HMC40 or HMC70

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drdimento

Well-known member
OK, we have tried a Canon HF10 and a Panasonic TM300 for possible B Roll cameras to our two HMC150's and although somewhat functional they are difficult to control the scene set up and much too small for our operation, let alone they are at least 3 to 5 f stops below our hmc150's needing at least 6 to 18db in medium light set ups and that's just not going to look right I'm sure image-wise.

So, we down to deciding between the HMC40 and the HMC70, the former sort of small and the latter nice pro looking for this B Roll set up. However, all I can find in specs indicate that the HMC70 "does not" do the top two formats including the "PH" series. Can anyone confirm this? I mean, I downloaded the spec sheet and it looks like all it does is the bottom three Xmbs rates.

If anyone has either of these and can offer advise to our B Roll need, I'd be pleased to hear the result therein. Would love to go with the 70 because of the lower price ($1699) and the free Panasonic BRD player BUT if it doesn't have the bit rate profiles, it won't work.

Thanks in advance.
 
Do not go with the 70, tried it. After 1 wedding I knew matching with the HMC is just not going to happen. It does not shoot good quality PH, it uses a lower 1080/60i format.

I would say the 40 is a MUCH better option... just loose 3 stops of light. So if you have light you are fine, but if you don't you are not going to be happy.
 
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I have the HMC40 - it seems to use the same sensor and lens as the TM300. So you're gonna see the same 3 stop difference between your HMC150's. But if you have enough light is produces some really nice video - sharper than the HMC150.

Nice form factor and I think they have done a good job with the limited space for hard control versus menu setttings.

The workflow is identical to the HMC150, so that's a big plus for you.

The only question is can you deal with the 3-stops?
 
MadHMC150 said:
Pro-ish controls... 150 = pro controls
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Depends... I will take pro-ish "when aperture is full open just add gain" over gain selector with predefined values. I will gladly take spot focus in addition to other focusing aids.
 
Thanks, "MadHMC150, rich_r, and Canky" for this great information.

I was sort of afraid of this 3 stop thing on the 40 but I really can't find any other solution. The TM300 and the HF10 both had the same issues but in their case they also looked very "unprofessional" and thus keeping a set up going was terrible. Every time I turned it off, it went back to the same safe mode and high gain and thus I was constantly adjusting to keep in "homed" while I think at least the HMC40 would allow me to set it up manual and run that way since with this camera all we do is put it on a fixed still camera tripod, set it to the set width we want, set the iris and gain to a point that is enough light with as low a gain as we can go to, and then roll without doing anything else. it is used as a "cut to" camera in the event the other two cameras are being moved/adjusted or to make the scene more intesting. Sometimes . . seldom, we move it from one side of the back of the set to the other but that's it.

Also, sounds like a +6 of +9/+12 will be enough to compensate for the f stop difference? As long as we don't have to exceed +9 or +12 we'd be alright because I've had the HMC150's there and up to 12 is pretty much ok although I much prefer no more than 6db.

Anyone know of some other camera that might work that would be in the AVCHD class? I have to say that once we got the HV30 settings it was fabulous with hardly but 3 or 6 gain and at times had to take that down and/or lower the f stop. It was a great B Roll but we sold it AND it would not work in our current configuration with tapeless.
 
The Panasonics remember all settings when turned off, even the consumer models. The Canons remember only, if any, base setup value: shutter speed for Tv mode, aperture for Av mode. Other settings like focus and exposure, are reset, which is a *****.
 
drdimento said:
Really? Are my concerns then not warranted, just my fear from playing with these consumer AVCHD camcorders instead of starting the right way with the HMC40 to begin with?
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The right way would be a 3rd HMC150 - something I have been contemplating for a while... We just rent it if there is a 3rd camera need...

Also a VSLR like the 7D can get you footage the HMC150's cant even get... just only good at short bursts.
 
MadHMC150 said:
The right way would be a 3rd HMC150 - something I have been contemplating for a while... We just rent it if there is a 3rd camera need...

Also a VSLR like the 7D can get you footage the HMC150's cant even get... just only good at short bursts.
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Yes, we'd love to go that route AND if the camera just picked up shooting the next clip on the fly instead of stopping we'd do it for sure. But a friend of ours in the UK has one and has sent us footage from it and the 5D MKii and quite comparable, in fact the 7d looks more awesome on some shots, but he said that at the end of the 10 to 12 mins the thing stops and you would have to start it again and that simply would complicate our lives so horrendously it isn't even bareable.

Now that said, after we get the dust from this HMC conversion settled, we WILL get a 7D to compliment and then perhaps replace our D300's and D90 which will then give us the ultimate in film style and video.
 
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