EX-1 for broadcast in PAL land?

dariomik

dariomik

Active member
Hello Everyone,

I may be finally able to get my own gear (after many months of educating myself from these great forums while driving an 18-wheeler - doing long haul on same routes all the time can get dull you know - so beware of a red volvo semi with an open laptop sitting on the CB if you're anywhere between Chicago and L.A. :D

I'm thinking of HVX and EX-1 probably leaning towards the latter one. Now, as far as I know, the EX-1 doesn't come in a 25p version while the HVX does. So, since my chances of having my material broadcast are mainly by a Polish tv (in PAL), plus I'll probably be moving back to Europe in a year or 2, I was wondering how you PAL guys are coping with your EX-1s for broadcast usage.

Is there a nice workflow for that using FCP2 (of which I'm also thinking)?

Many thanks in advance,

Derek

p.s. I'm a newbie I should say
 
dariomik said:
That's great news!
Click to expand...

Well, not quite.

Granted, the camera is switchable between 50i and 60i - 'PAL area' and 'NTSC area', but because it doesn't 'do' Standard Definition, PAL and NTSC don't actually apply. Strictly speaking.

You can record at 25p, 50p and 50i (simple conversion to PAL 50i), and shoot with a 1/60 shutter (60Hz lighting in the US).

But if you go the EX-1 route, you WILL be downconverting to Standard Definition for broadcast in PAL-land (not many stations are HD-ready). That in its self can raise a bunch of questions (shoot 720p50 for interlaced PAL or 1080p25 for extra resolution or 720p25 for extra shooting time per card).
 
I would definitely go with the HVX. While the EX has great resolution and creates a nice image it is a HD camera only. You won´t be able to give away a tape. You will always have to downconvert (which might cause image-problems). I have access to both and whenever the outcome is more likely SD-PAL the HVX is used.
Just yesterday I shot miniDV with the HVX for a national broadcaster here, because they needed a tape to use it asap for a newscut. If you work with European networks the HVX beats the EX in terms of usability.
If you will only give away material that is edited by you and has time to be converted-then maybe go with the EX.
 
In the HVX section I've been looking for re-assurance that the HVX is a better allrounder than say the Sony HVR-Z7E. As a newbie I had'nt spotted that the HVX section was hardly the place to look, that said the advice was constructive and appreciated. My point here is that the Sony Z7E may be a more useful comparison with the HVX than say the Ex1, as it offers Tape and Compactflash. Otherwise similar spec and size and in Europe priced a bit cheaper. You may sense that I'm kite-flying as in, I'm as much looking for advice as offering it. Sold my 16mm gear six months ago and still cant make up my mind vis Pan HVX200 vis Sony HVR-Z7E. If I'm this slow choosing a camera just as well I'm not casting! Mike
 
Great points all around, but I've never had problems downconverting to SD, at least on the editing timeline. You get much more resolution, so a downconvert from an HD timeline is better than straight SD.

It is nice to have an HVX with a tape drive, though.

It all comes down to what is the best camera for you. You can always rent both cameras and do some shooting to compare the two. That's always a great way to see which is the best camera for you.

David
 
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