HDX100 or Z1 for documentary?

[Michael_Bott]

Barry said an interesting thing in another post:

- I believe that the Z1 will be part of the inventory list in documentary production companies, but that there will be far, far more "comparable" Panasonic HD cameras in the inventories of production companies who produce commercials and films.

Up until I read that I had kind of assumed that as a DVX user producing documentaries (AND I prefer 16:9 25p filmlook), that when the new panny came out it would be my natural progression. However, I'm not so sure now and it's got me thinking.

I've got a project coming up that's going to demand HD - in fact I think I've been putting off even contemplating it until HD was accessible in the way it's becoming. Thing is it's going to require a lot of field work - often filming miles from anywhere and the idea of doing that with a camera that hasn't got tape and has only expensive cards that run out afetr 8 minutes doesn't appeal. And I won't want to be carrying a laptop around. I also think archiving is an issue for documentary makers - the idea of storing stuff on hard drives just doesn't work for me, or am I missing something?

So, the question is: should I be thinking seriously about the Z1? As a documentary maker would this suit me better? What do you guys think?

 

[xray]

Re: HDX100 or Z1 for documentary?

Shooting independent documentary you need a camera system that is reliable, lightweight, with available extra parts (like raincoat etc). Also sensitivity (low light situations) and low battery use are important as is HQ sound.

If you are shooting a lot of material, shooting on tape is a better alternative then P2. Sure, when shooting on film you need a close shooting ratio 1:3 or a large budget. Shooting on videotape cost you less, and for some docs you need to shoot a lot raw material. I like the P2 concept, but not now... The speedy memorycards are expensive, (maybe you can use a Apple Ipod 60 gig to dump material on?) or a laptop. If you are shooting in a environment where you can dump raw material you will be fine with the P2 cards, otherwise in a lonesome country in the dessert or in the cold poles storing on tape seems a better idea. A tape is very light, cheap, easy to store and transport.
But not so fast to transfer to the editing computer. And with the compression/MPEG faults, tape is hard to control your shoot.

But shooting with the Z1? I like the 16:9/ 25P idea and with the Sony it is not available. It also consumes a lot of power. Until now, we don't now if the new Panny will be ideal in a documentary shoot. So for an upcoming project the choice for the Panny cant be made, and the Sony with its problems is an available alternative.

If you can shoot a documentary with a camera you can shoot a commercial with it, why not? Shooting commercials is just using everything to create your image, in a controllable situation. You need a camera and a truck full of other toys...

 

[princigalli]

by the time the panasonic comes out, P2 cards max even be cheaper than tapes, or at least at a rasonable price. But by that time, even Ipods will probably be able to capture HD