EX1 vs HMC40 vs HMC150 vs XHA1

jrod81

Veteran
Okay guys
I have been hired to do some live event shooting for a local law firm. They basically do some community involvement activities and basically want me to go shoot it and put it on their website. Anyway, they have given me a $10k-$12k budget but that has to get camera, audio, software, and a mac. So, I would like to go with an HMC40 and then also get a Canon 60D (cause they also want some spot ads like a short documentary with past clients). What would the 40 be lacking over an EX1, an HMC150, or even the ole trust XHa1 (and I will get a firestore or something so it will be tapeless).
thanks for the help gang
jared
 
The hmc40 is very sharp but its light sensitivity is nowhere near the hmc150 or ex1. Those also have Xlr ports for audio which are an extra cost option for the 40. The others have more physical lens controls and buttons too. The hmc40's main advantages are tiny size and tiny pricetag. If you dont need the tiny size, look at the hmc80. If CMOS skew or flash banding are going to be issues for you, the xha1 and hmc150 are both CCD.
 
found this definition but i am having trouble making sense of it:
(Flash-band artifacts are partially-exposed frames resulting from bright short-duration flashes of light such as from camera flashes, strobe lights, etc.)
does it mean that if i was shooting a wedding for example and someone took a picture with a flash on their camera that my footage would have a lingering flash from their camera?
 
It means half your frame would be exposed with the bright flash, and the other half would be exposed at the non-flash exposure level.
 
For events I'd recommend EX1s but they're out of your budget I'm afraid. The HMC150 is the next best camera and should fit within your budget.

The 40 looks great for outdoor shooting but does not have the professional controls/ergonomics/audio inputs the other two give you.

Get yourself 3 HMC150s at $2,795.00/each. Get a wireless mic kit (2 transmitters, two receivers, two mics). That should leave enough for the Mac and software.
 
Given that they want it for web distribution I'd agree that going the much cheaper HMC150 route makes most sense. The EX1, while it is way sharper and offers a more professional codec, the investment is overkill for web-based stuff.
 
they have given me a $10k-$12k budget but that has to get camera, audio, software, and a mac.
jared

I was just curious to know how a law firm just gave you so much money when you don't have any equipment, meaning that you are not a production company....
I am just curious because i am trying to start my own business and I was wondering how you booked such a job.
Congrats and good luck
 
i am extremely lucky. as a film student in grad school the law firm asked the university to send out an email to all the film students to help them shoot a client reel to pass out to other potential clients... i was the first that responded to the ad and they used me for that. then that started an on going relationship with them where anytime they needed video work they called me to do it. i also started working full time for them gathering case related information through archives and databases. i will actually still be doing that as well as doing the video stuff. in this economy i feel very blessed...
 
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