HMC150 questions answered...

(Sorry if this has been covered in previous threads, I haven't seen it answered) -

What about ergonomics? How does this baby feel in your hands? Like the DVX? HVX? EX-1?
 
How does the HMC150 Zoom Handle?

How does the HMC150 Zoom Handle?

Barry,

Does the HMC150's zoom "feather" better than the DVX or HVX ?
( i.e. Nice smooth gradual deceleration when stopping or starting a zoom )
 
dopeyname101 said:
What about ergonomics? How does this baby feel in your hands? Like the DVX? HVX? EX-1?
Click to expand...
It feels like a DVX. It's 100 times better, ergonomically for long handheld use, than the HVX. And 1000 times better than the EX1. It's feather light, perfectly balanced, and the switches and buttons are mostly all there by feel. I still get a tad confused when reaching for them by feel alone because I'm so used to the HVX's positions, and some things are slightly different on the 150/170, but better. Just have to re-orient my thinking and get used to the new layout.
 
Note to mac users:

Note to mac users:

NOTE TO MAC USERS:

I've been looking at Barry's AVCHD files using the VoltaicHD conversion program. You can download a demo copy from the APPLE WEB Pages. Just got to DOWNLOADS --> ALL DOWNLOADS --> VIDEO; you'll find it on the first page.

VoltaicHD 1.4.1
08/15/2008 AVCHD converter for Mac (PowerPC and Intel). (Shareware)
Click to expand...
The demo version limits you to 10 or 12 conversions and the file can not be bigger than 51 MB. To do more, it costs $35 (USA) to get the key to unlock the software.

The software is a bit on the slow side, because it takes around 7:1 --> 20:1 for the time. So, a 1 minute 720/24p files will take 7 minutes and a 1 minute 1080/60i file takes 20 minutes. However, the output is AIC, so one should be able to take it into iMove or FCE once converted. I have not tried it yet, I'm still busy looking at videos and converting...

Bob Diaz
 
Stupid question for ya Barry. I hate losing my lens caps. Do they have a lens cap built in to the 150, like Sony does with their cameras now (fully integrated and switch operated)?

You also list that there are many pros and cons when comparing the 150 to the 170. Would you mind listing the major ones besides the difference in image quality (which has been discussed ad nauseam I think).
 
Shutter speeds

Shutter speeds

Barry, please list the shutter speeds (especially, will it have slow shutter speeds, like 1/6?).

Also, please confirm: No time lapse? Didn't the DVX100 have time lapse?
 
Note that Voltaic, while a nifty little converter, does not presently support converting to prores.

It only converts to AIC.

Interestingly, the Videomaker download works lickety split in FCP 6.0.4.

But the bare files that Barry provided do not.

And Barry's files do not work in Bootcamp using the Panasonic converter, while I can access and convert the videomaker files in Bootcamp.
 
for anyone on an older G5 it took me about 5 min. to encode with Voltaic the 11 sec 720 60p clip of the seagulls Barry posted with a duocore 2ghz 10.4. opened in quicktime no problem and FCP as well.
 
tbanucci said:
Stupid question for ya Barry. I hate losing my lens caps. Do they have a lens cap built in to the 150, like Sony does with their cameras now (fully integrated and switch operated)?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, no. It's a big plastic snap-in cap.

You also list that there are many pros and cons when comparing the 150 to the 170. Would you mind listing the major ones besides the difference in image quality (which has been discussed ad nauseam I think).
Click to expand...
The 170 uses P2, has HD-SDI, has variable frame rates, records 4 channels of audio, does things like loop recording and interval recording, records SD in DV/DVCPRO/DVCPRO50 in 4:3 and 16:9, and uses intraframe 4:2:2 compression, and has the focus bar and a windowed magnified focus assist.

The 150 does none of those things.

Instead, the 150 offers HDMI, has timecode sync to any LTC timecode device through its audio output jack, and records to $20 SD memory cards (Class 2 for the lower modes, Class 4 for the highest-quality modes). It has a full-screen focus assist (it says "EXPANDED" on the side of the screen to remind you that you're in focus assist mode, but even so I got bitten a couple of times by that.)

Other than that, they're pretty much the same. Oh, and price too: the 170 is $1700 more expensive, but includes $900 worth of goodies ($900 P2 card and $90 book/CD).
 
BobDiaz said:
NOTE TO MAC USERS:

I've been looking at Barry's AVCHD files using the VoltaicHD conversion program.

Bob Diaz
Click to expand...

Bob, I used Voltaic to convert the files which took an awfully long time on a g5 quad. But besides that, did you notice any artifacts - especially in the sky ?(by the beach footage)
I'm seeing alot of artifacts there and I'm wondering if it's the transcoding program (voltaic) or my monitor or the avchd.
 
The Edius converter has two modes with very different speeds. Right click on file and select convert will use just one cpu core, dragging the file over the desktop icon will use all available cores. On my quad core Q9450 the speed change is considerable. I can transfer from my Sony SR11 to PC and convert to Canopus HQ in just over realtime. Since the transfer take about 1/3 realtime conversion is very fast. To me using AVCHD from my SR11 is about the same as capturing HDV from my FX1. Transfer from SD cards should be a lot quicker than the hard drive in the SR11. As Barry has said, once in HQ file format editing can be done in realtime on the Edius time line and Vegas or programs like TMPGenc also will work with the HQ file. The 150 looks really interesting looks like a good replacement for my FX1.

Ron Evans
 
Hey Barry and friends,

Thanks for all your posts.. Man, this forum is so informative. It's amazing.. I feel like I am cheating when it come to learning technology.. This by far is one of the best ways to learn.. Also, Barry's books.. Of course.. You rock!! Quick questions. I have been using a 100B for almost a year and I am ready for the HD jump. I do mostly weddings and we do same day edits as well. As you can imagine, those get pretty intense and you need to be super quick with editing. At events I'm on a Mac Book Pro.. I have two main questions.

1. From the HMC can I choose in and out points on a clip and be able to import those into FCP? or will I have to import the whole clip? Maybe some FCP guys can chime in here. I think if would be so amazing to scan though my clips and just nab the quick little pieces I need. Just the ones I need instead of having to go through a whole tape.. I did a little test with the Videomaker files and the transcoded super fast to ProRez HQ.

2. I am confused on the 1080i compared to 720P. In general, and not just from the HMC or any HD camera, how do they compare. 720P is obviously progress, which is full frames, 1080i is interlaced but the resolution is bigger. What's better? People have said the HMC is the 720p camera. So is that still nice looking HD? Will that fill the screen on a standard HDTV. or will it not? Kinda confused..

So the HMC can shoot 60p? So that means I can get better slow motion than out of my DVX 100B right? So is 60p like 120i ?

Signed, a confused but getting more unconfused DVX user..

Thanks again..

B.p.

2.
 
Barry_Green said:
Skies look nearly grainless when played on my HDTV through HDMI.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I guess it could be the voltaic transcoding. I wouldn't be able to use voltaic anyway at the speeds I'm getting. I guess I'll have to wait and see how the "early adopters" adapt! I've been using the hvx for over 2 years now and totally relied on a 4x 4 gig p2 card + p2 store workflow, until the p2 store just expired. I am tempted by the hmc because of the increased low light performance and the cheap media- I am honestly nervous of the workflow especially with my mac quad- and fcp 5.1.4
 
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