal, and a lot more capable. HDV, 20x lens etc...

FWIW- I own a Panasonic 100, 100A and Hvx-200A.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the typo. My HVX-200 is just fine.
 
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