HMC40 vs NEX-VG20

T

TheFarmer

Member
Hello,

I am looking to get a new camera for my event/doc videos and these two cameras are in the same price range but I can't seem to decide. I know that these cameras are very different, but can anyone compare the two. More specifically, I am shooting events (swim teams, festivals, ect.) short YouTube videos, and short docs (interview & b-roll). Which camera would hold up best for these types of videos, and what advantages would one have over the other? Thanks in advance for the replies!
 
With the base lens, I don't think the Sony will autofocus. That may or may not be an issue for you. It was a deal killer for me.
 
Would you think that a 60D and a HMC40 is a good combination for this type of work? Would you think that another camera (in this price range) would be better? Thanks for all of the help.
 
TheFarmer said:
Would you think that a 60D and a HMC40 is a good combination for this type of work? Would you think that another camera (in this price range) would be better? Thanks for all of the help.
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HMC40 and the next Canon's generation DIGIC V , all the actual Canon DSLR, have Moire and aliasing. wait to see if they have a clean image.
 
The only reason I said 60D was because I already have one, I wasn't planning on purchasing 2 cameras. So do you think that the HMC40 is good as my final decision? The only con I can think of that I have heard about with the camera is poor low light.
 
TheFarmer said:
The only reason I said 60D was because I already have one, I wasn't planning on purchasing 2 cameras. So do you think that the HMC40 is good as my final decision? The only con I can think of that I have heard about with the camera is poor low light.
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HMC40 has a very good image up to 18db gain, usable gain is up to 24 db , at 24 db has some noise, when low light is over 18 db , I use Led on camera lighting or some Lowel lighting .
DSLR big sensors, perform better in low light, BUT Aliasing and Moire are a pain. If I would be you I'll buy the HMC40, and wait for the d70 or t4i, Sure I love the image, size, build, from my HMC40, Is comfortable to use.
Get some portable lighting for very low light situations. I bet my HMC40 will be with me for the next 10 years. while the DSLR are not ready yet, and if they get ready with DIGIC V, will not replace a camera like the HMC40.
Different animals.
 
if you are considering hmc40, you might want to consider the hmc80 as well. The sensor and guts are the same, has built in XLR audio, firewire, in a shoulder mount form factor, and from what I have heard, a much improved viewfinder. I have found the small size of the 40 a bit difficult to hand hold; I usually use a monopod if I am on the move. For events, the small shoulder mount HMC80 might be a good thing. By the time you buy the audio adapter for the HMC40, the 80 isn't much more.

Grant
 
Kelvin Kelm said:
With the base lens, I don't think the Sony will autofocus. That may or may not be an issue for you. It was a deal killer for me.
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I rented the VG20 last weekend and the autofocus works just fine with the 18-200 kit lens. It has no power zoom, however.

Bill
 
Felipe Henao said:
VG20 is a piece of crap says this dependable person, Moire and low build quality among other things...
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I've shot with the VG20 and the build quality seemed fine to me. I also liked the 16 megapixel stills (which the HMC40 can't match) and the shallow depth of field (again, not an option with the HMC40). Please see my hands-on VG20 previews at http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com/2011/12/gh2-and-vg20-compared-first-english.html and http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com/2011/12/sony-nex-vg20-and-panasonic-gh2-as.html


I will post test footage next weekend.

Cheers,

Bill
 
Felipe Henao said:
HMC40 has a very good image up to 18db gain, usable gain is up to 24 db , at 24 db has some noise, when low light is over 18 db , I use Led on camera lighting or some Lowel lighting .
DSLR big sensors, perform better in low light, BUT Aliasing and Moire are a pain...
Different animals.
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I've shot with the VG20 and -30 dB is very usable with almost no noise. Aliasing and moire are better than the Canons, but not as good as the Panasonic GH2. The problem with the VG20 isn't image quality, it is the lack of color/contrast/sharpness control and Sony's decision to emphasize menu-driven rather than physical controls.

Again, I will post my test videos next weekend.

Bill
 
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brunerww said:
I've shot with the VG20 and the build quality seemed fine to me. I also liked the 16 megapixel stills (which the HMC40 can't match) and the shallow depth of field (again, not an option with the HMC40). Please see my hands-on VG20 previews at http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com/2011/12/gh2-and-vg20-compared-first-english.html and http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com/2011/12/sony-nex-vg20-and-panasonic-gh2-as.html


I will post test footage next weekend.

Cheers,

Bill
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HMC40 Is not a stills camera at all, VG20 Either can not even sync to external strobes, Far from a Canon or Nikon Still cameras.
Shallow depth of field is not HMC40'S Target. No camera is all in one
 
Felipe Henao said:
HMC40 Is not a stills camera at all, VG20 Either can not even sync to external strobes, Far from a Canon or Nikon Still cameras.
Shallow depth of field is not HMC40'S Target. No camera is all in one
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Felipe - I certainly agree that no camera is all in one - but the VG20 does have a Sony Alpha hot shoe, which allows it to sync to external Sony flashes. See specs here: http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&partNumber=NEXVG20

"Dual Accessory Shoes (Alpha Hot/Universal Cold) - The dual accessory shoes open the door to many accessories for both still and video photography, including shotgun microphones and external flash lighting."

Cheers,

Bill
 
brunerww said:
Felipe - I certainly agree that no camera is all in one - but the VG20 does have a Sony Alpha hot shoe, which allows it to sync to external Sony flashes. See specs here: http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&partNumber=NEXVG20

"Dual Accessory Shoes (Alpha Hot/Universal Cold) - The dual accessory shoes open the door to many accessories for both still and video photography, including shotgun microphones and external flash lighting."

Cheers,

Bill
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That is interesting. However I 'm talking about infrared transmitter with studio strobes like Broncolor or Speedotron . TTL system is not in my workflow.
Why do you say it has not sharpness, contrast, saturation adjustments if specs say You can even fine-tune contrast, saturation, and sharpness to your personal taste.
Can you confirm if syncs studio strobes ? Any way in my personal opinion Sony Alpha photography is far from Canon and Nikon
Has not 30 p. for video
 
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brunerww said:
I've shot with the VG20 and -30 dB is very usable with almost no noise. Aliasing and moire are better than the Canons, but not as good as the Panasonic GH2. The problem with the VG20 isn't image quality, it is the lack of color/contrast/sharpness control and Sony's decision to emphasize menu-driven rather than physical controls.

Again, I will post my test videos next weekend.

Bill
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Sony site says :

Six Creative Style settings
Control how the camera processes your images with six finishing styles: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset and B&W. You can even fine-tune contrast, saturation, and sharpness to your personal taste.
 
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Felipe Henao said:
Sony site says :

Six Creative Style settings
Control how the camera processes your images with six finishing styles: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset and B&W. You can even fine-tune contrast, saturation, and sharpness to your personal taste.
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Sony site is lying. There are no sharpness/contrast controls on the VG20. They've just copy/pasted info from the VG10 (which does have them)
 
maarek said:
Sony site is lying. There are no sharpness/contrast controls on the VG20. They've just copy/pasted info from the VG10 (which does have them)
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So no image control and doesn't sync proper strobes, just ttl ? Great, give me 50 of those
 
Being able to do quality zooms might be important to one camera coverage of live events. you might even consider an external zoom controller.

Between HMC40 and 80, thought there was a thread that said even with the XLR adapter, audio input on 40 was noisier...probably not an issue for your settings.
 
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