Hmc150 vs hpx170 for low light shooting. Which is better?

8string

8string

Well-known member
Looking for a second camera and one of the issues is low light ability. Not wild about my 150s ability, have been relying on a 7d to backfill. Anyone compared the 150 to the 170 in this regards? Or are the newer 160s really worth waiting for if light is a concern? I don 't think I want to spend the $ on an a f100.
 
150 and 170 should be identical in sensitivity and low light capability. Haven't tested them directly, but they're the same chipsets and the same processing so they should deliver the same image.
 
Thanks Barry. Looking at the specs that is what I would think, but I wondered if the 4:2:2 space and codec made a difference. I like my 150a lot and w/12 db it does a decent job, but the larger sensor in the 7d (and I assume the a f1oo) just blows it away. I have recently shot footage that dramatically shows the difference to me at least. But I love the 150 & I assume the hvx also ergonomics.
 
8string said:
Looking for a second camera and one of the issues is low light ability. Not wild about my 150s ability, have been relying on a 7d to backfill. Anyone compared the 150 to the 170 in this regards? Or are the newer 160s really worth waiting for if light is a concern? I don 't think I want to spend the $ on an a f100.
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The AC160 is currently set at under $5,500 - but we all know that should come down a bit. Still, it should be somewhere around the AF100 price. I think The AC130 at under $4,000 is going to be a stellar performer, given that it has the same chips as the HPX370 (just like the AC160 and HPX250). It's all just educated guessing, but since you have a 150 already and are shooting - I think it's worth seeing what these things are capable of.
 
Hmmm... maybe not so relevant, but I often shoot simultaneously with and HVX200a and HMC150 (same sensors and codecs, at least, as the comparison you're discussing). My gut feeling is that the HMC actually seems to deliver slightly more usable latitude than the HVX. Whether this is due to improvements that are shared by the HMC and HPX170, or due to codec differences, I cannot say for certain...

They both get a little smeary in low light, but are still pretty good for 1/3" cams. I am typically shooting stage events with VERY wide latitude, so am generally optimized for highlight handling rather than shadow... but these cams generally let me get something decent in post for the whole range. Decent being by live-event standards!

Yes, the 160/130 look very promising... for my purposes, no concern at all with rolling shutter jello (likely i'd use mainly locked down for a wide shot), but need to see about flash banding! Every once in a while a lighting designer will do something that seems likely might be problematic for that.....
 
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i've testet the hmc151 and hpx171 side by side regarding low light. they are the same in this aspect. in post i could tweak the hpx171 little further.
 
i shot a show with two 170s and one 150 last weekend. and all settings being equal, the 150 was a little less saturated and a little less contrasty. but as far as low light goes. there was little if any noticeable difference.
 
Thanks! This sort of confirms my thoughts that there doesn't seem to be a lot of difference between the two, they could be used to back each other up, and that, unless I was being asked to shoot for broadcast on tv, which is an outside chance at this point, there doesn't appear to be a great deal of difference in going the P2 route. For web video it seems I'm ok for now, and that a B cam could wait until the new gear rolls out, or I find a great deal on a used piece of gear, like a low hours 2xx. I'm very interested in the new 16x line, as the notion of bringing the Intra codec into my price range, along with a longer tele, is very compelling. At least without knowing it's downsides. Flash banding is a very real concern, as some concerts flash is allowed. Maybe with two cameras I can cut to the b cam to avoid it. As mentioned, I usually have wide latitude with good stage lighting, but occassionaly I'm crushed with super low light, and have to rely on my 7D, which gets me through. I'd love to see something that can get another stop of light out of things, and the AF100 seems, at this point, my only hope, obiwan.

But I will try and wait and see how low the 3MOS ('don't call it cmos -G) world goes on the new gear.
 
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