F3 Sound Device PIX 220 or PIX 240 main video recording difference

cckid

cckid

Well-known member
Hi,

I am looking for the best price performer in terms of external recorders for the F3 and it seems that the PIX 240 is getting great customer feedback...I came across his little brother the PIX 220 which seems also a great and considerably cheaper option...apart from the additional sound recording capabilities of the 240 is there anything worth mentioning in terms of advantages of the PIX 240 against the PIX 220 - in terms of video capabilities? thanks for the input...
otherwise the PIX 220 seems the way to go....
 
HD-SDI vs HDMI

HD-SDI vs HDMI

I think the recording capabilities are the same (i.e. 10bit for both the 220 and 240.) You've got to read the specs carefully on the Sound Devices website and also take the time to send them an email. I found them to be very helpful and informative and they answered questions in plain language. Eventually I went for the Pix 240 to allow for all options. From what I've read, the experts prefer using HD-SDI because the connection is sturdier than the domestic HDMI connection. That's probably advisable if you're going to use it in rugged locations.

I was trying to save money as well, but if you consider that the next recorder up is something like a Gemini at double the price, you may as well go for the best of the Sound Devices and cover all bases.
 
Peter G. Johnson said:
I think the recording capabilities are the same (i.e. 10bit for both the 220 and 240.) You've got to read the specs carefully on the Sound Devices website and also take the time to send them an email. I found them to be very helpful and informative and they answered questions in plain language. Eventually I went for the Pix 240 to allow for all options. From what I've read, the experts prefer using HD-SDI because the connection is sturdier than the domestic HDMI connection. That's probably advisable if you're going to use it in rugged locations.

I was trying to save money as well, but if you consider that the next recorder up is something like a Gemini at double the price, you may as well go for the best of the Sound Devices and cover all bases.
Click to expand...


yeahhh noooo. The hdmi output of the f3, (and every other camera currently on the market) is 8-bit only. Recording using an hdmi connection will net you 8-bit recordings. (tested with a generated SAW pattern out of camera, into an intensity shuttle)
 
Fohdeesha said:
yeahhh noooo. The hdmi output of the f3, (and every other camera currently on the market) is 8-bit only. Recording using an hdmi connection will net you 8-bit recordings. (tested with a generated SAW pattern out of camera, into an intensity shuttle)
Click to expand...

Isn't the EX-1 10bit 422?
 
Yeah No.... Both 220 and 240 will be recording 10 bit. Though through HDMI you will be recording 8 bit signal in 10 bit quality. Which is no gain.

Yes, EX-1 and 3 output 10bit 422.
 
Screen Shot 2012-09-21 at 9.36.59 AM.jpg

Found this on another Forum almost a year ago. Trying to find out if the F3 really does have a 10 bit output through HDMI. This post seems to state that, anybody have more proof? I've read the manual a few times and unless I missed it, couldn't find any info on the HDMI output just HDSDI as 10 bit.

This would make the Sound Devices 220i the winner for me instead of dropping more cash on the 240 just to get SDI inputs.
 
It can be a 10-bit wrapper all you want, but if the image within it is only 8-bit... then it is 8-bit despite Sony's 10-bit claim. Hence "gray" area.
 
I'm sorry, that doesn't make sense to me at all. How can a technical spec like 8 or 10 bit output be a gray area?
I don't really get it I guess. Is it not a HDMI 1.4 port?
 
The quality is only as good as the weakest link in the chain. I can record sound at 8-bit then save it as 16-bit. I can take an 8-bit video signal and send it 10-bit or even 12-bit but its only as good as 8-bit.

So someone from Sony will tell you the spec, which is 10-bit. But that does not mean the information originated with 10-bit sampling.
 
The PIX can record 10-bit through HDMI, and HDMI is technically capable of transporting 10-bit. But it all comes down to whether the camera's HDMI throughput is 8-bit or 10-bit. And in the case of all video cameras I've seen to date, that throughput has only been 8-bit.
 
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