Help a clueless film student: HVX200 or HVX200a
- Thread starter cwminor
- Start date
cvminor, horses for courses -- just depends on your shooting style and preferences, your capabilities, the types of projects you do, etc. Apologies for playing devil's advocate here, but I urge you to have a hard think before you spend money! You've got a limited budget, so make it count. Do you need to buy anything else, or can you make do with what you've got?
Some more considerations:
-- Look for sample footage of HMC150 (on YouTube etc). Compare it to your 550d. What do you like? What would suit your projects? (No right answer; just depends.)
-- Lens quality can make a big difference to an image -- they affect everything -- sharpness, colours, contrast, distortion... Matthew Libatique once said that lenses matter more to him than camera. A camera like the AF-100 looks much better when you swap the kit lens out for a prime lens. Is it worth you buying a better lens instead of another camera?
-- Low-light capability and depth of field (unless you invest in a 35mm adapter) are on the side of DSLRs. As well as inconspicuousness, fitting into small spaces, etc. Big zoom and freedom from worry about rolling shutter and aliasing and recording times are on the side of the HMC150, since it's actually a real video camera.
-- How much do you care about zooming while recording? I assume you mean slow, creeping zooms rather than crash zooms. Can you get by without this camera trick? Can you use a dolly or slider instead? Can you get by doing small digital zooms in post?
-- Are you happy with audio quality on HMC150 vs separate recorder? Do you have the capability to sync up sound in post (with elbow grease or a program like Plural Eyes)?
Some more considerations:
-- Look for sample footage of HMC150 (on YouTube etc). Compare it to your 550d. What do you like? What would suit your projects? (No right answer; just depends.)
-- Lens quality can make a big difference to an image -- they affect everything -- sharpness, colours, contrast, distortion... Matthew Libatique once said that lenses matter more to him than camera. A camera like the AF-100 looks much better when you swap the kit lens out for a prime lens. Is it worth you buying a better lens instead of another camera?
-- Low-light capability and depth of field (unless you invest in a 35mm adapter) are on the side of DSLRs. As well as inconspicuousness, fitting into small spaces, etc. Big zoom and freedom from worry about rolling shutter and aliasing and recording times are on the side of the HMC150, since it's actually a real video camera.
-- How much do you care about zooming while recording? I assume you mean slow, creeping zooms rather than crash zooms. Can you get by without this camera trick? Can you use a dolly or slider instead? Can you get by doing small digital zooms in post?
-- Are you happy with audio quality on HMC150 vs separate recorder? Do you have the capability to sync up sound in post (with elbow grease or a program like Plural Eyes)?
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I do all around video work and are planning to do a documentary in the spring. I feel like the HMC 150 has the cheapest media (vs p2) and will allow me to do many things DSLR cannot (without spending even more on equipment). I do love the t2i I was using for the DOF but as its not designed to be video camera (yet) i needed an actual video camera such as the hvx or hmc 150. I started this thread to discuss more about which video camera to purchase rather than a debate between DSLR and camcorders. Thank you though for the consideration.
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maranfilms
Veteran
I use both dslr, gh2, t3i, and a traditional camcorder, xha1. To be honest. I tested the xha1 against the t3i, the xha1 was sharper in every test. And that was with a redrock m2 encore on the front of it. which it would have been even sharper without it.
I'm with you on getting a hmc 150, it will be the most versatile for the least amount of money. You can still get a decent shallow dof by zooming in, and open up the iris. Of course it's never going to be as good in low light. But I think for a student thats a good thing. WAYYYYY to many people grab a dslr, and shoot without lighting a proper scene. Lighting to me 80% of th image. So with a camera not as good in low light, will make you learn to light a scene. Also, keep in mind, your only gonna be shooting with it for a couple years, it's not forever. Believe me when I say, there's lots of beautiful footage of the hmc 150 out there. there's no reason to listen to the guys a bnh, when you know what you want. Besides, them not wanting to sell a camera is obsurd, goto aderama.
I'm with you on getting a hmc 150, it will be the most versatile for the least amount of money. You can still get a decent shallow dof by zooming in, and open up the iris. Of course it's never going to be as good in low light. But I think for a student thats a good thing. WAYYYYY to many people grab a dslr, and shoot without lighting a proper scene. Lighting to me 80% of th image. So with a camera not as good in low light, will make you learn to light a scene. Also, keep in mind, your only gonna be shooting with it for a couple years, it's not forever. Believe me when I say, there's lots of beautiful footage of the hmc 150 out there. there's no reason to listen to the guys a bnh, when you know what you want. Besides, them not wanting to sell a camera is obsurd, goto aderama.
wgzn
Veteran
but i bet my hiney he didnt tell you about canons propensity for moire or 12 min clip limit or any kind of audio needs did he?
salesmen are generally motivated for a variety of reasons (some of them dubious) to move certain products. dont let them sway you if youve already made a decision you're comfortable with...
as several folks have mentioned. there ARE reasons to go DSLR. but for the specific needs youve specified. right now, i wouldnt.
the things youve listed simply arent the domain of a DSLR.
an hmc150/hpx170/hvx200a is a kind of swiss army knife of video. to make a DSLR do all that would take a batch of extra external gear.
yeah, there are a couple things a DSLR is handy for. but if i had to make one camera serve as many masters as possible. i would NOT go DSLR.
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Another thought -- one aspect of this is, "What is the best camera to learn on?". It's not just about what is the best tool for various jobs, nor about whether the OP's existing camera is enough to get by. Hence the OP's instructors urging him to get a camera with zoom.
It may be that the HVX200 is a good choice from this point of view so you can shoot on tape as well as tapeless. Tape's a good discipline to learn. Or even a shoulder mounted standard definition ENG-style camera. You definitely learn things by lugging one of those around all day.
It may be that the HVX200 is a good choice from this point of view so you can shoot on tape as well as tapeless. Tape's a good discipline to learn. Or even a shoulder mounted standard definition ENG-style camera. You definitely learn things by lugging one of those around all day.