Barry_Green
Moderator
That was the plan, yes, that's how they trumpeted the technology -- biggest possible pixels for the frame, while still supporting 720/60p.
HMC40 v HMC150
- Thread starter bryan777123
- Start date
Hi my HMC40 arrived yesterday from Amazon and it is sitting on my counter still unopened. I am afraid to open it till I am sure it is right camera. I have been scouring internet looking for comments on this camera. I have always been a consumer and never used or learned professional cameras. I have been learning for past few months. I am now doing a project where I do interviews wit people n their homes and light with 3200 watts cool light kits, umbrella, so they are well lit. There will be some indoor shooting with only natural light. I use a wireless and wired Collar Mic on them. I bout new Imac with FCP 7 for editing.I do not under stand The ND and gain settings yet, and will do most on Auto. I do need professional looking and acting camera. At first , after a month of research,I was going to go with 150 , but I read about this and ordered. The 150 is at the top of my price range, but I would rather not spend extra for camera if I don't have to. I will be buying the extra Mic accessories if I keep this camera. I Might also do some weddings in the future. In your homes opinion, should I keep this, or return this and get the 150. (ALL OTHER ACCESSORIES i BOUGHT, CARDS AND BATTERY WILL WORK WITH BOTH)
I do not want grain in final DVD'd on indoor scenes. I do need a professional camera for credibility for my business, I do plan on learning functions, and I might expand into shoot events like weddings.
Please help.
thanks,
Jeff
I do not want grain in final DVD'd on indoor scenes. I do need a professional camera for credibility for my business, I do plan on learning functions, and I might expand into shoot events like weddings.
Please help.
thanks,
Jeff
A professional "looking camera?" I don't know how you define that. Could help us out?
ALL camera represent some tradeoffs. HPX300 produces stunning footage using AVCIntra 100. But it also can produce skew due to a rolling shutter in some circumstances. If you take that into account, you can shoot around it, or avoid shots that exacerbate it.
The HMC40 is a sharper camera in outdoors and well shot environments. The 150 works better in low light circumstances. Look in the screen grabs section where I did a screen cap.
If you shoot well lit indoors footage, then the HMC40 should be fine. Minimize your low light, unlit shots.
And best not to double post.
good luck
Hi, Thanks for the advice, I posted here because when I posted elsewhere , I was told I was in wrong section.
By professional looking camera, I mean that if I go to someone's house to do a professional paid shoot, the camera doest look like the one they bought for their summer vacations. I want credibility. I know I could have bought an x300, but it looks like any other consumer handicam. I will be buying the Mic accessories, I bought the lighting kits. I just wanted to make sure this is the right camera. So by what you are telling me, if I have it well lit, the camera should be fine.
But is this the type people are using to lets sat, shoot a wedding?
By professional looking camera, I mean that if I go to someone's house to do a professional paid shoot, the camera doest look like the one they bought for their summer vacations. I want credibility. I know I could have bought an x300, but it looks like any other consumer handicam. I will be buying the Mic accessories, I bought the lighting kits. I just wanted to make sure this is the right camera. So by what you are telling me, if I have it well lit, the camera should be fine.
But is this the type people are using to lets sat, shoot a wedding?
studio1972
Well-known member
The 150 would really be a much better choice for weddings, as you are often faced with poor light.
And flashes.
You'll need a 0,7x wide angle converter with the HMC40.
Hi Barry, i need your help guys. I never worked with professional video, but i`m starting to work with Weddings. I dont know what camcoder to buy ( hmc40 or 150). I dont know nothing about gain, and all of it... and about nd, i dont know how to use it too... and in hmc40 it is auto... i`m studying all of this to start my work, here in brazil, i have friend who will teach me... but i really dont know what camcoder to buy. If you could help me, i will thank you.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Depends on your budget. The HMC150 is the better camcorder, no questions asked. The only thing the HMC40 does better than the HMC150 is that it can have a sharper picture under bright light conditions. Other than that, the HMC150 is better in pretty much every way.
But it costs a lot more.
If all you can afford is an HMC40, get the HMC40 -- it's a great little camera with a shockingly good picture for such a low price point. But it will need light.
If you can afford the HMC150, it's better, more flexible, more professional, but it's not going to be quite as sharp.
But it costs a lot more.
If all you can afford is an HMC40, get the HMC40 -- it's a great little camera with a shockingly good picture for such a low price point. But it will need light.
If you can afford the HMC150, it's better, more flexible, more professional, but it's not going to be quite as sharp.
thnks barry, one more thing, if the only problem is low light, could i use two 30 watts leds (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=589276&is=REG) without any discomfort to my clients? and, this source of light would be enough, or i can even use only one of this leds(30watts)? I really thank you!
Barry_Green
Moderator
Haven't used those lights, I don't know how they'd perform.
BobDiaz
The Professor
wesler,
Weddings present several potential problems for someone shooting video.
(1) Poor lighting: While low lighting may be romantic, video cameras need light to get a good image. One can increase the video gain to make the camera more sensitive to the low light, BUT the price is that the image becomes grainy and looks bad. Depending on who you ask, some will limit the gain on the hMC-150 to only +6dB, some to +9dB, and some will go to +12dB. Higher numbers allow for more gain, but also produce more grain in the image.
The HMC-150 deals with low level lighting better than the HMC-40.
It may be possible to use a video light on the camera to add some light to the shot. In the church, this may not be possible, but at the reception, chances are the light can be used.
(2) Flash Photos: The HMC-150 uses a CCD for the image sensor, so flash photos come out as one bright frame. The HMC-40 uses a CMOS sensor, so flash photos are likely to come out as a bright strip across one frame. Some people do not like the look of this bright strip across the frame.
The HMC-150 deals with flash photos better than the HMC-40.
If you are getting into the wedding video business, remember the camera is only part of the system. You should have a tripod, video light, wireless mike(s), a good shotgun mike, video editing system, and a way to burn DVDs of the video. Also having some way to print a professional title & image on the DVD will make you finished product look better.
BEFORE you shoot your first wedding make sure you know how to properly use the camera and know what things like gain and ND do and when to use them.
Bob Diaz
Weddings present several potential problems for someone shooting video.
(1) Poor lighting: While low lighting may be romantic, video cameras need light to get a good image. One can increase the video gain to make the camera more sensitive to the low light, BUT the price is that the image becomes grainy and looks bad. Depending on who you ask, some will limit the gain on the hMC-150 to only +6dB, some to +9dB, and some will go to +12dB. Higher numbers allow for more gain, but also produce more grain in the image.
The HMC-150 deals with low level lighting better than the HMC-40.
It may be possible to use a video light on the camera to add some light to the shot. In the church, this may not be possible, but at the reception, chances are the light can be used.
(2) Flash Photos: The HMC-150 uses a CCD for the image sensor, so flash photos come out as one bright frame. The HMC-40 uses a CMOS sensor, so flash photos are likely to come out as a bright strip across one frame. Some people do not like the look of this bright strip across the frame.
The HMC-150 deals with flash photos better than the HMC-40.
If you are getting into the wedding video business, remember the camera is only part of the system. You should have a tripod, video light, wireless mike(s), a good shotgun mike, video editing system, and a way to burn DVDs of the video. Also having some way to print a professional title & image on the DVD will make you finished product look better.
BEFORE you shoot your first wedding make sure you know how to properly use the camera and know what things like gain and ND do and when to use them.
Bob Diaz
Wesler:
Based on my wedding experience, you have two types of people, those who are okay with lights and like to be filmed, and those who hate them and will majorly squint and avoid you and sometimes be a little rude about it.
Most everyone can handle 20 watts, which is not much, with no problem. I would consider 30 watts the maximum for any type of public event. It takes paid talent to endure above 30 watts in the face.
The good news is that the 150 is very sensitive and has an excellent response to lights as low as 20 watts. The lights will make colors really pop for the 150 and makes a much better production. Generally you use lights when subjects are within 5 to maybe 15 feet and no light for wider audience style shots.
Where a high sensitivity camera like the 150 shines vs the 40 when using lights is that the appearance of light falloff with distance is not dramatic, but produces a balanced and pleasing image where the low sensitivity camera produces more of a high contrast "deer in the headlights" look.
Hi, Final Question,
I will only be using camera in outdoors (Daylight 95% of time and indoors with Professional umbrella lighting. Will the HMC 40 still meet my needs or should I upgrade to 150. Agter a few answers I either open the hmc140 box or send back yo Amazon and get 150 instead. By the way I can afford the extra $1000.00 for the 150, but it will hurt.
Jeff
I will only be using camera in outdoors (Daylight 95% of time and indoors with Professional umbrella lighting. Will the HMC 40 still meet my needs or should I upgrade to 150. Agter a few answers I either open the hmc140 box or send back yo Amazon and get 150 instead. By the way I can afford the extra $1000.00 for the 150, but it will hurt.
Jeff
It should indoors with appropriate lighting.