HMC150 as B camera to EX1- Will it work?

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kmoreau893

Active member
I have had a Sony EX1 for about a year. I love that camera for the image, latitude, detail, slo-mo, and now that we've found a way to record on cheaper SDHC media, it's even better.

However, a couple things, it's kind of unergonomic, heavy, and the CMOS, while beautiful, does exhibit rolling shutter behavior, and because I sometimes like to do smoothcam in post, the jello-image is not all that desirable.

So I got a HMC150 because it's got CCDs and does not have the rolling shutter. I did a few tests with it, really basic stuff, and have yet to really analyze the footage, though what I looked at, a few things were good, some was bad. I still need some time to find out how to optimize the clarity and color. I really liked the HMC150's ergonomics, I'd owned a couple DVX100's in the past and it reminded me of that camcorder. I like it a lot better than the HVX200, which I had a chance to use last year and wasn't all that impressed with the image quality or the bulk and weight.

I don't have a problem with the workflow, I use FCP 6.0.5 and I can work in Prores or whatever. That's not a problem. My question is in the 2 camera's images, will they be able to match up? The question is, will I be able to cut between the EX1 and the HMC150 or am I asking for trouble?

Please give me your opinions, I really want to hear what you think!
 
You'll find the 150 image a lot softer, the tape-based Canon XH-A1 would be a better match IMHO :)
 
OK, I'll try that one. I'm trying to get away from tape, which is what attracted me to the HMC150, after looking at more video, I agree, I guess the sensor is similar to the HVX200, which is somewhat soft. I'm still analyzing some tests. Any other opinions?
 
Panasonic cameras have traditionally used lower res sensors with larger pixels (feel free to correct me,) the trade off though is in better colour reproduction and a more organic analogue looking image as opposed to Sony's sharper live-TV type image IMHO.
 
The only thing about "live-TV" type image is movement itself. Shoot interlaced and it screems TV.
All of these cameras shooting 24P, have a non video look.

It's the other things I see so many who shoot video make the same mistake over and over >
watch your exposure. Blown out video looks cheap and is tied to the mind set of video.
I'm sure we've all watched cheap budget (video) movies and seen horrible exposures.

Of course, the number one thing is composition and lighting. If you shoot flat lighting boring spaces, it will be just that. Sure you can tweak your gamma, color, contrast and any other knob you can get your tech hands on, but boring images are just that, boring.

Detail and sharpness are not the same parameter. I can make an SD image sharp (720x480), but it will never have as much information (detail) as an HD image (1920x1080).
 
I guess what I'm looking for is not necessarily a lesson in videography, though appreciated, I have pretty good chops there, but just if somebody has used an EX1 and cut in a HMC150 with it, will it ever work or or is destined to be -that's an EX1 ... oh and there's he's cutting in the HMC150 footage there... etc. I guess I'm looking for somebody to save me a bunch of time with their opinions before I do all the work and testing with it.

Am I asking for trouble?
 
I would think that it depends upon your intended delivery method. If it's DVD or web version then the differences might be slight... but if you were doing a blow up or an exhibition then you might notice some differences.


As you noted.. it's not always just about how sharp an image is. I still think that panasonic has the most pleasing image out of all of the cameras.. and it's a pleasure to shoot with. That EX1 is fortunate to shoot a nice image as it stinks to handheld and Sony has a real way of fing up their layout of their cameras. Their broadcast cams are so difference than their prosumer mods. .. not the same with the panny...
 
What about an Canon A1 with a Firestore drive? It becomes tapeless then, but I guess it isn't SD cards like your EX1. There is also the compact flash recorder from Sony that works with the A1 as well...still not SD cards though :).

Throwing it out there.

Best,
Andy
 
You can also use the nw Sony CF card recorder (I forget the model #, same as comes on the Z7U, and S270U) on the A1. These recordrs are now about $900, but will likely come down sooner than later.
Then you'd have the option of running CF card and/or tape.
 
There was a post where Barry Green mentioned his time trying to match the color and look of an EX-1 & an HVX-200.

He said one needs to approach it from the EX-1 side and match the EX-1 to the Panasonic model as the EX-1 has more controls.

From what I remember he said the two matched up in the end.
 
I would rather be able to match the Panny to the Sony, just cause the Sony is my A camera and would be used for a majority of the shots. If I have to do some post on the HMC150 footage that's ok, as long as it is doable. I'll look for Barry Green's posts on this, thanks for the hint.

I'm going to do more tests and see. I've also just got the Canon XH A1, gonna try that out too. Let's keep this thread going and thanks so far, everybody for the replies.
 
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